The league table, which was published yesterday (10 June), ranks Britain’s mid-market private companies with the fastest-growing international sales, ranked according to the compound annual growth (CAGR) in their international sales over the latest two financial years.

Inspired Thinking Group (ITG) is the highest ranked industry name for the second consecutive year, dropping one place to 11^th after recording annual international sales growth of 148.4% over the past two years. For its financial year ending August 2017, the Birmingham-based company recorded international sales of £12.1m while its overall turnover was £94.7m.

Uckfield-based print and marketing services provider Pureprint is new in 52^nd place with its international sales hitting £6.8m in the financial year ending December 2017, up 69.7% on the previous year and boosted by growth from the US and Europe. The firm’s overall turnover for the year was £58m.

Pureprint is currently producing one of its biggest ever orders, for a business with its head office in Europe.

Chief executive Mark Handford said: “Our international trade started with projects for our UK customers some years ago but in the last few years we have seen significant growth direct with companies based overseas.”

Director Richard Owers added word of mouth has been a big driver contributing to the company’s international growth.

“As you’re working in new markets then there are people in those markets talking to each other. And in addition to that we’ve got increased activity in New York, with somebody over there once a month.

“It’s a combination of things but a lot of it is to do with our increased activity bringing us into contact with more people and our network expanding.”

Also making the grade was London-headquartered Delta Group, which ranked 56^th with annual international sales growth of 68% over the past two years. The company recorded international sales of £9.52m for the financial year ending December 2017, while its overall turnover was £95m.

Leatherhead-based HH Global ranked 168^th this year after its international sales jumped by 31% in the last two years to £206m. Last month the company posted revenues of £325.5m for the financial year ending 31 March 2018, up by 12.2% from £290m in 2017.

Publishing companies on the list included PrintWeek owner Mark Allen Group in 96^th place, with international sales of £5.8m, up 50.4%, children’s book publisher Usborne Publishing in 137^th place, with international sales of £55.5m, up 37.3%, and book publisher Titan Entertainment, with international sales of £16.5m, up 34.1%.

Fast Track has published league tables of the UK’s top-performing private companies with The Sunday Times for the past 21 years.

Companies had to be registered in the UK and be independent, unquoted and ultimate holding companies. Total sales had to be at least £25m and international sales at least £1m in the latest financial year.