Sunday Times Fast Track 100
Encyclopedia
A list published annually in December in partnership with The Sunday Times newspaper in the UK.
The list ranks Britain's fastest growing privately held companies by sales growth over the last 3 years.
Produced by Fast Track, an Oxford based research company and sponsored by Virgin Group
the eleventh Sunday Times Fast Track 100 was published on 2 December 2007.
is quoted as saying "Fast Track has become the definitive barometer of growth companies" However a number of limitations exists which mean that the list may not contain information on many fast growing companies. Most important of these is the reliance on historical data. Because Fast Track only deals in publicly available information generally from published accounts, the league table refers to data that is sometimes as much as 10 months out of date.
On the other hand, this method ensures objectivity and has led to the early identification of a number of household names, including Carphone Warehouse, Bhs and Travelex.
• Unquoted
• Registered in the UK
• Non-subsidiary, independent
• Annualised sales of at least £250,000 in 2003/04
• Annualised sales of at least £5m in 2006/07
• An increase in sales from penultimate to latest year, and a forecast of further sales growth
• Not a technology company
2 Ocean Team
3 Police Recruit
4 AJ Power Limited
5 Oliver Marketing
6 Simply Biz
7 Flat TV Company
8 4L's Packing
9 Head Resourcing
10 Investigo
11 Probuild Birmingham
12 Silver Cross
13 Custom TV
14 Contractor Umbrella
15 Melrob Services
16 Integrated Subsea Services
17 Ice Energy Heat Pumps
18 Paladin Group
19 ECU Group
20 Alpharooms
21 Henry Howard Finance
22 Mint Financial Services
23 Frazer & Tabberer
24 Health Management
25 CSG
26 Eterniti Steels
27 SPI (Materials)
28 Cornwallis Elt
29 Richmond Group
30 Danbro
31 Enterprise Broker Services
32 PIPC
33 Lucy Wernick & Associates
34 Premium Appliance Brands
35 EuroStaff Group
36 Widget Uk
37 Dolphin Music
38 Elliott Thomas
39 Maximus
40 innocent Drinks
41 Astbury Marsden
42 Feel Good Drinks
43 HQUK
44 Just Lamps
45 Drivers Direct
46 Oriel Securities
47 RIF Worldwide
48 First People Solutions
49 Gü Chocolate Puds
50 Morgan Hunt Public Sector
51 WFCA
52 Creativevents
53 LNT Construction
54 Springfield Properties
55 Fuel Recruitment
56 33-6 Consultancy
57 Pagazzi Lighting
58 Maxxima
59 Towergate Partnership
60 Dunne Group
61 Playforce
62 7city Learning
63 Barchester Healthcare
64 Easy Computers
65 Maria Mallaband Care Group
66 Dawnus Construction
67 Global Resourcing
68 Abel & Cole
69 Card Factory
70 DRL
71 Visioncall
72 Power On Connections
73 Henley's Clothing
74 AdConnection
75 Oval
76 Really Useful Products
77 northerncare
78 McLaren Construction
79 David Ormerod Hearing Centres
80 MSI Group
81 Red Commerce
82 Astus UK
83 Pharmalink Consulting
84 Tyrrells Potato Chips
85 Meade-King, Robinson & Co
86 Clipper Group Holdings
87 Seko Synergy
88 Acteon
89 Personal Touch Financial Services
90 Graig Shipping Group
91 Knightsbridge Guarding
92 Riverford
93 SEH
94 Specialist Hire Group
95 Healthcare at Home
96 Xchange Business
97 Morgan Law Recruitment
98 Wind Prospect
99 Liv-ex
100 GGR-UNIC
The list ranks Britain's fastest growing privately held companies by sales growth over the last 3 years.
Produced by Fast Track, an Oxford based research company and sponsored by Virgin Group
Virgin Group
Virgin Group Limited is a British branded venture capital conglomerate organisation founded by business tycoon Richard Branson. The core business areas are travel, entertainment and lifestyle. Virgin Group's date of incorporation is listed as 1989 by Companies House, who class it as a holding...
the eleventh Sunday Times Fast Track 100 was published on 2 December 2007.
