STRONG SHOWING FOR REGION’S SME S IN LATEST 1,000 COMPANIES TO INSPIRE BRITAIN

The London Stock Exchange has published its sixth annual edition of “1,000 Companies to Inspire Britain”

Around 100 companies from across the region have been included in this year’s “1,000 Companies to Inspire Britain”, published by The London Stock Exchange.

Reaction Engines, based at Culham Science Centre near Abingdon, is one of just three manufacturing companies nationally marked out as an industry leader.

The report identifies the UK’s most dynamic and fastest growing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This year’s report features companies from many sectors, reflecting the entrepreneurial drive across the country. The majority of the companies listed appear for the first time.

Aerospace manufacturer Reaction Engines was founded in 1989 to develop a revolutionary air-breathing rocket engine – SABRE™ (Synergetic AirBreathing Rocket Engine).

The company employs more than 200 staff predominantly in the UK, with an office and test facility in the US.

“We aim to be twice as fast as the fastest jet engine and more efficient than the most efficient rocket engines,” explained Mark Thomas, Chief Executive of Reaction Engines.

“The rocket will allow the development of truly reusable space launch vehicles, along with hypersonic aircraft, and represents a defining moment in powered flight.”

Other companies in the report include Warwickshire-based Find Me a Gift, Wantage-based energy management company Ignite Energy.

Kidderminster-based vehicle body shop Gemini Repairs Ltd, Horizon International Cargo in Slough and Gloucester-based Newland Homes are also listed.

The top five industries represented are engineering and construction, retail, manufacturing, information technology and healthcare.

The 1,000 companies in this year’s report together created 95,827 jobs over the past two-year period, a 39 per cent increase compared to last year’s report.

The annual report also examines the opportunities and challenges facing SMEs and the sectors and trends that will shape the British and European economies.

Prime Minister’s appliance of science at Culham to attract international talent

Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) at Culham Science Centre to make his first major science policy announcement since taking office.

The visit marked a government announcement on plans to develop a new fast-track visa route for the brightest and best scientists to continue to move to the UK after EU exit.

The Prime Minister was shown the Authority’s work harnessing the huge potential of nuclear fusion as a low-carbon energy source.

He said: “The UK is leading the world in nuclear fusion thanks in significant part to the work of the UK Atomic Energy Authority.”