SUSSEX is a significant and growing contributor to the national economy with strengths including construction, information technology, manufacturing, retailing, advanced engineering and logistics, to name a few.

With such a diverse economy, the Sussex Super Growth Awards return for a fourth year to recognise the county’s high-growth, wealth-creating, job-generating businesses.

This year’s awards will take place on Thursday at the Amex Stadium in Falmer, hosted by well-known local businessman and broadcaster, Simon Fanshawe.

A list of this year’s finalists has been released by the organisers.

It’s an exciting time for these companies who will shortly find out where their business growth ranks within this prestigious peer group.

Sponsored by asb law, Lloyds Bank and Kreston Reeves, in collaboration with The Argus as media partner, these awards recognise and celebrate business success.

The Sussex Super Growth finalists are assessed over a four-year accounting period using information filed at Companies House.

Their growth rankings will be revealed on Thursday when the fastest-growing company will be announced.

Inclusion in the Sussex Super Growth Awards is a real testament to success.

Whether that is down to innovation or evolution, improved market conditions or diversification, organisers said every finalist should be proud to be part of such a fantastic gathering of Sussex businesses.

Sussex Super Growth Finalists 2018 – listed in alphabetical order

A World of Books

Airtech Air Conditioning Services

Ampito Group

Arden Grange

BD Foods

Buxted Construction

C J Thorne and Co

Chandlers Building Supplies

Cheesmur Building Contractors

Coppard Plant Hire

Cordek

Cox Skips

Dinnages Garages

DNP Restaurants

Dual Energy Direct

Edwards and Ward

Elite Fine Foods

Envision Pharma

Ferrabyrne

First Central Insurance Management

First People Recruitment

Focus Group

Gardner and Scardifield

Harwoods

Hill Brothers

Industrial Construction Sussex

International Logistics Group

J W Stratton

John Jempson and Son

K and S Construction

KEW Electrical Distributors

Littlewood Fencing

Madgex

Mecmesin

Melrob Group

OCSL

Owen Contractors

Paine Manwaring

Paladone

Parker Building Supplies

Paxton Access

Penfold Verrall

Pets Corner

Phase Electrical Distributors

Posturite

PSI – Pay

Pureprint Group

Roffey Homes

Rydon Construction

SAS Global Communications

Southern Cranes and Access

Stamco

Thakeham Homes

Tomsetts Distribution

VW Heritage Parts Centre

Whiteline Manufacturing

Wilmoths Group

Wilson Process Systems

Woolovers

Zenith Insurance Management

Russell Bell, senior consultant at asb law, said: “Sussex has major business strengths across many sectors.

“The Sussex Super Growth Awards provide a welcome opportunity to celebrate the success of companies that are creating wealth and generating jobs across the region.”

Gavin Potter, growth relationship director for Lloyds Commercial Banking, said: “With the Sussex Super Growth Awards now an established fixture on the Sussex business calendar, we look forward to recognising and celebrating the achievements of our most successful fast growth companies.”

Paul Roe, partner at Kreston Reeves, said: “It’s always great to see Sussex businesses doing so well and these awards are unique in their ability to pick up fantastic success stories.

“We are delighted to be supporting great businesses in getting the recognition they so deserve, and making Sussex such a great place to do business.”

Forty two per cent of this year’s finalists represent the construction industry or its associated supply chain.

Sussex has strong businesses in this sector and growth is coming from two areas.

The first is new residential property including the conversion of under-used office buildings into new homes under permitted development rights.

Housebuilding has also been boosted by the Government’s help-to-buy equity loan programme.

The second is bespoke commercial development, despite a number of existing big infrastructure projects having come to an end.

The Office of National Statistics recently reported that national construction output peaked in March last year, reaching a level that was 31 per cent higher than the lowest point of the last five years.

Headwinds do remain around Brexit uncertainty but for now, Sussex-based construction businesses are enjoying a sustained period of growth.

The Argus will publish a special 16-page supplement in next Tuesday’s edition, listing all the finalists and their respective growth rates.

We will also provide full coverage of Thursday’s awards event.

Simon Fanshawe will be host.

Sussex Super Growth Awards Criteria:

l Privately owned business, trading with headquarters in Sussex.

l Profitable growth in turnover measured over a four-year accounting period based on latest full accounts information filed at Companies House.

l Minimum turnover of £2 million in base year.

For further information about the Sussex Super Growth Awards, please contact neil.gardner@asb-law.com