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MorphCostumes
MorphCostumes is an online fancy dress costume retailer based in Edinburgh. Brothers Ali and Fraser Smeaton founded the business in 2009 alongside their flatmate Gregor Lawson, with a starting capital of £1,000 from their savings. They began selling full-body, skin-tight spandex costumes, known as Morphsuits, as a small online side hustle. By 2014, the company rebranded to MorphCostumes and expanded to include a wide range of traditional fancy dress costumes for men, women, and children. MorphCostumes received £4.2m in equity investment from BGF Growth Capital in 2012 and grew its offerings by acquiring costume manufacturer Fun Shack in 2019. This is the company’s second appearance in the FEBE Growth 100, having ranked 80th last year.
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The T-Shirt Factory
The Tshirt Factory Europe specialises in the design, sourcing, decoration, and manufacturing of apparel and accessories for international companies. Catering to renowned names in the music industry like Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, and The Rolling Stones, they operate across touring, e-commerce, and retail sectors for major record labels and festivals worldwide. Additionally, the company produces merchandise for fashion retailers, e-tailers, and licensing partners such as Disney, Netflix, and Warner Brothers. Founded by Nick Higgins and Adam Steventon, the company began selling branded clothing to halls of residence and sports teams at the University of Loughborough, before recognising their potential to expand. The Tshirt Factory’s growth has been propelled by its commitment to sustainable and ethical production, achieving a turnover of £18.2m in 2023.
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Luxe Collective
Liverpool-based Luxe Collective, founded in 2018 by brothers Joseph and Ben Gallagher, has carved a niche in the pre-loved luxury fashion market. The pair were inspired by their mother’s ability to buy affordable designer shoes from a second-hand website, leading them to start their own business focused on sustainable luxury fashion. The company offers customers the opportunity to trade in their designer items and purchase pre-owned luxury goods. It has successfully leveraged social media, amassing a following of 1.9m on TikTok, where it engages users with fashion content. Increased brand awareness helped sales hit £5.7m in 2023, up from £2.5m in 2021. In March 2024, serial entrepreneur and Dragons’ Den investor Steven Bartlett invested £100k in the business.
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Hippo Digital
Founded in 2016, Hippo is a full-service digital services consultancy headquartered in Leeds employing over 500 specialists across the UK. Co-founder Adam Lewis launched the company as he believed there was a lack of consultancy partners that applied a user experience focus for public sector transformation projects. Hippo’s approach combines user-centred design principles, robust engineering, data and cyber practices. The company’s clients include the NHS, BBC, Department for Work & Pensions, GAMSTOP, Ministry of Justice and the wider UK public and private sectors. Winning new clients and expanding existing accounts helped Hippo’s sales hit £38.6m in 2023, a 50% increase over the prior year.
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Extons Foods
Extons Foods, a family-run business based in Manchester, is one of the UK’s largest cheese processors, specialising in producing sliced, grated, and block cheese. Founded in 2000 by Liz Parkinson—joined by her sister Rachel Edwards in 2002—the company originated when Liz bought a small cheese delivery service in Stockport. The business has grown by reinvesting in new facilities, such as a new factory in South Manchester that opened in 2013. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company adapted by enhancing its partnerships with retail companies to sustain growth. Now, Extons Foods produces 450 tonnes of cheese a week, with its most popular products being sliced and grated cheeses. This focus on strategic reinvestment and adaptability led to a more than 50% increase in sales year-on-year, reaching £96.7m in 2023.
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Educ8
Educ8 provides apprenticeship programmes and training courses, with customers ranging from SMEs to multinationals. The business was established in 2004 by founder and chairman Colin Tucker and initially focused on health and social care. Educ8 has since expanded into new training areas via a number of strategic acquisitions and employs over 250 people. Educ8 delivers fully funded apprenticeships for the Welsh Government and offers a portfolio of qualifications including healthcare, leadership, digital, hair and beauty, and equine. The company is Investors in People platinum accredited, and in 2023, was recognised in the top 5 ‘Best Large Companies to Work For in the UK’. Educ8 has implemented an Employee Ownership Trust scheme, with staff now owning 51% of the business.