It was also named as 14th top consultancy in its specialist discipline of branding and packaging design by Design Week, the national magazine for the industry.

This makes the Elland-based company the fourth highest in fee income outside London and the number one consultancy in the north.

Storm Brand Design works for many top national retailers and businesses. These include Halfords, Aldi, Wilkinson Stores, Cuisine de France, Booths Supermarkets, Dr Oetker and Livwell.

Design week also lists Storm as joint 14th most bullish consultancy forecasting projected growth of 20 per cent, which is expected to come from existing and new business within the UK as well as the conversion of exciting new business opportunities overseas.

The league tables are calculated on fee income for the financial year 2007-08.

"This news is very satisfying because it reflects the hard work done by everyone within the business.

"It's not just an acknowledgment of creativity or the delivery of successful branding and packaging solutions but it also shows the important contribution made by those in all parts of the business, including finance, administration and our management," said sales and marketing director Trevor Flannery.