David Halstead, Deloitte technology partner and chairman of the UK Fast 50, said: “The Technology Fast 50 awards are now in their sixteenth year and provide an excellent opportunity for businesses to showcase their achievements.
“There have been 800 UK Fast 50 award winners from all areas of technology and past winners have included some of the most dynamic and iconic UK technology companies, including Monitise, Lastminute.com and LoveFilm.”
The combined revenue generated by the Fast 50 winning companies in 2012 is £1.5 billion, the highest it has been for the last five years and 38% higher than 2011.
Last year’s winner was ZBD with a growth of 17910%. Based in Ascot, Berkshire, the company is a global pioneer in the design and supply of dynamic digital display solutions for retailers, healthcare providers and office signage suppliers.
Jon Varney, CFO from ZBD said: “We were delighted to come top of Deloitte’s Fast 50, demonstrating our successful strategy to focus on developing robust, fit for purpose solutions, sold into our chosen verticals. These are now proved in scale in our targeted geographies and we are now very well positioned to take our class leading solutions into the global market place.”
“Our best in class software and wireless infrastructure supports a rapidly growing range of display sizes, contrasts and colours to enable organisations to replace costly, printed paper with remotely controlled digital displays.”
The Fast 50 has two new sponsors this year, Ciklum, an IT consultancy and software developers, and Silicon Valley Bank. They join existing sponsors, Taylor Wessing and Fidelity Growth Partners.
Phil Cox, Head of EMEA and India and President of UK Branch, Silicon Valley Bank said: “We’re thrilled to be supporting the Deloitte Technology Fast 50, one of the UK’s foremost technology award programmes. At Silicon Valley Bank, we are committed to helping drive growth in the UK innovation space and so we are looking forward to seeing the results and celebrating with those innovative businesses and individuals whose hard work and great ideas represent the future of UK tech.”
Henrik Bak, VP Sales & Marketing at Ciklum said: "Ciklum is very pleased to be in partnership with Deloitte and this year’s Fast 50, as it is in line with our core competence to help growing successful technology companies in the UK and across Europe."
The UK Fast 50 is also sponsored by Taylor Wessing and Fidelity Growth Partners Europe.
Graham Hann, technology partner, Taylor Wessing said: "The UK Fast 50 continues to reflect our long standing focus on thriving technology companies. The rapid growth sector has gone from strength to strength, despite tough market conditions and Taylor Wessing is proud to have supported and worked with a number of the companies rewarded in previous years. Once again, we join Deloitte in celebrating these successes and, in the most competitive year yet, we look forward to the results."
Davor Hebel, Partner, Fidelity Growth Partners Europe, said: “As a growth investor, FGPE’s is always looking to support technology entrepreneurs with aspirations to greatness, who have the potential to transform their respective markets. The Deloitte Fast 50 awards is an excellent opportunity to celebrate the UK’s thriving tech sector and its entrepreneurs, who have transformed the country into a global technology hub.”
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For full details and the entry form please visit: www.fast50.co.uk
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