Hot 100 revealed

By Ged Henderson

15 Sep 2021

Read the full feature online | Buy the July / August magazine

If evidence of the resilient mindset of Lancashire businesses was ever needed, this years Hot 100 list provides it.

Lancashire Business Views annual celebration of the countys most profitable SMEs, fittingly published in our 100th edition, is a roll call of true grit and determination.

For many it has been anything but business as usual as they have grappled with the emerging impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

But despite that uncertainty there remains a sense of stability, with so many of the businesses we feature in our 100 well-known to previous students of our much-anticipated annual list.

Others have departed by growing their businesses so well, even in the face of adversity, that they no longer meet the criteria and have become too big to be considered this year.

This latest roll call of honour also sees 35 new entries, down from 41 last year, though many of these ‘new names’ have featured on previous lists, again adding to the sense of stability.

As usual there have been winners and losers, but again, because of the pandemic and the impact it has had, this is put into even sharper focus.

Unsurprisingly, hygiene product manufacturers and those in healthcare are among those that have fared well. Recycling businesses also feature this year, highlighting the growing green agenda.

Lancashire Business View publisher Richard Slater said: “This is a Hot 100 like no other, compiled as we still grapple with the impact of the pandemic that, as our research shows, has had an impact from day one on businesses in all sectors.

Yet, what shines through is the determination of Lancashire businesses to keep moving forward, whatever the challenges and obstacles they find in front of them.

Dean Rodgers, client manager at Haworths Chartered Accountants, who once again compiled the Hot 100 for us, said: Though 2020 and 2021 so far have – to say the very least – been turbulent periods for the business landscape, we were delighted to find out that the resilience of so many companies across Lancashire has seen many who placed on the list last year, placed again today.

Thats not to say those businesses have emerged unscathed. For most companies whose figures we highlight this year, the unfolding pandemic affected just the last two to three months of trading.

So, with next years figures set to include the greater part of the pandemic, it is anticipated that next years Hot 100 will provide grater clarity on the full impact the virus and the lockdowns we have all endured have had.

As Dean explains: Those working in hospitality and tourism, for example, are only now being given the opportunity to begin rebuilding back to normality.

Though these have been dark times for several sectors, we know business owners in the area have such sheer determination that we can expect to see them on the Hot 100 list again next year, showing others how it’s done.

Read the full feature online | Buy the July / August magazine

Enjoyed this? Read more from Ged Henderson

Latest news

1

Pleasure Beach Resort takes home four prizes at UK Theme Park Awards Pleasure Beach Resort’s David Hill, head of rides, and Stuart Cumming, marketing manager with the awards

Pleasure Beach Resort takes home four prizes at UK Theme Park Awards

18 Sep 2025

2

Brookhouse Aerospace invests more than £500k in additional machinery to support growth Brookhouse Aerospace machining facility

Brookhouse Aerospace invests more than £500k in additional machinery to support growth

18 Sep 2025

3

Growth Plan maps out £20bn-plus investment journey Mo Isap from the Lancashire Business Board with the plan

Growth Plan maps out £20bn-plus investment journey

18 Sep 2025

4

Post Office future secured as council explores new options Abington Street Post Office

Post Office future secured as council explores new options

17 Sep 2025

5

Airframe Designs supports new defence strategy with pledge to nurture talent Jerrod Hartley

Airframe Designs supports new defence strategy with pledge to nurture talent

17 Sep 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV124 September/October Launch Event
MBP Arc Cinema Preston Opening 205
Networking
18 Sep 2025

LBV124 September/October Launch Event

The Arc Cinema, Preston, PR1 2BL

08:30 - 10:30

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Ladies Lunch
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
18 Sep 2025 - 18 Sep 2025

Ladies Lunch

Lancaster Golf Club, Lancaster, LA2 0AJ

12:00 - 16:00

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation
Chorley Council breakfast event new
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation

Worden Hall, Leyland, PR25 3DH

08:00 - 11:00

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September
Sept Freelancer (1).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Speed Networking with BNI
2.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
24 Sep 2025 - 24 Sep 2025

Speed Networking with BNI

Chorley Football Club, Chorley, PR7 3DU

16:00 - 19:00

The Marketing Metrics That Matter – Sept 25
Metris 25.09.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

The Marketing Metrics That Matter – Sept 25

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 11:00

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September
TMM Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September

Chorley, PR7 2SL

18:00 - 20:00

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) drop-in day
MTD drop in session.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) drop-in day

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) drop-in day, Blackburn, BB1 5QB

10:00 - 16:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin