The 2023 list of the top 200 businesses in Derbyshire has been released, featuring some of the biggest employers in Britain. Toyota again tops the annual list which has been put together by the University of Derby’s Business School.
The list uses annual accounting figures from July 1, 2020, to June 3, 2021 – a period when Covid lockdowns were having a profound impact on the global industry. The car giant had revenues of £2.11 billion for the year to March 31, 2021, and employed 2,725 people, maintaining its place as the county’s biggest business by turnover.
Bloor Investments, based at Measham, on the Derbyshire/Leicestershire border, came in second. The business, started by former plasterer John Bloor, takes in Bloor Homes and Triumph Motorcycles, which is based in Hinckley. The group had a turnover of £1.94 billion for the year to the end of June 2021 – which subsequently rose to £2.22 billion the following year – and employed 3,341 people.
Building company Bowmer and Kirkland was in third place, followed by train maker Bombardier Transportation UK – now owned by Alstom – and jet engine and submarine reactor builder Rolls-Royce.
The university said that between July 2020 and June 2021, lockdowns contributed to Derby and Derbyshire businesses seeing an overall drop in turnover, with total revenues for all 200 standing at £3.78 billion – 14 per cent down on 2019-2020.
Despite this, some sectors remained resilient – especially healthcare and medicine, construction and chemicals.
The top three largest sectors were manufacturing (30.5 per cent); wholesale and retail trade, including motor vehicles (20.5 per cent); and financial services and insurance (10.5 per cent).
The top 200 businesses report was compiled by researchers from the business school using publicly available information, and will contribute to an East Midlands Top 500 Businesses list which will be revealed by BusinessLive later this month.
University of Derby Vice-Chancellor Professor Kathryn Mitchell CBE DL said: “Although covering a period when businesses were impacted by the pandemic, this report confirms that our city and country remain home to some of the world’s most successful businesses.
“The jobs they provide for thousands of people, including our graduates, are vital to supporting our communities and the prosperity of our region.
“The university will continue to work closely with employers and businesses across a range of sectors to help meet the current and future needs of our region so that we can maintain this position of collective strength.”
