Fast Track 100

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Rank Company Location Year end Annual sales rise over 3 years Latest sales £000s Staff Comment
1 DataworkforceTelecoms recruitment agency SE London 2000 291.01% 39,304 54 Former army engineers build telecoms networks all over the world
2 SkyNet SystemsIT systems integrator Oxfordshire 2000 220.24% 10,421 10 Former scampi factory worker builds £10m IT sales business
3 United Foods InternationalFruit juice maker Surrey 2000 185.69% 17,962 93 Serial entrepreneur sells bakery business to start up in organic fruit juice
4 Victoria RealInteractive media producer Brighton 2000 183.22% 6,662 80 Designed Big Brother's website, which reported 745m hits in 10 weeks
5 PRORecruitment agency Central London 2000 182.96% 8,336 69 Head of New York office promoted from trainee to director in four years
6 ICRManagement consultancy West Yorkshire 2000 180.91% 12,735 16 College dropout now solves IT problems for NTL and Thomson Holidays
7 Cramer SystemsTelecoms software developer Bath 2000 168.65% 6,219 131 Spends 25% of sales on R&D to simplify telecoms technology
8 UCCL InternationalBranded sportswear wholesaler Manchester 2000 165.31% 10,912 41 Former Liverpool market-stall trader makes sportswear for Asda
9 Healthcare at HomeHome healthcare provider Burton upon Trent 2000 161.45% 30,543 115 Specialist nurses care for 3,000 patients in their own homes
10 WestcoAir conditioning contractor East London 2000 156.85% 6,998 100 Manufacturer funds start-up by co-operating with cash-rich competitor
11 Tidalwave TechnologyMarketing agency SW London 2000 155.51% 5,257 45 Provides marketing services to giants such as Microsoft and Cisco
12 The Manor Cabinet CompanyKitchen maker Swindon 2000 148.53% 3,848 63 Combines computers and carpentry to make kitchens for new homes
13 ION ITSoftware developer High Wycombe 2000 146.65% 5,375 80 Founders met investors in Heathrow departure lounge
14 LMRRecruitment agency Northamptonshire 2000 141.94% 6,872 33 Supplies forklift-truck drivers and warehouse workers across northeast
15 Rocky Mountain TradersCD label maker Essex 2000 139.78% 5,385 23 Maths professor builds £5m business designing CD-label applicator
16 GoJobsiteInternet recruitment publisher Hampshire 2000 138.41% †6926 140 Claims to receive 50,000 visitors a day to its website
17 Oyster PartnersDigital media agency Central London 2000 135.94% 10,482 137 Company had to cut staff from 220 to 140 this year
18 Corpack IndustriesPackaging manufacturer Cheshire 2000 135.91% 34,609 486 Packaging company built up through 10 acquisitions
19 Gainsborough GroupServiced office provider Central London 2000 134.67% 3,770 19 Central London serviced offices offer on-site IT support
20 ECI Human CapitalRecruitment agency Central London 2000 132.10% 13,949 80 Headhunts executives in £70,000-£200,000 salary bracket
21 Premiere ConsultantsSports marketing consultancy Central London 2000 130.47% †6031 14 Sells sponsorship rights for Manchester United and Real Madrid
22 BluewaveWebsite designer Central London 2000 130.20% 3,591 61 Sold 51% stake to Danish giant Maersk in November 2001
23 Sun ManagementTelecoms services manager Gloucestershire 2000 129.43% 6,943 17 Idea for company came out of London Business School MBA
24 Near BackMusic manager Glasgow 2000 123.96% 5,663 10 Lead singer runs pop band Texas and is Scotland's best-paid director
25 Exchange DirectForeign exchange provider Central London 2000 120.08% 5,209 350 The company ceased trading in December 2001 following allegations of financial irregularities
26 International Movements GroupInternational freight forwarder Middlesex 2000 118.39% 4,274 12 Transports food and medical aid to Mozambique and Uganda
27 Roadside GroupPetrol station operator Buckinghamshire 2000 115.41% 9,033 24 African road builder and oil executive run petrol stations that sell alcohol
28 Environmental Waste ControlsCompact waste disposer Cheshire 2000 115.22% 3,077 46 Company founded by ex-merchant seaman halves corporate-waste bill
29 Just DeliContract caterer Berkshire 2000 113.34% 3,241 85 Provides bistro-style catering for ITN, Fujitsu and Marconi
30 1st SoftwareIFA software developer Warwick 2000 111.61% 3,340 38 Provides software to 20% of independent financial advisers
31 Stanton Interior SolutionsOffice refurbishment contractor NW London 2000 110.24% 7,684 25 Founded by Asian who uses Gujarati contacts to employ top carpenters
32 SyscapComputer-equipment lessor SW London 2000 110.06% 48,714 138 Started in attic and is now preferred rental partner for IBM and HP
