2018
The Northern Tech 100 league table ranks the top 100 fastest-growing tech companies in the North, celebrating some of the region’s most exciting startups and scaleups.
New entries this year include the social media influencer agency Social Chain and we were delighted to see data analytics firm Peak make it onto this year’s table – a company that’s been on both our Northern Stars and Upscale growth programmes.
The league table was borne out of GP Bullhound’s annual Northern Tech Awards. We saw an opportunity to work together to shine an even bigger spotlight on as many companies as possible.
| Position | Company | Sector | Location | Growth rate (%) | Description |
| 1 | In Touch Networks | Ecommerce & Marketplace | Manchester | 236% | An online network for hiring board members and senior freelance professionals |
| 2 | Chameleon Technology | Hardware | Harrogate | 165% | Designs and manufactures in-home displays for smart metering systems |
| 3 | The Car Buying Group | Ecommerce & Marketplace | Wakefield | 154% | UK-wide car buying service with regional offices across the UK |
| 4 | Fruugo.com | Ecommerce & Marketplace | Ulverston | 139% | Global online marketplace, offering retail services in 17 languages and 21 currencies |
| 5 | The Lead Agency | Digial Agency | Liverpool | 137% | End-to-end customer acquisition service spanning multiple markets |
| 6 | Social Chain | Digital Agency | Manchester | 132% | Global social media marketing agency |
| 7 | Origin Broadband | IT Services | Rotherham | 103% | The UK’s sixth largest broadband company |
| 8 | Giacom | Ecommerce & Marketplace | Hessle | 91% | The largest cloud marketplace in Europe for IT support professionals |
| 9 | Hedgehog Lab | IT Services | Newcastle | 86% | Technology consultancy creating apps for smartphones, tablets and wearables |
| 10 | Matillion | IT Services | Altrincham | 84% | Delivering cloud-native data integration technology |
| 11 | BigChange Apps | Enterprise Software | Leeds | 82% | They have 15,000 paid subscribers serving over 600 SMEs and enterprise customers |
| 12 | Outplay Entertainment | Betting & Gaming | Dundee | 78% | Developing free-to-play games, such as Crafty Candy, Mystery Match and Angry Birds Pop |
| 13 | Hyperdrive Innovation | Hardware | Sunderland | 77% | Designed the battery technology used in the world's quickest street legal electric car |
| 14 | Castlight Financial | Data Analytics | Glasgow | 75% | Castlight developed the innovative Affordability Passport, which aims to change the way financial retailers make credit and lending decisions |
| 15 | AccessPay | Fintech | Manchester | 71% | Allowing back-office finance systems, band accounts and payment networks to talk to one another |
| 16 | TVSquared | Data Analytics | Edinburgh | 71% | Same-day measurement and optimisation opportunities for TV advertisers |
| 17 | Resulting | IT Services | Manchester | 71% | Independant consulting firm who help large companies run complex IT |
| 18 | Redu | Enterprise Software | County Durham | 67% | Social, mobile and data-driven affiliate marketing business |
| 19 | LADBible | Digital Agency | Manchester | 66% | Social media and entertainment company based in London and Manchester |
| 20 | Looking4.com | Ecommerce & Marketplace | Leeds | 65% | Global price comparison and booking website for airport parking and transfers |
| 21 | Currentbody.com | Ecommerce | Cheadle | 64% | Beauty tech products for consumers to use at home |
| 22 | Cloud Technology Solutions | IT Services | Manchester | 64% | Tailored cloud solutions and devices |
| 23 | Peak | Data Analytics | Manchester | 64% | Subscription services that uses artificial intelligence to drive data analytics |
| 24 | Zerolight | Enterprise Software | Newcastle | 64% | 3D visualisation platform for the automotive sector |
| 25 | Evolution Funding | Enterprise Software | Chesterfield | 63% | Automotive funding and retailing group |
| 26 | Cubic Motion | Enterprise Software | Manchester | 63% | Unique technology and services for advanced machine vision |
| 27 | IDHL Group | Digital Agency | Harrogate | 62% | One of the UK's longest-established SEO, PPC and web development agency |
| 28 | Performance Horizon | Enterprise Software | Newcastle | 58% | Technology developer which assits marketing departments to drive company sales |
| 29 | Godel Technologies Group | IT Services | Manchester | 53% | Sells and deploys Microsoft business software products to support SME's |
