Margaret Manning, Reading Room

Margaret Manning has worked in the City and knows all about the machismo and glass ceilings of the British workplace.

Her own business, a digital media and communications company, stands out in stark contrast to such outdated ideas, boasting a 15-strong senior management team with eight female staff. As well as this, she says her business has also seen staff rise right through the ranks, from PA to board.

However, equality and mobility also mix nicely with profitability at Reading Room and the business will make revenues of around £10m this year. Major clients include the likes of Skoda, Royal Mail and Land Securities.

Another key to the success of Manning’s business is that rather than using sales staff, she sends out the people who will actually be doing the work.  “Because they really understand the work that is being done, they come across as much more honest and knowledgeable,” she says.

Manning is now planning to take her business further overseas. She already has offices in Sydney, but is looking at Dubai, Hong Kong and Russia as areas of expansion through acquisition and organic growth.

Her 150-strong business is, therefore, likely to rise to 500 people in the next three to five years. However, Manning says her growth to date has been largely due to the repeat business of satisfied clients.

“We have grown because people come back to us,”  she says.  “We have a 92% repeat referral rate.”

Company stats Company:  Reading Room Turnover 2006:  £4m Turnover 2007:  £7.2m Web:  www.readingroom.com