Hot 100 companies highlight the spirit of Lancashire

The strength and resilience of Lancashire’s small and medium sized businesses was celebrated by Lancashire Business View at its annual Hot 100 lunch.

Invited guests to the event at Barton Grange, near Preston, included Valentina Slater, company founder and sales director at Ormskirk-based Direct Accident Manager – the number one in this year’s Hot 100 list.

She took part in a question and answer session, hosted by Lancshire Business View publisher Richard Slater, along with Chris Summerscales, director of Seneca Partners and Rachel Adamson of law firm Slater and Gordon.

Paul Spencer of Howarths chartered accountants, who carried out the research to compile this year’s list of Lancashire’s most profitable SMEs, told the audience of his optimism for the future of the businesses.

He said: “I’m finding that people are very bullish. Some challenges are coming over the hill, most people have the attitude that whatever comes we will deal with it. We have a lot of talented entrepreneurs in the region.

“We have a spirit around this area which I’m not sure is the same elsewhere in the country.”

The lunch was told that the total turnover of the 100 companies featured in this year’s list totalled £1.65bn – a 10 per cent rise on the previous year.

Overall profit rose by around £20m, to more than £172m and the 100 companies named in our list employ more than 10,000 people in the county.

A draw was held at the lunch to win a Porsche half-day driving experience at Silverstone. The prize, donated by Porsche Centre Bolton, was won by the chairman of Lancashire’s Institute of Directors Stuart Thompson.

See below for pictures from the event: