The top 100 exporting companies in the South East of England
19 January 2023
Share
iStock
Fewer than 10 per cent of UK businesses currently export, according to the CBI.
Yet exporting offers many opportunities for businesses to grow. Companies that trade internationally open up new markets for themselves, are more productive, more innovative and diversify their risk profile.
In this article we look at one hundred companies in the South East that have made a significant mark when it comes to exporting.
15 South East entrepreneurs to watch
Will McGarrigle, Head of Global Trade, CBI, said: “The UK’s innovation, creativity and outstanding goods and services have never been more relevant to a changing world. Whether leadership in environmental services or expertise in advanced manufacturing, the UK is home to products in demand overseas. This is the moment for government and business to set a world-leading level of ambition, backed by action, that will position the UK as a thriving, open and global economy for generations to come.”
Selling in the UK is relatively easy. The culture and geography is familiar, the legal framework understandable and it’s easier to chase payment if the purchaser is in the same time zone and speaks the same language.
None of that is true if you want to enter new markets overseas. Companies new to exporting need to understand the potential new markets and how to reach them – both in terms of selling to them in the first place and then shipping the goods to them.
You also need to understand the culture of the new market, the trade terms the UK government has agree with them, their local customs and country regulations and then set up a fail-safe method of getting paid.
One Oxfordshire company opened its first overseas factory in 2015. Despite investing heavily in consultants, the process was initially fraught with problems, but persistence prevailed and it has since become a highly successful exporter.
Jarl Severn, Managing Director of Owen Mumford, said: “One of the big challenges of setting up abroad is you don’t know what you don’t know, and nor does anyone else. You can’t totally rely on consultants, however expert they appear to be. You must visit the countries, be prepared for unknown factors and have enough buffer in the project plan.”
| COMPANY NAME | LOCATION | COMPANY DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|
| SOLENT & SOUTH COAST (Dorset, Hampshire, IoW) | ||
| Alpha Laboratories | Eastleigh | Medical equipment manufacturer |
| Arksen | Southampton | Adventure boat specialist |
| Aspen Pumps | Eastleigh | A world leader in pump manufacturing and the leading pump rental solutions company in the UK |
| Auto Integrate | Portsmouth | Specialises in Software as a Service solutions to facilitate vehicle maintenance requests and authorisation, operating throughout the United States of America and Canadian fleetsectors. |
| Aviation & Defence Spares | Poole | Aviation and aerospace component manufacturing |
| Bowman Power Group Ltd | Southampton | A leader in energy recovery and engine boosting technologies, supporting clients worldwide |
| Breedr | Southampton | Farm management software and livestock trading |
| Covec Limited | Southampton | Covec sell their innovative technical textile Covec – used in sportswear, military clothing and personal protective gear – in 14 different countries |
| DD-Scientific Limited | Portchester | Design and manufacture high-performance electrochemical gas sensors for the detection of potentially hazardous environments for markets around the world |
| Driven International Ltd | Hook | Uses modern technology to help in the design process in the international motorsport community. Overseas sales represent 90 per cent of turnover |
| Exclaimer Limited | Farnborough | Provides email signature management solutions for Microsoft and Google email services. Its products are now used by 75 million customers in over 150 countries worldwide. |
| GRP Solutions | Portsmouth | Chemical manufacturing |
| Harwin | Portsmouth | Design and manufacture of electrical components |
| InSync Technology Ltd | Petersfield | Designs, develops and produces hardware and software standards converters for international TV distribution, with customers in Japan, South Korea, Argentina, Italy, Switzerland and the USA |
| Kwikbolt | Eastleigh | Makes single sided temporary fasteners and associated tooling for the aerospace industry. Overseas trade accounts for more than 70 per cent of sales |
| Lush Retail Ltd | Poole | Manufactures and retails handmade cosmetics |
