Gilbert-Ash in Sunday Times ‘top’ league table

A leading construction and fit-out company, which has been responsible for a number of landmark buildings across the world, has been named in the annual Sunday Times PwC Top Track 250 league table for the first time.

Belfast’s Gilbert-Ash was ranked 129th and is one of only seven Northern Ireland firms named in the annual league table which ranks Britain’s leading mid-market private companies with the biggest sales before the pandemic struck.

The rankings, published in Sunday Times Business Section, recognised Gilbert-Ash’s growth over the last number of years to sales of £179million and a profit of £7million in 2018.

Gilbert-Ash works throughout the UK and has undertaken numerous projects worldwide in a total of 41 countries from Poland and Bahrain to China, Japan and Australia, many on behalf of the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office.

Managing Director, Ray Hutchinson said: “We are very proud to be named in the 16 th annual Sunday Times PwC Top Track 250 league table for the first time. It is testament to the outstanding work of our teams, working as one with our trusted supply chain partners and clients.

“Over the past twelve months we have completed a broad portfolio of successful construction projects across sectors including arts and culture, workplace, hotels and leisure, science and technology, retail and residential. From landmark buildings including The Royal College of Music, The Mayhew Theatre in London to numerous embassies for the Foreign and Commonwealth office across the world.

“Earlier this year we moved into our new £5million headquarters in Boucher Place, Belfast.

“Gilbert-Ash’s ‘As One’ ethos ensures a culture of respect and togetherness, which underpins our relationships with our colleagues and, clients through to our supply chain network and wider public.

“While 2018 was indeed an exceptional year of incredible growth for Gilbert-Ash, this accolade reflects work we have put in over the last five years. Similarly, 2019 was a year of strong consolidation and investment for Gilbert-Ash and this is reflected in our latest financial results with pre-tax profits of £5.7million compared to £7.6million in 2018. I am delighted we have continued to maintain both healthy turnover and profit-levels. This consolidation, coupled with a strong pipeline, puts us on track for the future.

“In addition, it has been a difficult period for a lot of businesses, but we are very proud to continue our growth and to be in a position to support the people who work for us and with us and to contribute to the economy at this time.”

The 250 companies grew combined sales by 17% to £59.7bn, operating profits by 25% to £5.1bn and employees by 15% to 405,000, prior to the pandemic.

Arif Ahmad, a Private Business Partner at PwC UK, the title sponsor of the league table, commented: “There’s no doubt that 2020 has posed unprecedented challenges. But time and again, we’ve seen business leaders rising to that challenge, adapting their plans and taking the opportunity to innovate.

“This year, it’s more important than ever to recognise and congratulate the companies featured in the Top Track 250. They are the backbone of the UK economy and it’s our pleasure to work with them, at every stage of their journeys.”

The Top Track 250 is sponsored by PwC and Lloyds Bank, and compiled by Fast Track, the Oxford-based research and networking events firm.

Over the 16 years, the Top Track 250 league table has featured many of Britain’s most successful mid-market private companies. Past stars include appliance maker Dyson, which first featured in 2005 with sales of just £277m, and this year featured in the Top Track 100 with sales of £4.4bn.

The full league table is published as a 10-page broadsheet supplement within the business section of

The Sunday Times on September 27, both in print and in the digital edition, and on www.fasttrack.co.uk.

For more about Gilbert-Ash visit www.gilbert-ash.com

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