Ineos tycoon tops enterprise list

Britain has been trying to nuture a more entrepreneurial spirit

The man behind the UK's second largest chemicals company has been named top entrepreneur by business publication Management Today.

Jim Ratcliffe transformed Ineos Group through a deal to buy BP's Innoven chemical business for �5bn last year.

His determination to clinch the deal saw him beat off rival competition from private equity firms.

The 53-year-old has a personal fortune estimated at �1bn and employs 15,500 people in 14 countries.

Management Today described Mr Ratcliffe as the "chemical industry's answer to steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal".

The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in the UK Management Today

Companies were ranked on their assets, growth in turnover of the past five years and percentage growth in the number of jobs created in five years.

Jim Ratcliffe beat businessman Patrick McKenna, founder of Ingenious Media, to the top of the chart.

Mr McKenna's company has worked with several TV firms on major deals and recently advised Supernanny producer Ricochet on its sales to another TV producer.

Meritocracy

In the number three position came Simon Nixon, who founded popular personal finance website Moneysupermarket.com. The company's fortunes soared from �2.4m to �15.9m ($27.5m) last year.

TOP 10 ENTREPRENEURS James Ratcliffe - Ineos Group Patrick McKenna - Ingenious Media Simon Nixon - Moneysupermarket.com Peter Cruddas - CMC Group Andrew Turner - Central Trust Terry Smith - Collins Stewart Tullett David Beach - Beach Capital Management Trevor Hemmings - Northern Trust Ben White - MessageLabs Judy Craymer - Littlestar Services

Management Today noted that the new boom industries attracting entrepreneurs were construction, financial services, telecoms and fashion.

Seven fashion entrepreneurs appeared on its list, including Monsoon founder Peter Simon and KL Bennett's Linda Bennett, despite a tough year for High Street retailers.

The youngest entrepreneur to make the list was 27-year-old Thomas O'Donohoe of MX Telecoms, while the oldest was car dealer Sir Arnold Clark, 78.

"The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in the UK," said Management Today editor Matthew Gwyther.

"Even more encouraging is not only the wide diversity of market sectors those companies are operating in, but also that these entrepreneurs are now succeeding regardless of age, creed, nationality or background."

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