| MRT Castings | Andover | Industrial machinery manufacturing |
| Oyster Yachts | Southampton | Luxury yacht design and manufacture |
| PDQ Group | Fordingbridge | Transport spares manufacturing |
| PelGar International | Alton | Pesticide and insecticide manufacturer |
| Percussion Play Ltd | Froxfield | Designs and manufactures outdoor musical instruments. Its top five markets currently are USA, Australia, Denmark, Canada and China |
| Platinum Components | Bournemouth | Computer hardware manufacturer |
| Polystar Plastics | Southampton | Polythene packaging manufacturer |
| PukkaPads | Poole | Manufacture and supply of paper stationery |
| Redwood Global | Andover | Manufacture of agricultural machinery |
| Retail & Financial Services Limited | Basingstoke | Provided the first Pan European banking infrastructure covering all elements of an ATM network |
| REIDsteel | Christchurch | Manufacture, supply and construction of steel structures, including bridges, long-span structures and hangars |
| Sunseeker International | Poole | Luxury performance motor yacht brand |
| Supreme Freight Services Ltd | Southampton | Independent freight forwarder with a global network of agents at ports and airports worldwide |
| Sychem ltd | Eastleigh | The main supplier of decontamination equipment, infection control consumables, chemicals and equipment – including servicing, validation and testing to the healthcare, laboratory and research sectors. |
| The Renewables Consulting Group | Romsey | An integrated market intelligence, management consulting and technical advisory firm with regional offices in London, New York, Tokyo, and local offices in Barcelona, Glasgow, Oslo, Southampton, Taipei, and Vancouver |
| The West Group | Waterlooville | Medical equipment manufacturing |
| Wight Shipyard Company Limited | East Cowes | Specialist manufacturer of aluminium marine craft up to 50 metres in length, with sales to Austria, Mexico, and Malta |
| THAMES VALLEY (Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire) | ||
| Allmakes 4x4 | Abingdon | Allmakes 4×4 has been supplying high quality Land Rover parts and accessories to parts businesses, workshops, governments, charities and NGO’s across the world for more than 40 years |
| Aurora Energy Research | Oxford | The largest dedicated power analytics provider in Europe, producing critical analytics to almost all major market participants in Europe and Australia |
| CitNOW | Wokingham | Produces video software designed to make the process of buying, selling or fixing a car more efficient |
| Circassia | Oxford | Diagnostics and management company focused on asthma. Its market-leading NIOX® products are used by physicians around the world to help improve asthma diagnosis and management |
| Clarendon Specialty Fasteners | Swindon | Distributor of aerospace and commercial fasteners, hardware, and associated products world wide. The business has locations in the United Kingdom, Germany, Thailand, Mexico and the United States. |
| Duralock | Chipping Norton | Global supplier of high quality PVCu horse and camel racing fencing. Has offices offices in Germany, France and North America |
| Eden Research | Oxford | Develops sustainable biopesticides and plastic-free tech for use in global crop protection, animal health and consumer products |
| EP Barrus | Bicester | One of the UK's leading importers and distributors of engines, engine-powered equipment, garden tools and accessories |
| European Electronique | Witney | Leading technology solutions providers, offer everything from hardware and software through IT consultancy |
| Focusrite | High Wycombe | Global music and audio products group which markets proprietary hardware and software products |
| G&L Scientific Limited | Marlow | Provides expert scientific regulatory affairs and quality assurance consultancy services and support to Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology and Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product (ATMP) companies around the world |
| Invenio Business Solutions | Reading | The world’s largest independent SAP consultancy and implementation partner for the public sector |
| Kerridge Commercial Systems Ltd | Hungerford | Specialist software and services to integrate trading and business management solutions to customers across the world |
| Livingstone Technologies Ltd | Reading | Provides large organisations including Nissan, BT and UBS, with software licences from companies such as Microsoft, Oracle and IBM |
