Social housing repairs contractor Mears has been named as the 18th fastest-growing company in Europe.

The company had just 83 employees in 1996, compared with more than 2,500 today, and is now ranked 18th out of 500 in a listing of the fastest-growing European firms. Said chief executive, Stuart Black: ‘This is recognition of not only our business growth but our efforts in providing an environment for people to work in the communities in which they live.'