33 Netwise SystemsComputer network integrator Surrey 2000 107.53% 7,400 12 Football injury inspires salesman to start computer networking business
34 ICMCleaning contractor Hampshire 2000 107.37% 4,783 1,023 Buses in cleaners at 4am to ensure cinema is cleaned out of hours
35 Paradise ComputersComputer hardware reseller Hertfordshire 2000 107.15% 22,954 43 Founder started business in garden shed and still works in warehouse
36 Encore DirectEnvelope maker North Yorkshire 2000 106.28% 11,423 105 Produces 10m printed envelopes a week for clients such as Tesco
37 Pin Mill TextilesTextile importer Manchester 2000 104.84% 8,109 14 Claims to be selling textiles 30% cheaper than 20 years ago
38 PSA SparesPrinter spares distributor SW London 2000 104.09% 3,057 17 Father and son copied French business to set up own company
39 Hazell CarrActuarial services provider Oxfordshire 2000 104.05% 45,231 99 Business boomed after sorting out pension mis-selling scandal in 1990s
40 HotelConnectHotel reservation agency NW London 2000 103.34% 6,199 30 Birth of low-cost airlines helps hotel booker get off the ground
41 Connect Support ServicesIT services provider East London 2000 101.70% 3,100 64 Helps run Barclays' IT help desk
42 Hopkins HomesHousebuilder Suffolk 2000 101.14% 22,307 38 Helps regenerate brownfield sites of city centres in East Anglia
43 Music BoxMusic retailer Essex 2000 98.25% 8,683 70 Company went into liquidation in April 2002
44 IT PartnershipsComputer reseller Reading 2000 98.24% 14,026 36 Staff rewarded with all-expenses-paid trip to Marbella
45 AlchemetricsMarketing database developer Berkshire 2000 98.08% 3,378 55 Runs large databases with up to 60m names
46 Claim Control ConsultantsInsurance claim processor Walsall 2000 96.05% 12,518 35 Replaces stolen and damaged computers for insurance companies
47 Mitek GroupComputer component distributor Staffordshire 2000 95.93% 7,204 19 Financed expansion with £2m credit facility from IBM
48 Eaton SecuritiesCar park operator SE London 2000 94.52% 5,011 48 London car parks offer overnight dry cleaning, umbrellas and scooters
49 EiseneggerClothes retailer Blackpool 2000 93.49% 24,137 364 Husband and wife have shops at opposite ends of Oxford Street
50 MonexRoad haulier Gwent 2000 92.82% 4,445 21 Son follows father to set up his own road-haulage business
51 Alternative NetworksTelecoms systems integrator SW London 2000 92.02% 11,737 81 Regional office is based in grounds of Lancashire County Cricket Club
52 Talbot DesignCar dealership builder Aldershot 2000 91.62% 10,163 35 Building firm expanded into car showrooms during housing recession
53 ArtigianoMail order retailer Isle of Wight 2000 90.93% 6,811 31 Oxford graduate and international rower now sell Italian clothes
54 DarlingtonsHaulage contractor Merseyside 2000 90.73% 4,706 50 Pre-war family haulage business diversifies into paper distribution
55 Partners for ChangeIT consultancy Middlesex 2000 90.68% 9,393 43 Runs joint venture advising companies on eco-friendly strategies
56 Catering AllianceContract caterer Warwickshire 2000 88.48% 16,574 1,224 Recently won £3m contract to run staff restaurants for Argos
57 Caspian PublishingPublisher, conference organiser Central London 2000 88.43% 4,111 33 Founders left Institute of Directors to set up rival publisher
58 Engineering Staff SolutionsRecruitment agency SW London 2000 88.35% 11,518 30 Founder sold his Ferrari to start engineering recruitment company
59 Redfern International LogisticsFreight forwarder Leeds 2000 88.23% 6,038 16 Former P&O employee remortgages home to start logistics company
60 Square One ResourcesIT recruitment agency Central London 2000 87.12% 16,270 30 Training includes motivation sessions with same speakers used by many top football clubs
61 EskandarFashion designer Central London 2000 86.84% 6,073 16 Adapted ancient tribal dress design for Lauren Bacall and Diana Ross
62 WA DevelopmentsRail engineering contractor Cumbria 2000 85.92% 4,078 50 Railway engineers were on site of coal train derailment within two hours
63 Telecom Service CentresCall-centre operator Isle of Bute 2000 85.84% 15,171 904 Biggest firm on Isle of Bute helps cut unemployment from 17% to 7%
64 PAV Data SystemsWireless technology developer Cumbria 2000 84.27% 4,156 46 Fixed New York phone transmitters within two weeks of terrorist attack
65 RDF MediaTV programme maker West London 2000 84.19% 10,051 77 Created TV hits Scrapheap Challenge, Banzai and Faking It
66 VanguardMobile-phone supplier Rhyl 2000 83.86% 50,323 144 Systems track vehicles via SIM cards in drivers' mobile phones
67 Apex ContractorsBuilding contractor Kent 2000 83.52% 5,441 143 Founder rises from near banktruptcy to set up construction business
