Fast Track 100
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Rank Company Location Year end Annual sales rise over 3 years Latest sales £000s Staff Comment
1 Ambition RecruitmentNursing recruitment agency SW London 2001 255.82% 28,257 56 Provides 24-hour emergency nursing cover to hospitals and care homes
2 Positive SolutionsIndependent financial adviser Newcastle 2001 215.66% 12,963 25 Uses a network of 511 self-employed financial advisers
3 Land of LeatherFurniture retailer Kent 2001 196.58% 72,199 305 Expanded from single shop to 40 furniture showrooms throughout UK
4 Telecom OneTelecoms network provider Central London 2001 181.82% 54,733 35 Telecoms company also runs three television channels on Sky Digital
5 EuropcComputer hardware reseller Glasgow 2001 174.44% 6,523 28 Sells reconditioned PCs to more than 15,000 business customers
6 CoflexFacilities manager Surrey 2001 166.38% 20,569 220 Founders remortgaged homes before winning Mitsubishi bank as first client
7 AvellinoData software developer Berkshire 2001 160.02% 4,623 26 Software checks customer databases for BT and Abbey National
8 akaEntertainment marketing agency Central London 2001 154.24% 4,427 18 Promoted West End shows such as Art, Shockheaded Peter and Taboo
9 Sofas-UKFurniture retailer South Wales 2001 148.66% 4,211 41 Couple started out again after their furniture business went into receivership
10 CarshockCar supermarket Newcastle 2001 136.55% 3,439 14 Sells 3,000 cars a year to British customers
11 Bannatyne FitnessFitness centre operator Darlington 2001 134.23% 15,708 453 Founder's fourth business has 23 clubs with 52,000 members
12 Utility PartnershipUtility consultancy Cardiff 2001 128.82% †5,990 60 Handles power installation for 4,000 mobile-phone masts a year
13 De Montfort Fine ArtArt publisher Staffordshire 2001 127.91% 3,432 31 Supplies paintings, sculpture and prints to 4,000 galleries worldwide
14 BCPMS (Europe)Gold jewellery supplier NW London 2001 127.42% 20,675 11 Husband and wife sell gold jewellery and supply gold bullion
15 Welch’s of WirralDrinks wholesaler Merseyside 2001 126.48% 3,149 13 Father and son supply drinks to Liverpool nightclubs such as 051
16 Options EmploymentRecruitment agency Hounslow 2001 123.61% 57,206 302 Architect builds engineering recruitment agency with 50 UK branches
17 Time Facilities MaintenanceBusiness facilities manager Essex 2001 122.86% 3,738 40 The company ceased trading in March 2003
18 Damar Civil EngineeringCivil engineer Bath 2001 120.97% 3,869 28 Started by three brothers, now builds flood defences for Wessex Water
19 Sun ManagementTelecoms services manager Gloucestershire 2001 118.45% 9,344 29 Manages data, voice and mobile communications for large organisations
20 Complete CommunicationsTV and film producer Central London 2001 117.97% †65,001 79 Maker of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? sells TV show in 108 countries
21 CJ Garland & CoCall-centre operator Hartlepool 2001 114.22% 12,590 1,100 Employs 1,100 staff to answer phones for Vodafone, Egg and Powergen
22 Allpay.netElectronic payment provider Herefordshire 2001 113.50% 3,340 16 Offers bill payment network through 21,000 shops and 19,000 post offices
23 A4eOutsourced employment adviser Sheffield 2001 111.53% 17,032 496 Runs 83 redesigned government Jobcentres
24 City Refrigeration HoldingsFacilities maintenance provider Glasgow 2001 109.24% 94,051 3,318 Keeps facilities in Asda's 255 stores running 24 hours a day
25 KW InternationalTrading software developer SW London 2001 107.96% 8,751 79 Raised £9m of venture capital in 2001 to fund overseas expansion
26 Just LearningChildren's nursery operator Kent 2001 106.60% 5,984 463 Chain of 30 nurseries bought by Alchemy in £32m deal last year
