The Sunday Times WorldFirst SME Export Track 100 league table this year features eight Yorkshire companies, seven of which are new entrants.

The list, which ranks the top private companies in the UK with the fastest-growing international sales, shows that despite Brexit uncertainty, Europe is still the most important overseas market with more than four fifths of the companies reseached selling to Europe.

As a whole, Yorkshire’s exporters have seen an international sales growth average of 106% a year over two years, bringing it to £61m in total, and together employing 829 people.

Five top ranking exporters from the Leeds City Region were featured including Knaresborough-based furniture designer and manufacturer naughtone which has supplied the Google, Twitter and LinkedIn offices around the world with international sales growing by 90% to £16.1m.

C2 Events in Wakefield events has delivered conferences and meetings in 60 locations across 25 countries, supporting sales growth of 108% to £5.8m.

Bradford-based Burton Plant Hire, which exports machinery as far as Tobago, saw a rise in international sales to £7.0m, representing an 89% increase.

Software provider Shipley-based BTL Group, and machine manufacturer LBBC Group, were also included on the list with their international sales growing by 74% and 50% respectively.

Other businesses named in the list included Middlesbrough-based Lusso Stone, which sells luxury bathroom fittings, and specialist engineer the Wilton Group, as well as Twinkl, the Sheffield-based supplier of educational materials.

The SME Export Track 100 is sponsored by WorldFirst, DHL Express and Heathrow Airport, with support from the government’s Exporting is GREAT campaign. It is compiled by the Oxford-based research and networking events firm Fast Track.

Jonathan Quin, CEO and co-founder at WorldFirst, commented:“At WorldFirst we’d like to be the first to congratulate all the businesses that feature on this year’s top 100.

“International markets present tremendous opportunities for UK businesses and the rewards of being a successful exporter are clear from the growth demonstrated by all the businesses here.
“That said, there are challenges and risks too and so we should also recognise the brave and committed leadership that has got them to this point.”