Data from Fame helps rank Britain’s fastest growing SME exporters

In its 5th year, the 2019 Sunday Times SME Export Track 100 league table features Britain’s small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) with the fastest growing international sales. The 100 companies made a total of £833 million in overseas sales, which is an average increase of 89% per year in the past 2 years for SME Export Track companies.

A survey showed that 90% of league table participants were not discouraged from overseas expansion because of Brexit. Most companies reported international sales from Europe (85 of 100), while 54 of companies did business with the US and 40 exported to Asia.

The fastest growing SME exporters

Ecommerce has been a key driver for SMEs with the fastest growing international sales. A record 24 out of the 100 companies used online platforms for overseas sales. The top three companies attribute 10% or more of their international sales to online transactions.

1. Missy Empire, an online fashion retailer (international sales growth of 360%)
2. Missoma, an online jewellery brand (326%)
3. Oh Polly, an online fashion retailer (301%)
4. Mous, a phone case designer (275%)
5. Bizuma, a B2B ecommerce platform (229%)

Key facts

• Manufacturing was the most common sector with 51 companies represented
• 67% of the companies were majority owned by an entrepreneur or founder
• 20 businesses were founded by women, including those in the 2nd and 3rd place rankings—a record for the SME Export Track-While Europe contributed to most of international sales, 82 of the companies are looking outside of Europe for future expansion

The companies included in the table had:

• total sales of £5 to £25 million
• exports of £1 to £20 million
• an average 2-year international sales growth of 35% to 300% per year
• between 10 to 400 employees

You might be interested in

• Register for a free trial of Fame, the definitive source of company information in the UK and Ireland