27 Fresh BouquetsFlower supplier Kent 2001 105.44% †6,412 76 Supplies flowers direct to 4,500 garage forecourts and retail stores
28 Netwise SystemsComputer network integrator Surrey 2001 104.30% 11,122 15 Football injury inspired salesman to start IT business
29 Preferred InternationalIT recruitment consultancy Southampton 2001 102.83% 17,700 41 Won first big contract with Computacenter after three-minute sales pitch
30 Cardinal MaritimeFreight forwarder Manchester 2001 101.74% 6,296 15 Moves freight between Britain and the Middle East
31 WA DevelopmentsRail engineering contractor Cumbria 2001 100.74% 7,564 90 Engineers reacted to coal train derailment within two hours
32 Permanent Health CompanyHealth insurance provider Hertfordshire 2001 100.17% 7,554 16 Sells health insurance to 2,000 independent financial advisers
33 Global BeachE-business software developer SW London 2001 99.19% 6,155 75 Developed website where users can build a virtual Jaguar racing car
34 Jarvis TechnologiesComputer hardware reseller East Sussex 2001 98.70% 7,172 14 Computer reseller has expanded into continental and American markets
35 SolsisIT systems integrator Reading 2001 98.39% 4,094 16 Former Hewlett-Packard engineers retained employer as key client
36 SkyNet SystemsIT systems integrator Oxfordshire 2001 97.60% 16,384 17 Former scampi factory worker builds £16m-a-year business
37 Focus DIYDIY retailer Crewe 2001 97.16% 1,462,400 15,994 Chain of 429 DIY stores postponed flotation in July 2002
38 DeliveranceHome and office caterer Central London 2001 97.16% 3,911 122 Delivers 1,000 upmarket meals a day to City banks and London residents
39 S&I ElectronicsElectronic equipment supplier North London 2001 95.56% 138,890 37 Three sons transform father's small radio shop into electronics wholesaler
40 ABMCrime software developer Nottingham 2001 95.14% 3,846 68 Software helped solve two crimes during sales demonstration in America
41 Alphatec SoftwarePayment software developer Milton Keynes 2001 94.82% 3,181 42 Software helps clear cheques for Barclays and Clydesdale Bank
42 Aircom InternationalTelecoms service provider Surrey 2001 93.36% 17,660 152 Mobile-phone giant Nokia took 40% stake in January 1999
43 Sidcup Auto CentreCar dealer Kent 2001 92.59% 7,309 16 Brothers-in-law sell 1,100 Skodas a year from Kent garages
44 Selway MooreComputer hardware reseller Berkshire 2001 92.32% 5,952 17 Looks after computer servers for clients such as DHL
45 Stanton Interior SolutionsOffice refurbishment contractor NW London 2001 92.17% 11,400 26 Asian founder uses Gujarati contacts to employ top carpenters in City
46 Omni ITHuman resources consultancy Cheshire 2001 92.08% 5,516 11 Founder started IT company at the age of 25 with £30,000 overdraft
47 PRORecruitment agency Central London 2001 92.04% 11,238 106 Starting up a joint venture in Australia in 2003
48 Mistral Internet GroupInternet service provider Brighton 2001 90.97% 4,154 24 Hosts websites for Sony Music and Bacardi
49 JK EnvironmentalEnvironmental waste manager Hertfordshire 2001 89.74% 4,501 33 Childhood friends team up to unblock sewers for Anglian Water
50 BrooksonFinancial consultancy Warrington 2001 89.52% 3,364 33 Helps 7,000 independent IT consultants, engineers and vets pay less tax
51 ContenderVideo distributor Central London 2001 89.43% 4,709 12 Distributes videos of TV programmes, from Beyblade to Tipping the Velvet
52 Beds and BarsHostel and bar operator Central London 2001 88.67% 5,505 131 Runs backpacker hostels and bars in Edinburgh, London and Newquay
53 QP GroupPurchasing consultancy Hampshire 2001 88.63% 10,075 78 Helps companies such as Glaxo and Diageo buy goods and services
