1 2 3 4
Winning a place in our league tables brings significant benefits for companies, at no charge thanks to our sponsors, including:
  • A profile of your company in The Sunday Times league table supplement
  • Attendance at an invitation-only national awards dinner, giving you the opportunity to network with key directors from other companies on the league table, and to hear from inspirational speakers
  • A certificate to celebrate your rank in the league table, and the opportunity to win one of our sponsors' special awards, ranging from the best management team to the innovation award
  • Ongoing participation in the Fast Track alumni network for past league table companies, with regular invitations to networking dinners
  • Improved standing in the eyes of clients, potential customers, banks and backers, as well as enhanced staff morale and retention


What entrepreneurs say

Fast Track uses multiple data sources, including self-nominations, to compile its league tables. To ensure your nomination is appropriate, please read the criteria below before submitting your nomination form.

General application
If you are not sure which league table(s) your company may qualify for, please provide us with some basic financial details so that we can start tracking it.
View criteria
UK registered, unquoted, and not subsidiaries

Companies may be considered for our league tables, or special programmes such as "Ones to Recognise". These special programmes feature companies that do not meet our league table criteria but deserve recognition, either because they have achieved strong growth (sales or profit), or have received venture-capital backing to fund their growth.

To nominate a company click here


Hide criteria

Tech Track 100
Private TMT companies with the fastest-growing sales
View criteria
Companies are ranked by their compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in sales over three years.
The 2013 league table will rank companies based on the latest accounts (i.e. 2012 or 2013)
and a base year of 2009 or 2010.

The closing date for nominations is 12 July 2013, with publication on 15 September.
Entry criteria
  • Independent tech* company
  • UK registered, unquoted, and not subsidiaries
  • Sales of at least £250,000 in the base year (2009 or 2010)
  • Sales of at least £5m in the latest year (2012 or 2013)
  • Year-on-year sales growth in the latest year from 2011 to 2012, or 2012 to 2013, plus forecast
    (or actual) sales growth
  • Excluded companies include pure computer resellers, and those with accounts qualified as
    "going concern"
  • Exceptions are made to the qualification criteria set out above. The compiler's decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into
  • *The definition of a technology company is based on the amended London Stock Exchange's techMARK definition, i.e. "a company that shows a commitment to innovation, research and product development, and operates in sectors including software, internet, telecoms and biotech."

To nominate a company for the Tech Track 100 click here


Hide criteria

Fast Track 100
Private companies (non-tech) with the fastest-growing sales
View criteria
Companies are ranked by their compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in sales over three years.
The 2013 league table will rank companies based on the latest audited accounts (i.e. 2012 or 2013) and a base year of 2009 or 2010.

The closing date for nominations for the 2013 Fast Track 100 is 27 September 2013, with publication on 8 December 2013.
Entry criteria
  • UK registered, unquoted, and not subsidiaries
  • Sales of at least £250,000 in the base year (2009 or 2010)
  • Sales of at least £5m in the latest year (2012 or 2013)
  • Ten or more employees in the latest year (2012 or 2013)
  • Operating profit must be positive in the latest year (2012 or 2013)
  • Year-on-year sales growth in the latest year from 2011 to 2012, or 2012 or 2013, plus forecast (or actual) sales growth
  • Excluded companies include technology, LLPs, pure property and financial trading companies, and companies with sales of over £500m
  • Exceptions are made to the qualification criteria set out above. The compiler's decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into

To nominate a company for the Fast Track 100 click here


Hide criteria

International Track 200
Private companies with the fastest-growing international sales
View criteria
Companies are ranked by their compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in international sales over two years.
The 2013 league table will rank companies based on their latest available accounts (i.e. 2011, 2012 or 2013) and a base year of 2009, 2010 or 2011.

The closing date for nominations is 26 April 2013, with publication on 7 July.
Entry criteria
  • UK registered, unquoted, and not subsidiaries
  • International sales of at least £500,000 in the base year (2009, 2010 or 2011)
  • International sales of at least £1m in the latest year (2011, 2012 or 2013)
  • International sales must be greater than 5% of total sales in the final year
  • Total sales must be at least £25m in the final year
  • Operating profit must be positive in the final year
  • Excluded companies include pure property and financial trading companies, and those with restricted accounts
  • Exceptions are made to the qualification criteria set out above. The compiler's decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into

To nominate a company for the International Track 200 click here


Hide criteria

Profit Track 100
Private companies with the fastest-growing profits
View criteria
Companies are ranked by their compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in profits over three years. The 2014 league table will rank companies based on the latest audited accounts (i.e. 2012 or 2013) and a base year of 2009 or 2010.

