City's big business drive £6.3bn sales

They generated £6.3bn in revenues and employed 25,400 people, according to new analysis from accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP.

Manufacturing dominates, with nine of the 21 responsible for total sales of £1.48bn.

These include heavyweights such as stainless steel giant Outokumpu, scrap specialist ELG Haniel Metals and medical device maker B Braun.

Other businesses in the list include broadband provider Plusnet, retailer Go Outdoors and European insulation specialist SIG plc.

The evergreen ‘Made in Sheffield’ brand continues to resonate overseas with the 16 companies in the 250 holding the famous accreditation generating international sales of £667m.

Jason Whitworth, BDO mergers and acquisitions partner in Yorkshire, said: “It is satisfying to see such a strong performance from companies in Sheffield in the face of some quite challenging market conditions nationally and internationally.

“The city is home to some of Yorkshire’s biggest and best businesses, representing a diverse set of sectors alongside manufacturing such as construction, services, technology, media and communications.

“Their ability to create wealth and employment helps to create confidence for all businesses to invest in the city and the wider region.”

BDO analysed the top 250 for the Yorkshire Report 2016 using data from Companies House.

It found exports fell off a cliff last year, with an 11 per cent fall in overseas turnover across the 250 group, which BDO blamed on uncertainty in the global economy, exchange rate volatility and low oil prices.

Mr Whitworth said: “The looming referendum on Europe means the Government is more preoccupied than ever in showing it can forge strong trade links abroad and that means support for exporters.”