- What is the UK Fast 50?
- Is there a fee?
- Can I nominate another company?
- How does Deloitte calculate the rankings?
- How many years has the Fast 50 been running?
- Where do entries originate from?
- How do companies qualify?
- What do companies have to do to enter?
- Do all entrants have to be publicly held?
- How are winners selected?
- When is the closing deadline for entries this year?
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What is the UK Fast 50?
The UK Fast 50 Awards programme, now in its fourteenth year, ranks the 50 fastest-growing technology companies in the UK. It covers both public and private companies in all areas of technology, from internet specialists to life sciences, computers to semiconductors, software to telecommunications.
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Is there a fee?
There is no fee to nominate yourself or another company.
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Can I nominate another company?
Yes, entries can be sent in by the companies themselves or by a third party.
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How does Deloitte calculate the rankings?
We are looking for the speed of growth, so rankings are based on percentage growth in stated revenue over five years. We do not measure current financial performance or profitability.
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How many years has the Fast 50 been running?
It was launched in the US in 1995, and quickly expanded worldwide. The UK programme began in 1998.
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Where do entries originate from?
The Fast 50 list is compiled from two sources: nominations submitted directly to Deloitte LLP, and public company researches conducted by Deloitte LLP.
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How do companies qualify?
Entrants must have been operating for a minimum of five years, with turnover of at least £34,000 (50,000 Euros) for the first financial year of the five year period and £540,000 (800,000 Euros) for most recent financial year. Entrants can be public or private companies but the parent company must be UK-owned. Subsidiaries of UK or multinational organisations do not qualify. Each entrant must be a technology company, which is defined as: producing technology, manufacturing technology-related products, being technologically intensive or using technology in problem-solving; or devoting a high percentage of effort to the research and development of technology. See eligility criteria for more information.
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What do companies have to do to enter?
In order to enter the UK Fast 50 programme, companies must provide details of their company's revenues, from the first financial year of the five year period to the most recent financial year; via the online nomination form on this website. Each company is also required to provide soft (PDF) copies of signed accounts for the first of the five year period and last financial year being measured in the competition). Unless a statutory exemption is being taken, these accounts should be unabbreviated and audited.
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Do all entrants have to be publicly held?
No, but private companies must provide financial information and supporting documentation such as financial statements.
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How are winners selected?
The UK Fast 50 is based on the percentage of stated revenue growth over five years for each technology company. For the 2011 UK Fast 50, companies are ranked based on percentage growth for each company's stated fiscal year revenues over five years (2006 to 2010).
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When is the closing deadline for entries this year?
The deadline for entries is midnight 16 September 2011.