Limitations
The Fast Track 100 is generally promoted as the definitive guide to the fastest growing privately held companies in the UK. Richard BransonRichard Branson
Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson is an English business magnate, best known for his Virgin Group of more than 400 companies....
is quoted as saying "Fast Track has become the definitive barometer of growth companies" However a number of limitations exists which mean that the list may not contain information on many fast growing companies. Most important of these is the reliance on historical data. Because Fast Track only deals in publicly available information generally from published accounts, the league table refers to data that is sometimes as much as 10 months out of date.
On the other hand, this method ensures objectivity and has led to the early identification of a number of household names, including Carphone Warehouse, Bhs and Travelex.
Entry criteria
For entry to the 2007 Fast Track 100 companies were required to be:• Unquoted
• Registered in the UK
• Non-subsidiary, independent
• Annualised sales of at least £250,000 in 2003/04
• Annualised sales of at least £5m in 2006/07
• An increase in sales from penultimate to latest year, and a forecast of further sales growth
• Not a technology company
Other Fast Track Lists
Fast Track 100 is one of 6 business lists produced by Fast Track and published in the Sunday Times:- Fast Track 100 - Fastest sales growth
- Tech Track 100 - Fastest growth for 'tech' companies
- Buyout Track 100 - Fastest growth in private equity-backed companies
- Profit Track 100Profit Track 100The Profit Track 100 is a list published by British newspaper The Sunday Times each year ranking Britain's fastest growing private companies by their average profit growth over the previous three years....
- Fastest profits - Top Track 100Top Track 100The Top Track 100 is a list published by British newspaper The Sunday Times each year ranking Britain's top 100 private companies by their turnover over the previous year, from published accounts....
- Biggest private companies - Top Track 250Top Track 250The Top Track 250 is a list published by British newspaper The Sunday Times each year ranking Britain's top 250 Mid-market private companies by their turnover over the previous year, from published accounts.- Sunday Times 2010 Top Track 250 :...
- Biggest mid-market private companies
2010 Fast Track 100 List
| Ranking | Company Name | Business Activity | Sales growth (% per annum) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buymobilephones.net | Mobile phone Mobile phone A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator... retailer |
340.15 | http://www.buymobilephones.net/ |
| 2 | Subocean Group | Subsea construction provider | 237.14 | http://www.suboceangroup.com/ |
| 3 | VADition | Hardware/software distributor | 195.77 | http://www.vadition.com/ |
| 4 | High Tech Health | Health product marketer | 193.81 | http://www.hthealth.com/ |
| 5 | Planet Cruise | Cruise and tour holidays operator | 181.97 | http://www.planetcruise.co.uk/ |
| 6 | Your Golf Travel | Golf Golf Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes.... travel agency |
158.06 | http://www.yourgolftravel.com/ |
| 7 | Pathology Group | Healthcare recruitment consultancy | 151.89 | http://www.pathologygroup.co.uk/ |
| 8 | Staysure.co.uk | Over 50s insurance Insurance In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the... provider |
151.17 | http://www.staysure.co.uk/ |
| 9 | State Oil | Fuel wholesaler | 144.08 | http://www.stateoil.co.uk/ |
| 10 | powerPerfector | Energy-saving device distributor | 140.01 | http://www.powerperfector.com/ |
| 11 | ADEY Heating Solutions | Heating filter manufacturer | 138.66 | http://www.adeysolutions.co.uk/ |
| 12 | Badger Office Supplies | Office products supplier | 133.34 | http://www.badgerstationery.co.uk/ |
| 13 | Global Personals | Online dating agency | 133.18 | http://www.whitelabeldating.com/ |
