Stock exchange hails 'inspirational' Shropshire and Mid Wales firms

The landmark report, entitled 1,000 Companies to inspire Britain, aims to raise the profile of the businesses, part of the UK's 4.5 million strong SME sector that ranges from local retailers to technology companies.

And two companies in Telford, one near Shrewsbury, and another in Llandrindod Wells have been listed among the up-and-coming businesses which can provide the springboard for economic growth in the UK. Shawbury Business Park-based construction business Goldfoster Ltd is among the businesses to have been recognised on the list.

From Telford, mechanical engineering firm Campion Holdings is recognised, as is Ingimex Ltd, which is based on the Halesfield Industrial Estate and which is the UK's largest manufacturer of light commercial vehicle bodies.

The Mid Wales business included on the list is Med Supplies in Llandrindod Wells.

Gary Steinert, sales forecaster at Ingimex, said: "We are delighted to have been named in this list.

"It is great to be recognised for the work we have put in to our products in recent years, and the commitment of our staff taking Ingimex from strength to strength."

The company currently employs around 80 people at its Telford plant, producing more than 3,000 vehicle bodies per year. It was founded in 1979.

Mr Steinert added: "The major improvement we've made in recent years is in terms of our design.

"We have made a huge effort to bring manufacture of as much as possible in-house, allowing us to cut lead times and improve the range of chassis we can build our products on.

"Taking the Luton Van as an example, in 2011 we began manufacturing the roller shutter in house, replacing a kit we purchased from Europe. We made further improvements to the van in 2012 when we brought the manufacture of the panel assemblies in house as well.

"This allowed us to cut lead times – we now manufacture the panels and shutter during the build of the main body instead of having to order them weeks in advance – and the increased flexibility of being able to manufacture slightly different panels almost at will allowed us to extend our range from supporting just the Ford Transit to building on a range of seven different chassis."

A total of 81 companies were identified in the West Midlands, 33 of them in engineering, defence and aerospace, and they showed average growth of 80 per cent. As well as identifying 1,000 emerging successful companies, the report examines in detail the opportunities and challenges facing the UK' small and medium sized enterprises.

The London Stock Exchange found its 1,000 companies with the help of Growth Intelligence, a technology business that monitors the performance activity of every registered UK business. Xavier Rolet, chief executive of the London Stock Exchange Group, added: "When we began this project six months ago, our aim was to bring to life what we knew instinctively to be true: that these companies are the lifeblood of the UK economy."