Nine firms from Swindon and North Wiltshire have been named among the UK’s fastest-growing and most dynamic small and medium-sized businesses.
The firms appear in the latest prestigious London Stock Exchange’s 1,000 Companies to Inspire Britain report. 
These high-growth businesses are highlighted as leading the charge in rebuilding the economy,” according to Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne.
The Swindon firms in the list include regional construction company Beard; motor dealer Fish Brothers; upmarket furniture firm Neptune; specialist management consultancy Regulatory Finance Solutions (RFS); and civil engineering and groundwork’s contractor Tonic Construction.
North Wiltshire businesses are Chippenham-based green energy firm Good Energy; specialist telecoms engineering firm Virtua UK, based in Brinkworth, near Royal Wootton Bassett; voice and data communications reseller Solar Communications based in Sheldon, near Chippenham; and Devizes-based engineering and agricultural machinery group T H White.
To be included in the list companies needed to show consistent revenue growth over a minimum of three years, significantly outperforming their industry peers. 
Family-owned Beard, which two years ago was named PwC South West of England Business of the Year, has increased turnover from £18mi to £110m since chief executive Mark Beard took leadership of the business in 1999.
Profits have also risen steadily over the period from £250,000 to close to £2.6m.
Mark Beard, pictured, said: “Our long-term business strategy has focused on several key areas: investing in training to develop our people to drive our success, and a company-wide commitment to prompt and faultless project delivery.
“Careful attention to cost control has also helped us win business and maintain profit margins, and we have always been selective about who we work with and the projects we take on,” explains. He believes the firm’s very strong and supportive company culture and reputation for being a good company to work with have also helped to drive its success.”
Beard undertakes new-build and refurbishment projects, including complex schemes, up to £12m in value. Around a fifth of the firm’s projects involve high-quality specialist restoration and conservation work on historic buildings such as Oxford colleges. It also provides a property repairs and maintenance service.
London Stock Exchange group chief executive Xavier Rolet said: “High-growth SMEs are the driving force behind the UK economy, developing the skills, jobs and growth we need.
“But ambition alone is not enough; their success must be highlighted and their growth properly supported with appropriate finance.”
Chancellor George Osborne, writing in 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain, added: “UK high-growth businesses are leading the charge in rebuilding our economy.
“These companies are the backbone of the British economy. They create high-quality, well paid jobs, innovate and drive economic growth.”
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are generally classed as business with fewer than 250 staff. In the UK, they represent 99% of all businesses.
