13. Bytes Software Services

Key points

Revenue: £277m (+28%)

Net profit: 2.3%

Staff: 266

Software licensing powerhouse Bytes recently told us it turned over £305m in the first half of its fiscal 2019, with acquisition Phoenix Software weighing in with an £88m contribution. This profile covers only principal arm Bytes Software Services (we have profiled Phoenix Software and cybersecurity arm Bytes Security Partnerships separately), however, which saw revenues in its last full year ending 28 February 2018 vault 28 per cent to £277m. Although Bytes SS complained that Microsoft's decision to hike UK prices by 22 per cent in January 2017 dented its gross margins, net profits rose from £5.5m to £6.5m. Since year end, the Leatherhead-based firm - whose parent company Altron is listed on the Johannesburg stock exchange - has bagged a £150m deal to roll out Windows 10 across the NHS.