| 30 | Shield Safety Group | Enterprise Software | Manchester | 56% | One of the UK's leading providers of food, fire and health & safety software services |
| 31 | Ecometrica | Enterprise Software | Edinburgh | 55% | Provides a platform to allow orangisations to make smarter decisions and build long-term value |
| 32 | ProofID | IT Services | Manchester | 55% | Identity and access management services |
| 33 | Converge Technology Specialists | IT Services | Daresbury | 55% | Hosted and managed IT support services |
| 34 | Trak Global Group | IT Services | Crewe | 54% | One of the world's largest telematics companies |
| 35 | Quint Group | Fintech | Macclesfield | 52% | Innovative fintech group operating in consumer finance market |
| 36 | Planixs Group | Enterprise Software | Manchester | 50% | Leader in cloud-based business analytics, intelligence and optimisation solutions |
| 37 | InVentry Ltd | Enterprise Software | Leeds | 49% | Market leader for visitor management and sign-in solutions |
| 38 | The Hut Group | Ecommerce & Marketplace | Manchester | 48% | One of the world's largest online beauty and wellbeing businesses |
| 39 | Volcanic | Enterprise Software | Manchester | 48% | SaaS web platform to power recruitment company websites |
| 40 | Sky Betting & Gaming | Betting & Gaming | Leeds | 45% | One of the UK's leading online bookmakers |
| 41 | M24Seven | IT Services | Manchester | 44% | Internet infrastructure provider, offering connectivity, hosting security and VOIP |
| 42 | UInsure | Fintech | Manchester | 42% | Insurtech products |
| 43 | Rradar | Enterprise Software | Hull | 43% | Using technology to deliver legal support for businesses |
| 44 | Opencast Software Europe Ltd | IT Services | Newcastle | 39% | IT consultancy working with government, finance and new tech enterprises |
| 45 | Purple Wifi Ltd | Data Analytics | Oldham | 38% | WiFi and location SaaS solution offering analytics and marketing tools |
| 46 | Evoke Creative | Digital Agency | Wirral | 37% | Interactive digital solutions for major blue-chip clients |
| 47 | Bede Gaming | Betting & Gaming | Newcastle | 37% | Powers some of the largest online gambling operators and lotteries worldwide |
| 48 | E-Days Absence Management | Enterprise Software | Nottingham | 34% | SaaS solution for employee leave tracking and absence management |
| 49 | Connex One | Enterprise Software | Manchester | 33% | Cloud-based, omni-channel engagement platform |
| 50 | Sykes Cottages | Ecommerce & Marketplace | Chester | 31% | Online, independant holiday cottage provider |
| 51 | Mobysoft | Enterprise Software | Manchester | 30% | Social housing intelligence software applications |
| 52 | ContractHireAndLeasing.com | Ecommerce & Marketplace | Stockport | 30% | Vehicle leasing website |
| 53 | Azzure IT | IT Services | Sheffield | 30% | ERP solution provider, supporting small businesses with digital transformation |
| 54 | The Floow | IT Services | Sheffield | 30% | Telematics provider delivering solutions to insurers, automotive manufacturers and fleet operators worldwide |
| 55 | R2C Online | Enterprise Software/td> | Sheffield | 30% | Fleet and workshop management platform |
| 56 | MTech IT Solutions | IT Services | Leeds | 29% | IT solutions, including technical support and strategy |
| 57 | Better2Know | Ecommerce & Marketplace | Morecambe | 29% | The world's largest private provider of online secual health testing services |
| 58 | Aspire Technology Solutions | IT Services | Gateshead | 29% | Hosted services, data centre solutions, communications and traditional IT support |
| 59 | Praesto Consulting | IT Services | Darlington | 29% | IT consultancy specialising in Customer Relationship Management, CX, Business Intelligence and Enterprise Performance Management |
| 60 | MusicMagpie | Ecommerce & Marketplace | Manchester | 27% | The UK's largest re-commerce business selling products such as CDs and books |
| 61 | Parcel2Go | Ecommerce & Marketplace | Bolton | 26% | A market-leading parcel delivery comparison site |
| 62 | ProVu | Huddersfield | IT Services | 26% | The UK's leading business-to-business distributor of VoIP hardware |
| 63 | Virtual College | Edtech | Ilkley | 25% | Providing online learning to 3 million learners |
| 64 | Ripe Thinking | Fintech | Manchester | 24% | Insurtech company who make buying insurance simple |
| 65 | Digital Next | Digital Agency | Manchester | 24% | Leading search marketing and web development company |
