Thames Valley: Redbox Mobile heads new list of growing SMEs

The Thames Valley SME 100 Growth Index is a new listing published by The Business Magazine, of fast-rising SMEs in the Thames Valley region, available here.

Sponsored by business advisers Wilson Partners and law firm Herrington Carmichael, the SME 100 Growth Index highlights firms with an annual turnover of between £2 million and £12m that have grown significantly in the past year. 

The listing covers independent businesses in the Thames Valley that are unquoted, private entities. Based on growth in turnover, the listing takes data from the business intelligence service FAME and Companies House.

At the top of the 2019 Growth List stands Redbox Mobile plc, founded in Newbury by Rory Mudie in February 2013. With a team of 20 staff, it is an expert in app-store marketing, helping companies of all sizes acquire customers for their apps.

The company’s Blackbox platform is an automated search platform for app developers that makes over half a million decisions a day to bid on the cheapest keywords to offer the client. The BlackBox platform currently runs campaigns in 13 territories and 20 languages.

With offices in Hungerford, London and New York, Redbox Mobile has recorded substantial growth of 177% taking its turnover to £2.5 million making it top of the list.

Other notable successes range across diverse business sectors:

At number five, Solapak has enjoyed growth of more than 90%. Established in 1981, Solapak, based in High Wycombe, continues to be a leader in renewable energy and an expert in engineering and supply of complete, ready-to-install, solar power systems for industrial off-grid applications.

In 2013 Solapak took the bold step to of opening its first branch outside of the UK, opening a branch in Abu Dhabi giving the company a strategic base to serve the Middle East.

With a staff of six, the company has shown continued growth and now operates with a turnover of £4m.

At number 14, Validus Risk Management, based in Eton, is a risk management advisory firm that provides customised solutions for clients and adds transparency to the financial risk management process.

Validus works with corporate and private-equity clients across the globe, from SMEs to multinational corporations and financial institutions advising on over $90 billion in hedging transactions annually. Validus staff of 33 helped the company achieve 60% growth in turnover to help the company make the list.

At number 18, Beaufield Homes has been creating exceptional residential properties since 1989.

Based in Guildford, and operating primarily at the upper end of the property market, characterised by their high standards of chic interior design, specification and attention to detail, Beaufield is the highest ranked house builder in our SME 100 list.

At number 30, Select Car Leasing has seen phenomenal growth over the past couple of years. With a turnover of £8.9m it has grown 25% in a 12-month period.

The Reading-based car leasing company began trading in 2004, when the company was set up by directors Mark Tongue and James O’Malley. The company delivered 115 vehicles in its first full year and delivered approximately over 11,000 vehicles by 2017.

Awards Evening

The Business Magazine and sponsors Wilson Partners and Herrington Carmichael will host a drinks and networking evening on June 4 at Laithwaite’s Wine in Theale, near Reading, to recognise a number of companies on the SME Growth list.