24 Business DECEMBER 2018
business of the year
Auto Trader has stepped up a gear as
revenues and profits speed ahead.
The business saw record growth
from new and existing retail offerings,
including its dealer finance product,
as well as advertising packages for
dealerships.
The Manchester-headquartered
business operates the UK’s largest
digital automotive marketplace.
It has gone through a significant
transformation in recent years.
Founded in 1977, the company first
produced general trade magazines
under the title, Thames Valley Trader.
It became known as Auto Trader in
1988 and started digital production of
the magazine in 1995 and the first Auto
Trader website was created two years
before Google was conceived.
Auto Trader is now a total digital,
publicly traded business with a fast
paced culture, a highly customer
orientated approach with innovation
sitting at its heart.
With more than nine million visitors
searching and viewing around half a
million car, van, and bike adverts from
almost 14,000 UK retailers, Auto Trader
works with an incredible amount of
data.
Through the evolution of its digital
platforms and innovative data
products, the company ‘continues to
make the car buying process simple for
customers.’ 2017 was a strong year for
Auto Trader, which employs more than
800 staff.
Pre-tax profits grew to £193.4m, up
from £155m in the previous year. That
was on revenues of £311.4m, up from
£281.6m in 2016.
It also successfully acquired and
integrated Motor Trade Delivery, which
will strengthen Auto Trader’s growth
opportunity in the trade-to-tradebusiness. On winning the turnover over
£100m category, Alison Ross, platform
and operations and people director,
said the team were ‘truly overwhelmed
and proud,’ with their win.
She said: “We are a fast growing
tech company which is proud to be a
Manchester business.
“Manchester is such a great city that
has so much to offer.
“The business has been through amajor transformation over recent years
and our staff have worked incredibly
hard to see the Auto Trader grow into
the great company it is today.
“We’re proud of the company and
proud to win this award.”
Phil Storer, PwC private business
partner, said: “The quality of the
entries this year was once again
outstanding, with a wide range of
businesses from a broad mix of sectors
represented.
“What remains evident is the
nature and the qualities of the entries
which clearly demonstrates that
the region continues to be home to
both traditional and new emerging
businesses with a real focus on how
these businesses are embracing new
technology to both grow and attract
future investment.
“I was delighted to see Auto Trader
win the ‘Turnover over £100m’ category
which we sponsored and is testament
to the significant transformation
programme it has undertaken in recent
years which has taken it from its origins
as a trade magazine to now being a
totally digital, publicly traded business
with a clear focus on culture and their
customers’ with innovation sitting at
the heart of everything they do.
“I’d like to wish Alison Ross and the
team at Auto Trader every success in
the future.”pwc turnover over £100m: auto trader
robert walters turnover £50m-£100m: cardinal maritime
British-owned logistics company
Cardinal Maritime is a real Manchester
fairytale story.
The entrepreneurial spirit of the
founder has seen the firm getting a
foothold on the world stage as it now
serves 500 ports.
This global expansion put them
in prime position to win the Robert
Walters Turnover £50m-£100m award
over DOMU Brands and Rayburn
Trading.
Founded in Manchester, Cardinal
Maritime now operates across seven
sites in the UK and has seven further
offices across Europe, Africa and China
with plans for three offices in Asia this
y e a r.
CEO Brian Hay said: “We remain true
to our culture and values and deliver
these exciting developments for the
benefit of our clients and stakeholders
alike, without ego, in the hope that
can achieve our ambition and perhaps
change the way in which world trade is
organised.”
Cardinal Maritime has four market
facing brands: CardinalMaritime.
com, Origin Logistics, far Logistics and
Cardinal Plus.
They also serve many local
businesses as clients including
Character World, Ultimate Products
and Better Bathrooms.
Their services range from freight
consolidation, e-fulfillment, air,
ocean and road-freight services
and specialised project freightmanagement. Last year, the business
broke all records with turnover
increasing by a hefty 41.6 per cent from
£59.58m to £84.34m.
2017 also saw the business design
and build their third facility in Sharston
creating a further 40 local jobs andcontributing towards the regeneration
of Wythenshawe.
This spectacular year and the organic
growth as well as a supportive culture
for employees make Cardinal Maritime
a worthy winner.
Brian added: “2017 was a pivotal year
for us as we grew to £85m, an increase
of 41 per cent.
“We opened offices in Asia but the
real pleasure comes from creating jobs
in Wythenshawe.”
Lucy Bissett, director of Robert
Walters Manchester, said: “In our
sixth year contributing to the awards,
it’s been a pleasure to take part in
the judging process and to meet
some of the businesses spearheading
phenomenal growth across the North
West.
“The awards ceremony was a true
celebration of regional excellence and
an incredible evening for everyone
involved. I’d like to congratulate
Cardinal Maritime Group who
demonstrated true entrepreneurial
spirit and outstanding financial
acumen during the judging
process, and I’d like to extend my
congratulations to all the finalists and
winners.”