| Meech International | Witney | One of the world’s leading manufacturers of static control, web cleaning and compressed air technology. With seven offices across the globe |
| Norbar Torque Tools Ltd | Banbury | Design and manufacturing of torque control equipment. Sells into global markets |
| OrganOx | Oxford | Transforming liver transplantation, enabling functional assessment of donor organs prior to transplantation. Expanding into the USA and Europe |
| Owen Mumford | Oxford | Develops pioneering products under its own brands as well as custom devices for the world’s leading pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies |
| Oxford Biomedica plc | Oxford | Leading gene and cell therapy group. Manuafacturer of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine |
| Oxford Products Ltd | Oxford | Global supplier of motorcycle and bicycle aftermarket products |
| Oxford Instruments | Oxford | Provider of high technology products and services to the world's leading industrial companies and scientific research communities |
| Oxford Metrics plc UK | Oxford | Enabling the interface between the real world and its virtual twin, introducing the Vicon motion capture system. Now around 10,000 active customers in more than 70 countries including some of the biggest names in healthcare, research, sports, engineering and entertainment |
| Oxford Technical Solutions | Oxford | The design and manufacture of high precision satellite-aided inertial navigation measurement systems for automotive and surveying. Exporting to more than 30 countries across six continents |
| P2i Ltd | Abingdon | Expert in liquid repellent nanotechnology. Works with original equipment manufacturers to enhance devices by enabling them to survive liquid exposure from everyday accidents and environmental conditions. HQs in UK and China |
| Penlon | Oxford | Medical device company. Key areas of business include anaesthesia delivery, airway management, suctrion control and oxygen therapy. Exporting across the world |
| Redwood Technologies Group Ltd | Bracknall | Providing communications technology and services to hundreds of the world’s largest organisations |
| Rotech (Swindon) Ltd | Swindon | Technology for kegging breweries worldwide for hygiene and product quality. Has installations with most major brewing groups worldwide, including Carlton & United, MolsonCoors, SAB-Miller, Heineken, AB-InBev, Carlsberg and many smaller groups and independents |
| Sense Biodetection | Abingdon | Molecular diagnostics business. Its Veros Covid-19 test delivers fast, accurate and instrument-free testing. With offices in the USA |
| Spirac | Banbury | Solids handling for municipal, wastewater and industrial applications. Has sales and manufacturing facilities in the UK, Australia, USA the Netherlands and Sweden |
| Teneo UK | Reading | Specialist integrator of next generation technology |
| The Little Car Company | Bicester | Builds junior cars in partnership with elite car manufacturers. Every vehicle, which are built in the UK, is an official licensed product of the brand |
| Tower Cold Chain | Theale | Temperature-controlled container specialist |
| Turville Valley Wines | Haddenham, Buckinghamshire | Supplies fine wines across the globe |
| Wasdell Group | Swindon | Contract service business enabling the supply of critical medicines. Operating across multiple sites in Europe and shipping to more than 47 countries |
| Wireless Logic Group Ltd | Maidenhead | Technology to connect and control the wireless transmission of data via the Internet of Thingsfrom for vehicle trackers, card payment systems and CCTV cameras etc |
| SURREY SUSSEX & KENT | ||
| ACC Aviation Ltd | Reigate | Global aviation service provider for the aviation consulting, wet leasing and aircraft charter sectors |
| ADF Milking Limited | Slindon | Designed and manufactured an innovative product that helps reduce the incidence of mastitis in dairy cows. Overseas sales represent three quarters of its business |
| Aspen Pumps Ltd | Hailsham | Trading in over 100 countries worldwide Aspen is the market leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of condensate removal pumps used in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration |
| Atom Brands | Tonbridge | A producer and exporter of gin, scotch whisky and rum, exporting to over 40 different markets |
| Avida Global | Guildford | Producer of sustainably produced, high-quality medicinal cannabis oils for the global medical, well-being, and cosmeceutical markets |