| 14 | Ella's Kitchen | Baby food producer | 129.22 | http://www.ellaskitchen.co.uk/ |
| 15 | Team24 | Medical recruitment consultancy | 125.54 | http://www.team24.co.uk/ |
| 16 | SDK Jewellers | Online watch retailer | 122.93 | http://www.watchshop.com/ |
| 17 | Moonpig.com Moonpig Moonpig.com is a business based in London and Guernsey which sells personalized greeting cards. The website was launched in July 2000, and in 2007 the company was responsible for 90 percent of the online greeting card market in the United Kingdom.... |
Online greeting card retailer | 115.51 | http://www.moonpig.com |
| 18 | Directline holidays Directline holidays Directline Holidays is a trading name of holidayline UK and specialises in selling cheap package holidays, flights and hotels.An independent and privately owned UK travel agent, it has been an early adopter and advocate of new media.... |
Online travel operator | 113.50 | http://www.directline-holidays.co.uk/ |
| 19 | Green Park Interim and Executive | Recruitment consultancy | 112.62 | http://www.green-park.co.uk/ |
| 20 | Liz Hobbs Group | Events producer | 108.13 | http://www.lizhobbsgroup.com/ |
| 21 | BullionVault.com BullionVault BullionVault is an internet gold and silver bullion exchange, founded in 2005 by Paul Tustain. It is owned by Galmarley Ltd. and based in London, United Kingdom. Purchased gold and silver is held in personally allocated storage with Via Mat International in either London, New York or Zurich... |
Gold Gold Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a... dealer |
105.87 | http://www.bullionvault.com/ |
| 22 | SFC (Wholesale) | Fried chicken wholesaler | 104.86 | http://www.sfcltd.co.uk/ |
| 23 | TorFX | Foreign exchange provider | 103.01 | http://www.torfx.com/ |
| 24 | UK Flooring Direct | Online flooring retailer | 101.06 | http://www.ukflooringdirect.co.uk/ |
| 25 | Miroma | Media barter company | 95.55 | http://www.miroma.com/ |
| 26 | Ramsdens | Pawnbroker Pawnbroker A pawnbroker is an individual or business that offers secured loans to people, with items of personal property used as collateral... and jeweller |
94.42 | http://www.ramsdensforcash.co.uk/ |
| 27 | International Applications | Multi product distributor | 91.15 | http://www.international-applications.com/ |
| 28 | LNT Group | Care home developer | 90.93 | http://www.lntconstruction.co.uk/ |
| 29 | Fjord | Digital design consultancy | 89.50 | http://www.fjordnet.com/ |
| 30 | ONEPOST | Postal management adviser | 89.22 | http://onepost.co.uk/ |
| 31 | Ship Shape Resources | Construction services provider | 89.21 | http://www.shipshaperesources.com/ |
| 32 | MPM products | Natural pet food producer | 87.47 | http://www.mpmproducts.co.uk/ |
| 33 | Lifetime | Training provider | 84.67 | http://www.lifetimehf.co.uk/ |
| 34 | Oak Furniture Land | Hardwood furniture retailer | 84.61 | http://www.oakfurnitureland.co.uk/ |
| 35 | Natural Products | Giftware designer | 83.51 | http://www.npw.co.uk/ |
2009 Fast Track 100 List
| Ranking | Company Name | Business Activity | HQ Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cyclescheme | Cycle to Work scheme Cycle to Work scheme Cycle to Work scheme is a UK Government annual tax exemption initiative introduced in the 1999 Finance Act to promote healthier journeys to work and to reduce environmental pollution. It allows employers to loan cycles and cyclists' safety equipment to employees as a tax-free benefit. The exemption... administrator |
Bath, UK | http://www.cyclescheme.co.uk/ |
| 2 | Gio-Goi | Fashion wholesaler | ||
| 3 | Empiric Solutions | Recruitment consultancy | http://www.empiricsolutions.co.uk/ | |
| 4 | Oxygen | Insurance broker | ||
| 5 | Eazyfone | Mobile phone recycler | ||
| 6 | Mattressman | Mattress retailer | ||
| 7 | I-Paye | Payroll services provider | http://www.i-paye.com/ | |
| 8 | Paladin Group | Property services provider | ||
| 9 | Ella's Kitchen | Baby food producer | ||
| 10 | Catering Academy | Contract catering provider | ||
