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Four County Durham businesses named among Britain’s fastest growing SME exporters

County Durham is putting fellow North East towns to shame, as four of its businesses are set to make a prestigious British Export list published this weekend.

The Sunday Times BT Business SME Export Track 100 league table ranks for the first time Britain’s private SMEs with the fastest-growing international sales over the last two years.

The four County Durham headquartered companies, which have made a significant contribution to the regional economy, are the only companies from the North East to be included.

The region’s highest-ranked company is mobile phone accessories business PJA Distribution, which is placed at No 6. The County Durham firm has grown sales through online selling forums, and exports hit £4.7m last year. It plans to roll out websites in multiple languages and open offices in Germany and France.

The other entrants include Darlington-based subsea construction firm Modus (No.7), which provides a range of seabed services for clients in the oil and gas sector, and specialist shoe retailer inov-8 (No.18), based in Crook.

Popular craft products retailer Crafter’s Companion, which is based in Bishop’s Auckland and has an office in California, completes the North East’s representation at No.26. .

Together their international sales have grown by an average of 137% a year over the last two years to a total of £24m and they now employ a total of 225 people.

The businesses in the North East feature on the league table alongside companies from around the UK, including emerging brands such as hair products supplier Tangle Teezer, goat milk producer Delamere Dairy and smart materials developer D3O.

The majority of the companies on the league table are headquartered in London (28), the southeast (21), the northwest (10) and Yorkshire (8). Of the remainder, the West Midlands, the southwest and Scotland are home to six league table companies each, followed by the East Midlands (4), northeast (4), Wales (3) and the East (3). One company is based in Northern Ireland.

Danny Longbottom, Managing Director UK SME at BT Business, said: “I would like to congratulate the businesses recognised in the inaugural Export Track 100, who are proving that it’s not necessarily size that determines international success.

“These businesses have used a combination of self-starting ambition, smart use of technology, and sheer hard work to punch well above their weight in the global market. The fruits of their labour are contributing to a strong and diverse UK economy, which we can all be thankful for.”

The SME Export Track 100 is sponsored by BT Business and is supported by the Business is GREAT Britain campaign. It is compiled by Fast Track, the Oxford-based research and networking events company.

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