Meet the Pro50: C to F

Carnival Films and TV

Carnival is famous for creating period drama Downton Abbey. With a small core UK team, the company demonstrates the exceptional reach and economic value that the creative industries can yield. Managing director Gareth Neame sees his role as marrying the financial firepower of Hollywood with an entrepreneurial spirit. Carnival’s global success suggests that he’s got the balance right.

Comau UK

Comau UK specialises in automated welding for the motor manufacturing industry using advanced robotics. Since 2007, the company has offered management training through its Project Management Academy, developing both hard and soft project-management skills in its employees. Comau has also developed a Project and People Management book and smartphone app.

Company Pictures

Company Pictures is a television production company whose hits include teen drama Skins, Inspector George Gently, starring Martin Shaw, and Wild at Heart, starring Stephen Tompkinson. It has also produced the award-winning Shameless, starring David Threlfall, which spawned a US spin-off with William H Macy, and Emmy-nominated Wolf Hall (pictured), featuring Mark Rylance and Damian Lewis.

Costcutter Supermarkets Group

The Costcutter Supermarkets Group owns Costcutter, the second-largest corner-shop chain in the UK, and also includes Kwiksave and Mace in its list of brands. The business’s franchise model allows it to keep costs and headcount down, while still expanding its national reach, demonstrated by the opening of 353 new franchise accounts in 2013.

Crescent Pharmaceuticals

Crescent Pharmaceuticals manufactures cost-efficient generic medications for the UK market and for export. It has licences for more than 100 medicines, with an efficient manufacturing process allowing it to offer the products at an affordable price over the counter and on prescription through the NHS.

The global market for generic medicines is estimated to be $221bn by 2016.

Crest JMT Leather

Crest JMT Leather provides bespoke dyed leathers for use in furnishings and other interior design items through its tannery, located in Vestenanova in northern Italy. The company produces customised leather hides for both commercial and domestic customers, using a lean retail presence focused on the efficient use of e-commerce.

CSA Waverley

CSA Waverley was founded in 1983 and delivers IT infrastructure design, implementation and support services for the NHS, local authorities, central government and private-sector organisations. The company has a 10-year staff retention rate of 40%, helping it to offer its customers “the security they need from their long-term partner”.

DK Engineering

DK Engineering was founded by husband-and-wife team David and Kate Cottingham, who still run the business. The company restores, sells and repairs Ferraris, as well as providing support crews for race teams. It survived the crash in the price of Ferraris during the 1990s by not over-expanding during the 1980s boom and incorporating increased workloads into existing infrastructure.

Fever-Tree

Fever-Tree is a premium mixer drinks company with headquarters in London. It was the first company to sell a premium Indian tonic water when it was launched in 2005. It now has a product range of 10 drinks, including tonic waters, soda waters, ginger beers and lemonade.