| 66 | Airangel | Enterprise Software | Warrington | 24% | Software services to some of the world's largest property owners and hotel chains internationally |
| 67 | Sonocent | Edtech | Leeds | 23% | Software company based in Leeds which aims to "reimagine how we do notetaking" |
| 68 | Mando | Digital Agency | Liverpool | 23% | Digital customer experience solutions for regulated industries |
| 69 | Lead Tech | Data Analytics | Leeds | 23% | The largest independant financial services lead generator in the UK |
| 70 | Wax Digital | Enterprise Software | Hyde | 22% | eProcurement and spend management software for mid- and large-sized organisations |
| 71 | Uniform | Digital Agency | Liverpool | 26% | Develops applications for iOS, Android, Windows Phone and Blackberry devices. |
| 72 | Waterstons | IT Services | Durham | 21% | Business and IT consultancy providing creative technology-based solutions to improve business performance |
| 73 | Mobica | IT Services | Wilmslow | 20% | Technology solutions in the connected device market |
| 74 | Firefish Software | Enterprise Software | Glasgow | 19% | Sales and marketing SaaS platform that helps recruiters reach, engage and recruit top candidates |
| 75 | Visualsoft | Digital Agency | Teesside | 19% | Digital agency for the retail market |
| 76 | Vaioni Group | IT Services | Manchester | 18% | Providing ethernet connectivity and cloud services |
| 77 | Parallax | Digital Agency | Leeds | 18% | Digital agency with an innovative side business SaaS product and CMS |
| 78 | Caboodle Technology | Enterprise Software | Crewe | 18% | One of the UK’s leading employee benefits and engagement companies |
| 79 | Elementary Technology | Hardware | Leeds | 17% | Audio visual and interactive technology reseller in education and enterprise marketplaces |
| 80 | ANS | IT Services | Manchester | 17% | Cloud services and products |
| 81 | OpenCRM | Enterprise Software | Richmond | 17% | Cloud CRM |
| 82 | UKFast | IT Services | Manchester | 17% | One of the largest independently owned hosting providers in the UK |
| 83 | Zuto | Fintech | Macclesfield | 17% | Online car finance specialist offering tailored car loans for all circumstances |
| 84 | NGC Network Services | IT Services | Wakefield | 17% | Telephony solutions for medium and large businesses across the UK |
| 85 | Intechnica | Digital Agency | Manchester | 17% | Digital transformation and web traffic security and optimisation |
| 86 | Blue Logic | IT Services | Leeds | 15% | Managed IT services provider |
| 87 | Hiring Hub | Enterprise Software | Manchester | 15% | Connects employers to top-rated, specialist recruitment agencies |
| 88 | Apadmi/td> | IT Services | Manchester | 14% | Mobile application development company |
| 89 | The Webinar Vet | Edtech | Liverpool | 14% | Webinars from expert speakers, so vets can fulfill their CPD requirements with minimum time and money |
| 90 | Radius Payment Solutions | Fintech | Crewe | 14% | Payment and fleet services company |
| 91 | Tribepad | Enterprise Software | Sheffield | 13% | Specialist recruitment software provider, serving some of the UK’s best known organisations |
| 92 | Nexus Vehicle Rental | Ecommerce & Marketplace | Leeds | 13% | Business mobility provider |
| 93 | Maginus | IT Services | Manchester | 13% | Enterprise Resource Planning and ecommerce solutions |
| 94 | TPP | IT Services | Leeds | 12% | Providing solutions for integrated electronic health records, patient-facing services, interoperability and research |
| 95 | Sits Group | IT Services | Cramlington | 12% | Cloud infrastructure service and support partner |
| 96 | Elite Group | IT Services | Chorley | 11% | Bespoke business IT, telecoms and unified communications solutions |
| 97 | eBECS | IT Services | Chesterfield | 11% | Total Microsoft Business Solutions designing and delivering lean and agile solutions globally |
| 98 | Everything Different | Digital Agency | Newcastle | 10% | Creative marketing consultancy group specialising in brand, insight and digitial performance marketing |
| 99 | Cascadego | Enterprise Software | Leeds | 10% | Self-service system transforms the way businesses control, manage and deliver HR |
| =100 | Degree 53 | Digital Agency | Manchester | 8% | Digital agency specialising in bespoke web and mobile solutions, as well as UX, design and consultancy services |
| =100 | Mitrefinch | Enterprise Software | York | 8% | Market leader in human capital management software |
