George Cox and Sons among the fatest growing businesses

George Cox and Sons Ltd – Chris Cox (Managing Director), Matthew Edwards (Contracts Director), Mark Holroyd (Finance Director), John Walsh (Contracts Director) and Jovan Ristov (Operations Director) (Image: George Cox and Sons Ltd)

George Cox & Sons Ltd, a specialist civil engineering and highways contractor, delivers projects across the North West.

Founded in Farnworth in 1947, George Cox & Sons began when George Cox left his job as a street mason and started a flagging business using little more than a handcart to transport his tools and materials.

The company became George Cox & Sons in 1953 and has since grown into a leading North West civil engineering and highways contractor.

Still based in Farnworth and now run by the fourth generation of the Cox family, they have carried out recent work developing in cities and towns throughout the region.

Recent projects include developments on Stockport Interchange, Lancaster University’s Health Innovation Campus and the Leigh Cycleway in Wigan.

The family-run business has been recognised for its continued growth nearly eight decades after it was established.

Managing Director Chris Cox said the achievement reflected the efforts of the company’s workforce and its longstanding approach to customer service.

He said: “We’re extremely pleased to be recognised for this achievement, it’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of the staff that have got us into this position.

“We have been around 79 years and we’re a fourth generation family business and our head office is based in Bolton.

“We believe that this growth is a testament to the values we have always maintained.”

Mr Cox added that the company’s professional, reliable, and collaborative approach helps it stand out in a competitive market and encourages clients to return.

Clothing brand Represent were listed as one of the fastest growing in the North West (Image: Represent)

Joining George Cox & Sons on the list is Represent, the premium fashion brand founded in 2011 by brothers George and Mike Heaton.

Operating from Northgate Close in Horwich, Represent has grown from a local start-up into an internationally recognised clothing label.

The brand’s designs have been worn by celebrities including Justin Bieber and 21 Savage and has collaborated with major names such as Liam Gallagher and Metallica.

Represent now has around 150 stockists worldwide, including leading retailers Selfridges, Harrods, and Nordstrom, offering contemporary menswear inspired by street culture.

The recognition of both firms showcases the success of businesses from Bolton across very different industries, with one building on generations of engineering expertise and the other establishing itself as a major name in global fashion.