We're proud to present the 30th anniversary edition of the Belfast Telegraph Top 100 Companies list
Revealed |
Welcome to the 2025 Belfast Telegraph Top 100 Companies in partnership with Grant Thornton.
This is the 30th anniversary edition of the Top 100, and we're proud to have maintained the publication over these three decades as a record of the performance of the Northern Ireland economy.
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Belfast Telegraph
20-05-2025
- Belfast Telegraph
Linfield boss David Healy reveals why he wants long-term future resolved as soon as possible
David Healy has revealed the sooner his long-term future at Linfield is sorted out the better after collecting the Manager of the Year prize at the Ulster Footballer of the Year awards. The Belfast Telegraph disclosed last week that there had been little movement on a new deal for Healy over two months on from the Blues claiming the League title and at Tuesday's awards ceremony at the Audi showroom in Belfast, Northern Ireland's record goalscorer confirmed that remained the case.
Belfast Telegraph
20-05-2025
- Belfast Telegraph
Gerry Murphy: Top 100 Companies reminds us all of what's at stake in Good Jobs Bill
We also noticed Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald's comments that the 'work we are taking forward on the Good Jobs Employment Rights Bill is crucial for creating sustainable employment opportunities and boosting the local economy'. 'It will help ensure fair wages, better working conditions and job security for workers.' We, of course, agree and noted too that most of the companies in the Belfast Telegraph Top 100 are unionised or practicing the kind of good relations and conditions for their employees that the minister aspires to achieve in her Good Jobs Bill. In short, and despite some scaremongering about the 'cost to business', successful companies have little to fear from having trade unions about the place, or the work-life balance measures coming into law in Great Britain with Labour's Employment Rights Bill and proposed for our devolved 'Good Jobs' legislation. 'Decent work aids retention and loyalty is the reward a respected member of staff extends to a good employer' Most of the list of NI's most profitable companies recognise trade unions and set terms and conditions for their staff through collective bargaining agreements. These cover substantial numbers of our working population. As Manufacturing NI's Stephen Kelly pointed out 'whilst 1% of manufacturers are large (more than 250 employees), they account for almost half of employment and more than half of turnover' in that sector. Additionally, many of the companies listed have in their existing employment contracts many of the rights and entitlements proposed for all workers in the Good Jobs Bill, such as family-friendly policies like maternal, parental and bereavement leave. These companies face no surprises from Dr Archibald's proposals. These proposed policies will only be a concern for a minority of employers who hope for some competitive edge over the many decent bosses at the expense of their workers. But these perceptions get noted, not least by workers who are aware that the grass is often greener with some other, better, boss. Decent work aids retention and loyalty is the reward a respected member of staff extends to a good employer. It should also be noted that we have been focused on NI-headquartered companies. And impressive as they are, they are not the only large employers here. Many are international, such as Spirit, Allstate, Citibank, Seagate, Thales and Santander. Some are based in the Republic, such as Dunnes, Primark, First Trust and Bank of Ireland. More are headquartered in GB, and most of these unionised companies are also preparing for similar changes with the Labour government's Employment Rights Bill, presently at an advanced stage and likely to be in statute within a year. Indeed, many of the aspects proposed in the NI 'Good Jobs' Bill are already in statute in GB. The Department for the Economy consultation process completed last summer contained 31 proposals. Of these, 19 are proposals that will simply bring NI into line with GB. They are largely uncontroversial and will not pose any significant cost or administrative burden on businesses here. Indeed, most were passed by Conservative governments at Westminster. The remaining 12 proposals in the proposed NI legislation are currently under active consideration by the Labour Government and ensure that working people in NI will not be left behind again. Polling in GB has shown the Employment Rights Bill to be one of the few widely popular policies of the Starmer administration. This legislation demonstrates the NI Assembly getting around to (after a few suspensions) using its devolved powers over employment law for the first time since 2016. So, the proposed Labour Party legislation at Westminster will shortly be, in the employment contracts of GB firms such as Tesco, Concentrix, Bamford Bus Company (Wrightbus), Four Seasons, G4S, Sainsbury's, Boots, PwC, Lloyds, Asda and BT. This is not intended to sound like an endorsement of all of these employers. Some are hostile to unions and many have been caught up in the wave of industrial action brought on by the cost of living crisis since 2022. At the same time, those firms which did have disputes all reached resolution because of direct negotiations with the trade unions representing their staff. Most pay issues in the private sector were amicably settled with a great deal less stress than the situation we all experienced here across the public sector under the last belligerent Conservative government. The Good Jobs bill deserves to be taken to the MLAs we elected in our devolved Assembly, to be debated and discussed, its merits measured and amended if needed by local politicians accountable to an electorate who we firmly believe, support the proposals for better and fairer workplaces.
Belfast Telegraph
19-05-2025
- Belfast Telegraph
Pre-tax profits down over £15m at Belfast software giant
The Belfast-based firm, the only NI-based company on the FTSE 250, said the results are in line with revised expectations, and announced an intention to continue a share-buyback programme worth tens of millions of pounds. And it revealed that 190 staff at Kainos have left the company in the past year, a reduction which represents 7% of the total global workforce, as part of a restructuring programme. Revenues at the company were down 4% between the 2025 and 2024 financial years, going from £367.2m to £382.4m. Bookings also went down in the period, falling 10% from £382.4m to £424.5m. Cash held by the business did increase by 6% in the past 12 months, going from £126m to £133.7m. Overall, the statutory profits before tax fell by a quarter between the two years, going from £64.8m to £48.6m. The dividend paid per share went up 4% in the past year, going from 27.3p to 28.4p. Brendan Mooney returned to the role of CEO at Kainos at the end of 2024, only 15 months after he had stepped down. Mr Mooney said: "Our results reflect a mixed year for Kainos, with strong growth in Workday Products and in our healthcare sector, set against broader market challenges in IT services - particularly in Workday Services and in the public and commercial sectors of Digital Services. 'We remain grateful for the trust our customers place in us to deliver their critical transformation initiatives. The economic backdrop has affected them and for many, the focus has been on maintaining investment in critical transformation programmes. 'For others, it has led to reductions or delays in technology expenditure as they navigate an ever-changing business environment. 'We delivered an improved business performance in the final quarter, where we recorded low single-digit percentage revenue growth, which allows us to look ahead with greater confidence, despite the ongoing volatility in the macroeconomic environment. 'My final words - and my thanks - go to my colleagues. For many years, they have continuously exhibited their expertise and ability and in recent weeks have also shown great resilience, especially in the wake of the recent restructuring. 'Thank you again for everything you do for Kainos." News Catch Up - Monday 19 May Kainos' 2024 results saw them finish fourth in the Belfast Telegraph's list of the Top 100 companies in Northern Ireland. The company is due to move from is headquarters at Upper Crescent into new offices at Bankmore Square on Belfast's Dublin Road.
