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- Report identifies how uniquely critical high-growth private small and medium sized companies (SMEs) are to future European economic growth and job creation
- Most dynamic SMEs boast average growth rate of 71 per cent and job creation rate of 66 per cent
- Commissioner Lord Hill highlights need to support these firms with appropriate funding model to make Capital Markets Union a reality
- Report part of broader LSEG support for high growth companies, including business support programme, ELITE
The report in numbers:
- The companies have shown a compound annual growth rate of 71 per cent over last three years
- Top 100 companies in the report grew more than 400% over last three years
- Europe’s manufacturing credentials underlined: Over 25% of companies in manufacturing and engineering sectors – 72% annual revenue growth
- Standout sectors for annual revenue growth: Construction (138%), IT/Telecommunications (89%), Retail (78%), Pharma/Science (68%)
- Companies are generating new jobs at phenomenal pace, more than 66% over last two years proving SME capacity to tackle European employment crisis
- Exceptional level of innovation evident: over 4,000 patents and registered trademarks
Today, company CEOs featured in the report were welcomed at the European Parliament by Commissioner Lord Hill, Xavier Rolet, CEO, London Stock Exchange Group, Othmar Karas MEP, Kay Swinburne MEP, Paul Tang MEP and Ramon Tremosa MEP at a special launch event which celebrated the spirit of small and mid sized companies’ ambition and entrepreneurialism.
Commissioner Lord Hill said:
“The companies you will find in the ‘1,000 Companies to Inspire Europe’ report are all remarkable examples of European hard work and entrepreneurship. They come from all 28 EU Countries and from a wide range of business sectors. This report gives these companies the recognition they deserve. But more than that, I hope that by providing investors with a selection of companies with great potential ‘1,000 companies to Inspire Europe’ will make it easier for them to find opportunities and channel investment to SMEs that want to grow and compete in bigger markets, helping to make Capital Markets Union a reality.”
Xavier Rolet, Chief Executive, London Stock Exchange Group said:
“This research shows high-growth SMEs are the driving force behind the European economy. While the public sector and big blue chip companies have not been creating jobs for many years now, these companies are growing and employing at an incredible rate. And because by definition these companies are innovators, these jobs tend to be higher skilled and higher paid, helping to give young Europeans the brighter economic future they deserve.
“So it is critical that we give these firms access to suitable growth finance that will enable them to invest, grow and become the big job providers of tomorrow.”
The report is produced with support from AFME and Bureau van Dijk.
Simon Lewis, CEO, AFME said:
“We are delighted to support this important and timely initiative by London Stock Exchange Group, which highlights Europe’s SME success stories. SMEs are at the heart of the European economy and supporting them to grow and innovate is vital to Europe’s long-term economic future. Part of this involves facilitating access to diverse sources of funding, as well as helping SMEs to think creatively about their financing options. AFME’s pan-European guide on raising finance, published in six European languages, sets out all of the funding options available to Europe’s SMEs, which we hope will prove useful to the high growth companies of the future.”
Othmar Karas, MEP for Austria, Chair of SME Intergroup and member of ECON said:
“I am delighted to congratulate the 20 Austrian SMEs that have been identified amongst the 1000 fastest growing SMEs in Europe.
“As the Chair of the SMEs intergroup of the European Parliament I am well aware how important SMEs are for the European economy. We must keep supporting SMEs in Austria and the rest of Europe by eliminating barriers, making it easier for them to do business globally and helping them to access the finance they need to innovate, grow and create jobs."
Kay Swinburne, MEP for Wales and member ECON said:
“The companies featured in the ‘1,000 Companies to Inspire Europe’ report are shining examples of Europe’s creativity and inventiveness and will hopefully be the future engines of the EU economy. I have huge pride that my constituency of Wales is home to a number of companies in this booklet. They may be little-known now, but they could grow into world renowned companies that provide jobs for the next generation.”
LSEG’s “1000 Companies to Inspire Europe” report has received international political support with contributions from Markus Ferber MEP, Othmar Karas MEP, Alain Lamassoure MEP, Cora van Nieuwenhuizen MEP, Kay Swinburne MEP and Paul Tang MEP.
A full searchable database of all of the companies along with a downloadable pdf of the publication can be found online at www.1000companies.com
Further support and contributions from leading business bodies in the EU including Business Europe, European Issuers, EUROCHAMBRES, EUAPME and CEPS/ECMI.
The report is part of LSEG’s broader support campaign for ambitious SMEs which includes ELITE, the innovative programme now counting almost 400 international businesses. At the launch, LSEG announced an ELITE European roadshow which will take place in major European cities throughout 2016. This will bring further visibility to the companies in their home countries and allow them the opportunity to access ELITE, helping to support them in their long term growth.
