A report by Catalyst Corporate Finance says that the Midlands has 36% of the UK’s manufacturers of chemicals and — the highest concentration in any region of the country — and that almost half the businesses in the report recorded double-digit annual sales increases over the past two years despite the challenging economic backdrop and the slowdown in global growth.
Ali Robertson, head of Catalyst, said: “The strong rates of growth achieved by so many of the companies in the report
reinforce how the chemicals and coatings sector is a UK success story, and the Midlands is home to a high proportion of the UK’s best-performing chemicals and coatings businesses.
“We see these thriving businesses establishing a reputation on the world stage for their innovation, highly skilled workforce and high-quality products.”
Joel Leeson, managing director of Warwick-based Leeson Polyurethanes (pictured), said: “As long as you’re well-funded and well-invested, you can ride out the ebbs and flows of business dynamics.”
The firm was ranked second in the region and sixth in the UK, with compound annual revenue growth of more than 15% over the past two years.