The Prolific North Top 75 Tech & eCommerce Companies 2020

Yesterday's webinar was hosted by Prolific North Editor David Prior, who was joined by Bruntwood SciTech - Manchester Managing Director Tom Renn, Tootoot Co-founder Michael Brennan, and TalkTalk Business Head of Enterprise New Business Gabriel Dooris.

The tech leaders discussed what has been happening throughout the COVID crisis, and what's on the horizon. Conversation covered the challenges and opportunities created by the pandemic. They discussed:

• Working on and pushing through new elements and innovations.
• How certain businesses have continued to grow while others have struggled - and why what's stood out the most has been resilience.
• Tips for founders and owners on valuing and empowering their people.
• The rise in importance of flexibility, and how it's helped companies survive and thrive.
• How demand for tech will change when restrictions lift - with many widely having transitioned to a fully digital lifestyle, people will now expect many technologies to stay for convenience.
• The uptake and rollout of 5G, and the exciting telecommunications innovations on the horizon.
• How the COVID crisis has accelerated innovation and implementation of digital transformation by three years or more.

Hear the conversation in full and watch the full Tech & eCommerce webinar, sponsored by Bruntwood SciTech, right here:

Summary

Manchester has cemented its reputation as the leading destination for tech outside the capital, with companies based there taking the lion's share of the Top 75 ranking, highlighting its national and international influence as a hub for online retail and technology.

Bet365 Group, which was founded in Stoke in 2000 and has grown to become one of the UK's largest betting and gaming companies, is at pole position once again, outpacing its nearest challenger by more than £500 million in turnover.

Three names which can boast a particularly successful year, helping them climb the list, are Godel Technologies (up 13 places to 55), Pharmacy2u (up 11 places to 43), and Blue Prism Group (up 12 places to 31). Also climbing high this year are Tombola, rising to number 29, and PrettyLittleThing, rising to number 14.

Key findings:

• The average turnover for the entire Top 75 was £327 million, while for the Top 10 the average was an enormous £1.69 billion.
• Bet365 Group has bolstered its turnover over the course of just one year by more than £200 million, to reach £3.06 billion.
• Once again, software companies have the stroingest representation. 16% of the list is software firms, whose average turnover is £206.5 million. 
• Companies' revenue has increased by an average of around 9% compared to 2019. Overall employment in the region's tech sector has remained stable despite conditions, growing by about 1% since last year.

The Prolific North Top 75 Tech & eCommerce Companies 2020

Sponsored by Bruntwood SciTech

2019 ranking in brackets