Calderdale firms Millers Oils and Waxman Group among top exporters in UK

FIRMS in Elland and Brighouse have been ranked among the UK’s fastest-growing independent businesses for overseas sales.

Waxman Group and Millers Oils are among 21 companies across the North East to feature in the first-ever Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200.

Millers Oils is ranked 91st in the UK list having increased international sales by 42% in the past two years. Overseas sales now total £2.24m out of total sales exceeding £25.5m,.

The company, which supplies oils and lubricants to the automotive and motor sports sectors and employs 118 people at its Rastrick Common premises, exports to the Far East and North and South America.

Waxman Group, based at Grove Mills, Elland, is 93rd in the rankings having increased international sales by 41% in the past two years. Exports account for £11.10m of total sales exceeding £32.32m.

The company, which employs 90 staff, sources flame-retardant fibre from Japan to spinners in Europe and India.

Waxman Group is also involved in distributing mosaic and ceramic tiles and renewable energy.

The 21 North Eastern companies listed employ a total of 6,749 people. Their combined sales are £1.9bn and their international sales have grown by an average of 53% a year over two years to a total of £1,024bn.

The region’s highest-ranked company is Phoenix Software, an IT services provider based in Pocklington, East Yorkshire, which counts American Express and mining giant Anglo American among its customers.

The company, which employs 117 people, has increased overseas sales by 160% a year in the past two years, reaching £4.1m in 2011.

Ian Henley, head of corporate banking for HSBC’s European commercial banking arm. said: “It is a massive boost to confidence to see so many privately-owned British companies – including many which HSBC has helped to support – making such a positive contribution to the UK economy, despite tough trading conditions.”

The companies feature in the league table alongside national brands such as Virgin Active and clothing group Pentland, whose brands include Berghaus and Speedo.