| Ceres Power Holdings plc | Horsham | A world-leading developer of next generation solid oxide fuel cell and electrochemical technology trading in Europe, Asia and the USA |
| Diversified Ltd | Egham | A global technology solutions provider. Its top five markets are USA, Ireland, Spain, Germany and Israel |
| Folkestone Fixings Limited | Folkestone | Sells its range of 90,000 construction tools online, with customers in France and Germany |
| Haybury Ltd | Brighton | A specialist Executive Search firm the life science market. Clients include pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device companies in 50 markets worldwide |
| HH Global | Leatherhead | Marketing services provider trading in 50 countries and clients include Google, Samsung and Uber |
| Hummingbird Sensing Technology | Crowborough | Manufacturer of gas sensors for medical and industrial applications |
| Identity | Eastbourne | Provides organisations and governmental departments with an all encompassing range of live event services including exhibition stands, conferences and experiential events. Offices in Abu Dhabi, UAE and Shanghai |
| Inspiration Healthcare | Crawley | A global supplier of medical equipment used in neonatal intensive care, operating theatres and home healthcare, with clients in 50 countries worldwide |
| KIRK Process Solutions | Walton-on-Thames | Designs and manufactures products for separating and cleaning natural gas and crude oil, with customers in Russia, Switzerland, Nigeria, UAE and Denmark |
| nDreams | Farnborough | The world's most experienced VR game developer, committed to empowering players across genres and building the future of VR |
| Only Natural Products | Thakeham | Produces fruit and herbal teas made from 100 per cent organic and natural ingredients and literally sells tea to China |
| Play.Works | Haywards Heath | Develops and publishes games across a network of over 200m televisions via its proprietary technology platform |
| PrimeVigilance | Guildford | A pharmacovigilance service provider with pharmaceutical, generic and biotech clients in more than 100 countries |
| Proper Music Distribution Ltd | Dartford | Distributes for over 1000 independent record labels and music services companies to Europe, the US, australia and Japan |
| Semmco Limited | Woking | Designs innovative solutions creating a safe and efficient working environment for aviation, helicopter and rail customers with customers across Europe, the Middle East, Australasia and South America |
| Spambrella Ltd | West Malling | Security-as-a-service provider focused on cloud-based technology solutions for email threat protection, compliance, archiving & governance. Overseas sales account for over 75 per cent of total earnings |
| Specialist Insight | Reigate | Produces email newsletters, online magazines, training courses, conferences and events for clients involved in business jets, super yachts, helicopters and flying cars in 48 markets worldwide |
| SIAN Wholesale | Crawley | Exports health and beauty products worldwide |
| Silent Pool Distillers | Albury | Distills and exports British gin to the US, Canada and Australia |
| Smith Institute | Camberley | Designs bespoke mathematical solutions for the complex challenges of business and government, with customers in the United States, Canada, Ireland and Austria |
| Stanhope-Seta Ltd | Chertsey | Offers a unique and innovative range of advanced instruments providing solutions for quality control and testing applications across a diverse range of products from fuel to lipstick |
| Swan Mill Holdings | Swanley | Manufactures and distributes around five billion paper napkins a year for hospitals, shops and restaurants |
| Synchro Arts Limited | Epsom | Develops and sells innovative audio processing software products to the international film, broadcast and music industries |
| Systems Interface | Cranleigh | A leading air traffic control systems integrator, design consultant, project management specialist and airport technology partner delivering turnkey aviation engineering projects to civil and defence airports worldwide |
| TensCare Ltd | Epsom | Manufactures devices to treat ailments such as arthritic pain and pain relief during child birth. The firm trades in 65 countries |
| Totally Natural Solutions Ltd | Paddock Wood | A provider of natural hop oil extracts to the brewing industry, exporting to the USA, Europe, South-East Asia and Australia |
| World of Books Group | Goring by Sea | On-line retailer of used books sourced from UK charities with shop operations |