The closing date for nominations is 14 February, with publication on 13 April.
Entry criteria
  • UK registered, unquoted, and not subsidiaries
  • Profits of at least £500,000 in the base year (2009 or 2010)
  • Profits of at least £3m in the latest year (2012 or 2013)
  • Profits are defined as operating profits with directors' remuneration added back
  • Profits must increase in the latest year, from 2011 to 2012, or 2012 to 2013
  • Excluded companies include pure property and financial trading companies, and those with restricted accounts
  • Companies that do not meet the criteria can still be considered for the Ones to Recognise programme. This is a selection of companies that have either achieved, or predict, good profit growth. Click here for more information
  • Exceptions are made to the qualification criteria set out above. The compiler's decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into

To nominate a company for the Profit Track 100 click here


Hide criteria

Buyout Track 100
Private equity-backed companies with the fastest-growing profits
View criteria
Companies are ranked by their compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in profits (EBITDA) over two years. If published, the 2014 league table will rank companies based on the latest available accounts (i.e. 2012 or 2013) and a base year of 2010 or 2011.

The closing date for nominations is 1 January 2014.
Entry criteria
  • UK registered, unquoted, and not subsidiaries
  • At least 20% of shares owned by private equity
  • Profits are EBITDA defined as operating profits + amortisation + depreciation (excluding exceptional costs and impairment of assets)
  • Profits of at least £1m in the base year (2010 or 2011)
  • Profits of at least £3m in the latest year (2012 or 2013)
  • Profits must increase in the latest year, from 2011 to 2012, or 2012 to 2013
  • Sales must be at least £10m in latest year
  • Excluded companies include property and financial trading companies, and those with restricted accounts
  • Exceptions are made to the qualification criteria set out above. The compiler's decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into

To nominate a company for the Buyout Track 100 click here


Hide criteria

Top Track 250
Leading mid-market private companies with biggest sales
View criteria
Companies are ranked by sales in their latest accounts between 2011 and 2013.

The closing date for nominations is 2 August 2013, with publication on 13 October.
Entry criteria
  • UK registered, unquoted, and not subsidiaries
  • Sales are taken as total turnover, net of VAT
  • Companies are required to have increased either their sales or their operating profits over their latest year
  • Companies may have their ultimate holding company offshore
  • Sales are typically between £150m and £600m
Exclusions
  • Companies that are either equal joint ventures, or majority-owned by quoted companies
  • Companies with the majority of sales generated by quoted subsidiaries
  • Companies with fewer than 50 staff
  • Not-for-profit companies, co-operative societies, mutual societies, provident associations, and member-owned buying groups
  • Exceptions are made to the qualification criteria set out above. The compiler's decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into

To nominate a company for the Top Track 250 click here


Hide criteria

Top Track 100
Biggest private companies
View criteria
Companies are ranked by sales in their latest audited accounts. The 2013 league table will rank companies by latest sales in audited accounts to latest financial year end (i.e. between 2011 and 2013). Draft accounts will be considered.

The closing date for nominations is 10 May 2013, with publication on 23 June 2013.
Entry criteria
  • UK registered, unquoted, and not subsidiaries
  • Sales are taken as total turnover, net of VAT
  • Companies are not required to be in profit
  • Companies may have their ultimate holding company offshore
  • Sales are typically between £600m and £2.5bn
Exclusions
  • Companies that are either equal joint ventures, or majority-owned by quoted companies
  • Companies with the majority of sales generated by their quoted subsidiaries
  • Pure trading companies with fewer than 100 staff
  • Not-for-profit companies, including co-operative societies, mutual societies, provident associations, and member-owned buying groups
  • Exceptions are made to the qualification criteria set out above. The compiler's decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into

To nominate a company for the Top Track 100 click here


Hide criteria