Arriva tops the North East Top 200 Companies list
ARRIVA tops the North East Top 200 Companies list for the second year running, staying ahead of carmaker Nissan which it toppled from the perch in 2008.
The public transport group achieves the double on what could be a final appearance.
Nissan, either way, will be a serious contender next time as it tools up for its exciting new green-car era, though it may be some time before sales of the new zero-emission Leaf, due to appear from 2013, show up significantly in the books. Amec’s North East operation based at Darlington retains third place for a second year.
The entire group has been transformed from a lame duck into one of the UK’s best performers in engineering since coming under the command four years ago of Samir Brikho, 51, its Lebanese-Swedish boss.
Divested now of poor performing activities, the group focuses on oil, gas and mining services. Its clients include Shell Exxon, National Grid, EDF and – whisper it – BP. It is expected to excel further in environmental and nuclear contracting.
The region’s second biggest public carrier Go Ahead rolls along, still in fourth, with its 3,500 buses and a 21% share of the London market. Its rail franchises are 65% owned through the holding company Govia. In December it sold off most of its lossmaking aviation services – ground handling and cargo operations.
Chief executive Keith Ludeman says being out of aviation was “the right thing”. But it retains its profitable Meteor airport parking business and a smaller aviation business or two. It operates Southern, Southeastern and London Midland rail franchises. Revenues on the new high-speed rail service cutting journey times between the Kent coast and London have so far failed to match expectations, but revenues there will still rise.
The other six places in the top 10 of the list go to Sage (up 1), Southern Cross Healthcare Group (up 2), Vertu Motors (soaring 81 places to 7), Eaga (up 5), Northumbrian Water (up 2) and Bellway (down 3 to 10)
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