October 18 - Chapman Freeborn Airchartering has jumped 82 places in the Sunday Times HSBC Top Track 250 list whilst Davies Turner, the long-established international freight and logistics company, has become one of only a couple of freight forwarders to b

The global aircraft charter specialist was ranked 73rd in the annual league table of Britain's biggest mid-market private companies having come in at 155th in 2009. In its first ever appearance on the list, Davies Turner was ranked 237th in the annual league table of Britain's biggest mid-market independent companies.

Despite tough trading conditions, the Sunday Times praised those on the list for their ambition, ingenuity and sheer strength - describing them as the engine-house of the British economy.

Chapman Freeborn provides aircraft charter and leasing services to a diverse client base including international freight forwarders, governments and international aid agencies. Audited accounts for 2008 revealed a turnover of £294 million - and last year's figure is set to show further significant growth.

Davies Turner provides a comprehensive portfolio of multimodal freight transport and logistics services, including heavy and OOG project cargoes, to a diverse client base including manufacturers, traders, retailers as well as other international freight forwarders, governments and international aid agencies.

The company's chairman, Philip Stephenson said: "To be the one of the only freight forwarders among Britain's biggest mid-market independents makes me very proud on behalf of all our staff and is a testimony to the massive investment that we have made in our facilities, services and training over the last 20 years."

Together, the 250 companies on the Sunday Times list generate turnover of £65 billion, equivalent to about 5 per cent of Britain's GDP, and employ more than 515,000 people.