The Prolific North Top 75 Tech & Ecommerce Companies 2021

The function was hosted by Prolific North Editor David Prior, who first of all gave a welcome to the venue along with Laura Walters, Recruitment Board Director at The Candidate.

Prior then sat down with Steve Oliver of musicMagpie to discuss the Northern digital success story. Oliver discussed the history of musicMagpie and its journey to IPO, as well as new innovations and models within the company.

He chatted about disruption and musicMagpie’s successful expansion into the US, on top of the realities of being a publicly listed company.

This was followed by a conversation with the MDs of TalkTalk Business Direct and Buy It Direct – Mark Sellers and Nick Glynne – in which the impact of COVID on both digital businesses was covered.

They discussed supply chains, operations and sustainability, as well as the extent to which the pandemic has changed culture within the companies.

The business leaders also reflected on their local success – TalkTalk Business being based in Salford, and Buy It Direct having its headquarters in Huddersfield.

Before and after the conversations, attendees had the opportunity to network and enjoy food and drink with their peers, and enjoy the brilliant surroundings of the Ancoats venue.

Analysis

The list reveals that many of the region’s tech companies have thrived this year, although a significant number have taken a hit to their turnovers – while remaining big players.

Bet365 Group remains the region’s largest tech company, with The Very Group making it into the Top 3, behind Radius Payment Solutions.

Greater Manchester is well-represented within the Top 10, but doesn’t get a look-in to the five leading companies. Eight of the Top 10 are from the North West, with one in Yorkshire and one in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.

Overall, 14 entries in the ranking hail from Manchester; eight operate in Leeds; and four in Newcastle.

• The total turnover of the entire Top 75 in 2021 is £24.7 billion, with the average at £329 million – up £2 million from 2020.
• The list shows that these companies alone employ more than 88,000 – nearly two-thirds of the companies listed (48) have experienced headcount growth. The average employee count of the leading tech and ecommerce companies in the North was 1,176.
• Looking at the Top 10 entrants, their combined revenue is £16.5 billion, and they employ 48,000 between them alone.
• On the list, the leading 36 brands are making a revenue of more than £100 million each year.
• Seven of the Top 25 are ecommerce brands, five are telecommunications brands, and three are in gaming. Software is once again strongly represented across the whole Top 75, making up 18.7% of the entries.

The Prolific North Top 75 Tech & Ecommerce Companies 2021

Sponsored by The Candidate

2020 ranking in brackets

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