| Award | Company Name | Business Activity | HQ Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ones to Recognise | Brompton Bicycle Brompton Bicycle Brompton Bicycle is a manufacturer of folding bicycles based in Brentford, London.The Brompton folding bicycle and accessories are the company's core product, noted for its self-supporting compact size when stored. All available models of the folding bicycle are based on the same hinged bicycle... |
Folding bicycles | London, UK | |
2008 Fast Track 100 List
| Ranking | Company Name | Business Activity | HQ Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hotel Chocolat Hotel Chocolat Hotel Chocolat is a British chocolatier and cocoa grower, with 55 stores in the United Kingdom and 5 stores within the U.S.A. and the Middle East.To this day, Hotel Chocolat are the only company in the United Kingdom to grow cocoa on their own plantation.... |
Retail | - | http://www.hotelchocolat.co.uk/ |
| 2 | TorFX | Foreign Currency Exchange | - | http://www.torfx.com/ |
| 3 | Silver Cross Silver Cross (pram) Silver Cross is a British manufacturer of wheeled baby transport, and is traditionally associated with large, four-wheel baby carriages that featured wooden bodies and leaf spring suspension.... |
Pram Maker | - | |
| 4 | JJFox | Recruitment Consultancy | - | |
| 5 | The Book Depository | Online book retailer | - | http://www.bookdepository.co.uk |
| 6 | Burgopak | Packaging Design | - | http://www.burgopak.com/ |
| 7 | Paladin Group | Property Services | - | http://www.paladingroup.co.uk/ |
| 8 | Manpower Direct | Security Services | - | |
| 9 | Medicare First | Recruitment Consultancy | - | |
| 10 | Probuild Birmingham | Construction - Shopfitter | - | |
| 11 | TDX Group | Debt Management | Nottingham | http://www.tdxgroup.com/ |
| 12 | Allen Lane | Recruitment Consultant | - | |
| 13 | Interim Partners | Recruitment Consultancy | - | |
| 14 | CSG | Business Finance | - | |
| 15 | Practicus Practicus Practicus is an international change management business focused on supporting Private, Public and Third sector organisations achieve sustainable and effective outcomes from business change. Founded in March 2004 by Jason Luckhurst, Paul Wandless and Boyd Kershaw, the company offers a range of... |
Interim Management Recruitment | Henley-on-Thames | http://www.practicus.co.uk/ |
| 16 | On Holiday Group | Holiday Broker | - | |
| 17 | Towry Law | Financial Services | - | |
| 18 | Mayday Healthcare | Healthcare services | - | http://maydayhealthcareplc.co.uk |
| 19 | Hobson Prior | Recruitment Consultancy | - | http://www.hobsonprior.com/ |
| 20 | First Point Group | Recruitment Consultancy | - | |
| 21 | Reflex Vehicle Solutions | Vehicle leasing | - | |
| 22 | - | |||
| 23 | - | |||
| 24 | - | |||
| 25 | - | |||
| 36 | innocent Innocent Drinks Innocent Drinks is a UK-based company founded in 1999 whose primary business is producing smoothies and flavoured spring water, sold in supermarkets, coffee shops and various other outlets nationally as well as in Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Austria, Denmark and Switzerland... |
Fruit Drinks maker | - | |
| 65 | Net-A-Porter | Online Retailer | - | |
2007 Fast Track 100 List
1 Travel Republic2 Ocean Team
3 Police Recruit
4 AJ Power Limited
5 Oliver Marketing
6 Simply Biz
7 Flat TV Company
8 4L's Packing
9 Head Resourcing
10 Investigo
11 Probuild Birmingham
12 Silver Cross
Silver Cross (pram)
Silver Cross is a British manufacturer of wheeled baby transport, and is traditionally associated with large, four-wheel baby carriages that featured wooden bodies and leaf spring suspension....
13 Custom TV
14 Contractor Umbrella
15 Melrob Services
16 Integrated Subsea Services
17 Ice Energy Heat Pumps
18 Paladin Group
Paladin Group
The Paladin Group was a far-right organization founded in 1970 in Spain by former SS Colonel Otto Skorzeny. It conceived itself as the military arm of the anti-Communist struggle during the Cold War...
