Bradford’s Top 100 Firms Revealed in Annual Ranking

Local businesses recognised in latest University and newspaper collaboration

The University of Bradford’s School of Management, in partnership with the Telegraph & Argus, has published the fourth annual Bradford Top 100 Businesses list. The ranking highlights the city’s leading firms based on 2024 financial data and was unveiled at an event attended by local business representatives.

Leading companies in Bradford

The top position in this year’s list was awarded to Acorn Stairlifts. Following closely were Vanquis Bank in second place and supermarket chain Morrisons in third. The list includes a diverse range of businesses headquartered within the Bradford Council area, reflecting the city’s varied economic landscape.

Purpose and methodology of the Top 100 list

The list aims to showcase Bradford-based businesses and promote confidence in the city as a place to invest and conduct business. It is compiled using publicly available data and ranks firms according to several indicators of business success, including:

• Turnover
• Increase in turnover
• Shareholders’ funds

To qualify for inclusion, firms must have their headquarters or primary trading address within the Bradford Council area and have filed business information and accounts with Companies House. The list excludes Bradford postcodes that fall under other council areas but includes some Leeds postcodes within the Bradford district.

Additional award winners

• Bradford Bulls rugby league team received the ‘One to Watch’ award following their promotion to the Betfred Super League.
• Savoy Timber Holdings was recognised with the Highest Growth award.
• Expect Distribution won the Distribution and Logistics category.
• BorgWarner received the Manufacturing award.
• Univar Solutions was named winner in the Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) category for firms under £50 million turnover.
• Czajka Care, based in Saltaire, won the SME category for firms under £10 million turnover.
• Corporate Travel Management (CTM) secured the SME award for companies with fewer than 250 employees.

Statements from organisers

Professor David Spicer, Director of Business and Community Engagement at the University’s School of Management, emphasised that the list is not a definitive ranking of economic contribution but a showcase of the city’s successful businesses. He acknowledged the important role these firms play in Bradford’s business environment.

Steve Lowe, Sales Director at LOCALiQ, noted that the report is intended to build confidence in Bradford as a business destination and will be used by various local stakeholders to maintain a positive narrative about the district’s economic prospects.