The Sunday Times 100: Three Leeds businesses named among top 100 fastest growing in UK

The list, published annually by The Sunday Times, showed that the city is proving itself in the world of business.

This year, it featured three Leeds companies: outdoor furniture company Akula Living (85th); lettings and estate agency North Property Group (93rd); and power transformer manufacturer Wilson Power Solutions.

Out of all the companies on the list, Leeds boasts the oldest name of them all with Wilson Power Solutions, which was ranked in 99th place.

It was set up in 1946 by Richard Wilson to provide flameproof equipment, pumps and motors. His children Colin and Dennis built the business into one of the largest suppliers of refurbished transformers and switchgear to industry, and it is now led by Erika Wilson, 45, apprentice-turned-managing director.

Meanwhile, two thirds of the companies on the list were founded in the last decade – in 2014 or after.

The list also showed the annual sales growth over the last three years for each of the companies.

Akula Living, which is based in Wetherby, has grown by 69.24 per cent, making more than £21m in latest sales.

Meanwhile, North Property Group grew by 64.95 per cent, making £6.6m in latest sales; and Wilson Power Solutions grew by 62.6 per cent, making £94m in latest sales.

The annual ranking identifies and celebrates Britain’s 100 leading entrepreneurial businesses, and showcases the people behind the most dynamic private companies.

The research for The Sunday Times 100 found on average the top 100 fastest-growing companies have increased their sales by 118 per cent a year over the last three years to a combined £2.9bn in sales.

In total, the 100 companies employ 13,670 people, having created 10,000 new jobs in the last three years, with 99 of them planning further hires in the next 12 months - equating to around 3,800 additional roles.

Out of the 100 companies featured in the ranking, more than a third are based in London, with the rest spread through-out the country.

Jim Armitage, business editor of The Sunday Times said; "Our politicians talk about how they will deliver economic growth, but it is the graft of entrepreneurs such as those featured on this year's Sunday Times 100 who achieve it.

“Their remarkable resilience in difficult economic conditions shows what is possible with vision and hard work.”

The research for the Sunday Times 100 was conducted by business reporters in partnership with Beauhurst, a source of private company data.

The full list will be available as a supplement in the print edition of the newspaper on Sunday (June 30).