19 ECU Group
20 Alpharooms
21 Henry Howard Finance
22 Mint Financial Services
23 Frazer & Tabberer
24 Health Management
25 CSG
CSG
CSG may stand for:*CS gas*Camden School for Girls*Canada Systems Group*Carrier Strike Group*Centrum Schwule Geschichte in Cologne, Germany...
26 Eterniti Steels
27 SPI (Materials)
28 Cornwallis Elt
29 Richmond Group
30 Danbro
31 Enterprise Broker Services
32 PIPC
33 Lucy Wernick & Associates
34 Premium Appliance Brands
35 EuroStaff Group
36 Widget Uk
37 Dolphin Music
Dolphin music
Dolphin Music is an online music shop, part of Dolphin Enterprises Europe Ltd. It first began in Liverpool, England in 1999.-History:Robert Williams and Jason Tavaria, while still at Liverpool University, used their credit cards & student loans to set up a company that would sell musical equipment...
38 Elliott Thomas
Elliott Thomas
Bishop Elliott G. Thomas is a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church.He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on July 25, 1926. Thomas's family had lived in Tortola, British Virgin Islands, returning there in 1934. Elliott Thomas was enrolled in the Methodist Day School in Road Town and as a teenager...
39 Maximus
Maximus
Maximus is the Latin term for "greatest" or "largest". In this connexion it is used to refer to:*Circus Maximus *Pontifex Maximus, the highest priest of the ancient Roman College of Pontiffs...
40 innocent Drinks
Innocent Drinks
Innocent Drinks is a UK-based company founded in 1999 whose primary business is producing smoothies and flavoured spring water, sold in supermarkets, coffee shops and various other outlets nationally as well as in Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Austria, Denmark and Switzerland...
41 Astbury Marsden
Astbury Marsden
Astbury Marsden is an international recruitment firm focused on banking, financial services and management consulting. It has offices in London, Hong Kong and Singapore...
42 Feel Good Drinks
43 HQUK
44 Just Lamps
45 Drivers Direct
46 Oriel Securities
47 RIF Worldwide
48 First People Solutions
49 Gü Chocolate Puds
50 Morgan Hunt Public Sector
51 WFCA
52 Creativevents
53 LNT Construction
54 Springfield Properties
55 Fuel Recruitment
56 33-6 Consultancy
57 Pagazzi Lighting
58 Maxxima
59 Towergate Partnership
60 Dunne Group
61 Playforce
62 7city Learning
63 Barchester Healthcare
Barchester Healthcare
Barchester Healthcare Ltd is a UK-wide care provider supporting more than 10,000 people at more than 200 locations.Barchester Healthcare was founded in 1993 by entrepreneur and current CEO, Mike Parsons...
64 Easy Computers
65 Maria Mallaband Care Group
66 Dawnus Construction
67 Global Resourcing
68 Abel & Cole
69 Card Factory
Card Factory
Card Factory is a chain of greeting card and gift stores in United Kingdom founded by Dean Hoyle and his wife Janet; the first store opened in 1997. The company currently employs around 4,500 people, mostly in front line positions in its stores. Their advertising claims they have not increased...
70 DRL
71 Visioncall
Visioncall
Visioncall was established in 1994 and is a home visiting optician that provides free home eye tests for the elderly and housebound in the United Kingdom. Visioncall also specialise in domiciliary eye care for care homes, hearing screening, and dental care....
72 Power On Connections
73 Henley's Clothing
74 AdConnection
75 Oval
76 Really Useful Products
77 northerncare
78 McLaren Construction
79 David Ormerod Hearing Centres
80 MSI Group
81 Red Commerce
82 Astus UK
83 Pharmalink Consulting
84 Tyrrells Potato Chips
85 Meade-King, Robinson & Co
86 Clipper Group Holdings
87 Seko Synergy
88 Acteon
89 Personal Touch Financial Services
90 Graig Shipping Group
91 Knightsbridge Guarding
92 Riverford
Riverford
Riverford is an organic farm and dairy based in Buckfastleigh in Devon, England, but with sister farms in four locations around the country....
93 SEH
94 Specialist Hire Group
95 Healthcare at Home
96 Xchange Business
97 Morgan Law Recruitment
98 Wind Prospect
99 Liv-ex
100 GGR-UNIC