Hot, hot, hot
A host of Blackpool-based businesses have been named in the Hot 100 most profitable small to medium enterprises in Lancashire.
The Hot 100 list is compiled by Lancashire Business View magazine and three of the Blackpool businesses named figure in the top ten.
Topping the chart is Hargreave Hale Ltd stockbrokers, which saw profits rise from £1.5m to over £2m for the year. Last year, the company finished second in the list.
Second place this year goes to W&G Harrison Ltd, operators of the Ribby Hall Leisure Village, near Wrea Green. With a workforce of over 200 people, the company made a pre-tax profit of almost £2m on a turnover of nearly £15m.
Ninth place in the list goes to Thompson (Blackpool) Ltd, a specialist building contractor that undertakes both new build and refurbishment projects across the country. Thompson Developments is currently developing 23 acres of prime business land at Whitehills Business Park close to the M55. Thompson also takes the Hot 100 prize of Top Independent Company.
In 24th place and winner of the Hot 100's Biggest Employer is Whistledawn Ltd, the Blackpool-based owner of residential care homes for children. The company employs 426 staff and made a pre-tax profit of almost £750,000 on a turnover of £13.5m.
Other Blackpool-based companies in the list are:
54th: Rowlands and Hames Ltd, insurance brokers and independent financial advisers;
72nd: Partington's Holiday Centres, which owns and operates five holiday parks on the Fylde Coast;
74th: Mowbray Holdings Ltd, a holdings company with business interests throughout the UK;
95th: VoiteQ Ltd, a software consultancy operating out of Blackpool, with more than 50 personnel working across the UK and USA.