Call for entries for 2012 Deloitte UK Fast 50 awards

Entries have now opened for the 2012 Deloitte UK Technology Fast 50 awards. The awards, now in their fifteenth year, recognise and rank technology companies with an exceptional growth in turnover over the last five years.

David Halstead, Deloitte Cambridge technology partner and chairman of the UK Fast 50, said: “The Technology Fast 50 awards are now in their fifteenth year and provide an excellent opportunity for businesses to gain recognition for their successes and achievements.

“We have seen 700 UK Fast 50 award winners in all areas of technology, from computers to life sciences, digital media to biotech and semiconductors.  Previous winners have included some of the most dynamic and iconic UK technology companies, including Booking.com, Lastminute.com and LoveFilm.”

Last year’s winner was Fixnetix, with 24,557 per cent growth.  Fixnetix is a trading technology company and develops solutions for high-speed access for trading information on stock market assets and executing trades.

Hugh Hughes, the company’s chairman and CEO said: “We were delighted to be ranked first in the UK last year and work hard to deliver ultra-fast financial technology solutions to leading global investment banks, market makers, hedge funds and proprietary trading firms worldwide. NYSE Technologies (New York Stock Exchange) recently invested $25 million in our company to help us reach the entire world and we are on our way.”

The UK Fast 50 is sponsored by international law firm Taylor Wessing.  Graham Hann, technology partner, said:  "This is the third year we've supported the programme and we're excited to be involved as it reflects our long standing focus on the technology rapid growth sector, and working with a number of the UK Fast 50 companies from previous years.  It's great to celebrate this kind of growth in any market but to be doing so in the current climate, with the limited access to capital, as well as tough enterprise and consumer market conditions, is doubly so and we look forward to the results."

Halstead concludes: “There is a positive outlook for the UK technology industry and we believe that tremendous growth rates are still possible. This has been an important year for the UK technology sector with the continued development of technology hubs in Silicon Roundabout, the Thames Valley and around Cambridge University. Last year’s UK Fast 50 saw an average growth rate of an incredible 2820 per cent,  a fifth (21%) higher than 2010 (2321%), and we are confident that we will see this trend continue for 2012.”

For full details and the entry form please visit: www.fast50.co.uk

 

 

UK Technology Fast 50 eligibility criteria

  1. The company must have been in business for a minimum of five years;
  2. The company must be considered a technology company, which is defined as:
  • developing or owning proprietary technology that contributes to a significant portion of the company's
    operating revenues;
  • producing technology
  • manufacturing technology-related products
  • be technology intensive, or use unique technology to solve problems
  • devoting a high percentage of effort to technology R&D;
  • NB: using another company's technology or intellectual property in a unique way does not qualify
  • The parent company must be UK-owned and have its headquarters in the UK (subsidiaries of UK or multinational organisations do not qualify);
  • Operating revenues must be at least £36,000 (50,000 Euros) for the first financial year of the five year period and £680,000 (800,000 Euros) for the most recent financial year;
    • NB: the accounts for year five should have an accounting period ending between 1 June 2011 and 31 May 2012.
  • All submissions must be accompanied by signed accounts for the first and last financial year being measured in
    the competition. Unless a statutory exemption is being taken, these accounts should be unabbreviated and audited
  • The UK Fast 50 is co-sponsored by Taylor Wessing, a leading International law firm, and Fidelity Growth Partners Europe, a venture and growth capital investor.
  • About Taylor Wessing LLP

    Taylor Wessing is proud to sponsor the UK Fast 50 for the third consecutive year as it reflects our position as the leading law firm for the technology growth sector.

    Taylor Wessing is an international law firm with a leading Technology practice. What makes us different is our significant SME/entrepreneur/growth technology focus, as well as our forward thinking approach to serving clients. We think creatively about business issues and are constantly looking for new and better ways to add value with truly innovative solutions that help to grow our clients’ businesses. Taylor Wessing has worked with tech start-ups and more established tech companies, both from the UK and abroad, for many years. We understand the needs and requirements of companies operating in all technology related sectors, and work with clients to add real value to their business decisions and growth.

    About Deloitte
    In this press release references to Deloitte or Drivers Jonas Deloitte are references to Deloitte LLP, which is among the country's leading professional services firms.

    Deloitte LLP is the United Kingdom member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (“DTTL”), a UK private company limited by guarantee whose member firms are legally separate and independent entities. Please see www.deloitte.co.uk/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of DTTL and its member firms.

    The information contained in this press release is correct at the time of going to press.

    For more information, please visit www.deloitte.co.uk

    Member of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited

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