68 Churchill Retirement LivingHousebuilder Hampshire 2000 82.49% 5,788 22 Brothers build hamlets in West Country for stressed London executives
69 Evolution ConsultingIT strategy consultancy Central London 2000 81.57% 4,558 75 Founders claim their company has never advertised for business
70 Premier MovesRelocation service provider North London 2000 81.48% 5,706 80 Moved 13,000 bits of kit and 1,700 staff to Pfizer's new laboratory
71 Clean CharmCleaning contractor Essex 2000 80.09% 3,559 370 Removes graffiti for London Underground and Ealing council
72 the houseMarketing agency Cheshire 2000 79.99% 5,874 35 Launched street theatre across Britain for Malibu marketing campaign
73 Start CreativeGraphic design agency Central London 2000 79.31% 4,828 25 Former art-college mates helped brand Virgin Cola and Virgin Atlantic
74 BravissimoLingerie retailer Leamington Spa 2000 76.83% 4,221 25 Set up when pregnant founder could not find D to J bra cup sizes
75 Concept TelecomTelecoms services provider Nottingham 2000 76.56% 6,537 18 Telecoms recruitment agency beats downturn with product-testing arm
76 Blitz GamesComputer games developer Warwickshire 2000 76.45% 3,758 86 Twins who started in bedroom write games for Microsoft and Disney
77 Drive AssistCar lessor Tamworth 2000 76.01% †68,204 180 Former top company provides accident victims with free rental cars
78 Chem-Dry UKInsurance claim manager East Yorkshire 2000 75.23% 18,327 98 Received 3,000 calls in the wake of last year's floods
79 The Trading ForceDefence equipment supplier SW London 2000 74.89% 8,182 21 Company went into receivership in April 2002
80 GCS Recruitment SpecialistsIT recruitment consultancy Reading 2000 73.71% 11,639 32 Teenage gambler joins former colleague to start recruitment agency
81 Sidcup Auto CentreCar dealer Kent 2000 73.40% 3,964 14 Brothers-in-law sell 500 Skodas a year in Sidcup
82 EXiTelecoms services provider Cheshire 2000 72.80% 38,721 715 Employs 1,500 engineers from Manchester to Kuala Lumpur
83 The Enterprise DepartmentMail order retailer Hertfordshire 2000 72.61% 5,926 42 Runs reader offers for the Glasgow Herald and OK! magazine
84 Taylor Construction PlantPlant hirer Essex 2000 72.31% 3,877 27 Plant-hire company diversifies into making its own mini skips
85 JobserveInternet recruitment publisher Essex 2000 72.25% 13,069 47 Publishes 8,500 job vacancies a day across 8 sectors on its websites
86 NetKonect CommunicationsInternet service provider Hampshire 2000 71.59% 3,696 27 Founded with £150,000 loan from a business angel
87 Direct GroupInsurance outsourcer Doncaster 2000 71.59% 11,221 47 Designs insurance packages for banks and other financial institutions
88 Cougar AutomationAutomation system installer Hampshire 2000 70.64% 3,160 45 DTI Benchmarking scheme helped triple sales growth
89 Upgrade OptionsComputer hardware reseller Aldershot 2000 70.57% 3,985 22 Founder of £4m business left Ireland at 19 with no qualifications
90 The Officers ClubDiscount clothing retailer Northumberland 2000 70.04% 52,016 1,004 Offers men's clothes at 70% discount to other high-street retailers
91 Responsive DesignsFlooring importer Surrey 2000 69.82% 42,464 42 Claims to import half of the laminated flooring sold in Britain each year
92 Antal InternationalRecruitment agency Central London 2000 69.60% 19,130 289 Closed World Trade Center office just six months before terrorist attacks
93 Mediacom NorthMedia buyer Manchester 2000 68.52% 16,895 15 Brokered deal between ITV's Heartbeat and Taylor's Yorkshire Tea
94 Geneva TechnologyBilling software developer Cambridge 2000 67.87% 13,423 167 Twelve employees became paper millionaires after company's merger
95 LexonPharmaceuticals distributor Redditch 2000 67.80% 21,663 65 Delivers drugs to chemists in West Midlands in 24 hours
96 Pets At HomePet products retailer Cheshire 2000 67.65% †96,795 1,154 Sells 3,000 hamsters a month through 143 stores nationwide
97 Travel CounsellorsTravel agency Bolton 2000 67.48% 39,131 160 Network of home-workers sells 92-day world cruises
98 Alpha Micro ComponentsElectronic component distributor Basingstoke 2000 67.00% 4,913 14 Won contract to supply electronic components for national lottery
99 Lightbody of HamiltonCelebration cake maker Lanarkshire 2000 66.81% 15,289 356 Fourth-generation bakers now make Pokemon and Harry Potter cakes
100 BellwaterTelecoms contractor Surrey 2000 65.49% 93,009 190 Builds 'internet hotels' for telecoms equipment in the Far East

* Supplied by Company  † Annualised figure

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