54 Advanced Resource ManagersRecruitment consultancy Portsmouth 2001 88.56% 10,672 22 Started with £40,000 loan from founder's father
55 Simpson CarpenterMarket researcher Wimbledon 2001 87.24% 4,024 20 Helps Honda measure the effectiveness of its advertising
56 World Class InternationalIT management consultancy Portsmouth 2001 86.38% 62,298 295 Designed IT systems used by NHS Direct’s 24-hour helpline
57 Alternative NetworksTelecoms systems integrator SW London 2001 86.01% 18,354 164 Provides telecoms services for 3,000 small firms
58 Wimco Group CoachesCoach and bus operator SW London 2001 85.88% 5,417 167 Runs five bus routes in south London and Surrey
59 Pacific International RecruitmentIT recruitment agency SW London 2001 83.44% 10,941 26 Recruits professional staff for multinational clients
60 Care Management GroupCare home operator Wimbledon 2001 83.28% 8,190 367 Looks after 330 residents with learning disabilities in 49 care homes
61 PES GroupBuilding contractor Epsom 2001 82.49% 4,163 23 Helped build £4.5m office and apartment block at London’s Camden Lock
62 Hazell CarrActuarial services provider Oxfordshire 2001 81.99% 93,170 372 Business boomed sorting out pensions mis-selling scandal of the 1990s
63 RDF MediaTV programme maker West London 2001 81.51% 19,683 140 Created TV shows such as Faking It, Banzai and Scrapheap Challenge
64 ActixTelecoms software developer West London 2001 81.02% 5,188 56 Opened offices in Singapore and Shanghai to target Asian mobile market
65 Elec-Track InstallationsOverhead cable contractor Kent 2001 80.26% 14,562 247 Repaired overhead electrification cables after Hatfield rail crash
66 Howarine CalvertOffice stationery supplier North London 2001 79.24% 4,465 32 Teenage inventor of Pocket Gym builds office-supplies business
67 Paradise ComputersComputer hardware reseller Hertfordshire 2001 79.14% 32,962 54 Founder started in garden shed and still helps out in warehouse
68 UltralaseEye surgery provider Leeds 2001 77.80% 11,044 60 Uses lasers to correct eyesight in 1,000 operations a month
69 Mitek GroupComputer component distributor Staffordshire 2001 77.72% 11,104 24 Financed expansion with £2m credit facility from IBM
70 Food Brokers Food Brokers is in liquidation as of November 2005
71 Spektra GroupE-business software developer Livingston 2001 76.39% 4,940 55 Makes the software that runs Tesco's Personal Finance website
72 Whiteoak DevelopmentsHousebuilder Epsom 2001 76.38% 6,627 15 Built 390 homes at Eastbourne's Sovereign Harbour marina
73 Gainsborough GroupServiced office provider Central London 2001 75.49% 7,286 33 Recently opened its first American serviced office in Washington
74 QPC HomesHousebuilder Reading 2001 74.12% 6,411 30 Founder went without salary for 18 months in 1990s property crash
75 HotelConnectHotel reservation agency NW London 2001 74.05% 9,187 57 Books hotels in Europe for non-package-tour travellers
76 ICMCleaning contractor Hampshire 2001 73.53% 6,453 1,433 Buses in cleaners at 4am to ensure cinemas are cleaned out of hours
77 Telecom Service CentresCall-centre operator Isle of Bute 2001 73.27% 26,176 1,407 Biggest employer on Isle of Bute helped cut unemployment from 17% to 7%
78 ICRManagement consultancy West Yorkshire 2001 73.00% 17,738 16 Solves customer contact problems for Lloyds TSB and Thomson Holidays
79 The Officers ClubDiscount clothing retailer Northumberland 2001 72.69% 81,604 1,678 Says it offers men's clothes at a 70% discount to high-street retailers
80 Rolled Gold InternationalMusic distributor Slough 2001 72.69% 27,128 44 Claims to sell imported CDs at up to 40% cheaper than rivals
81 The BankCommunication agency Central London 2001 72.56% 9,608 27 Makes TV commercials for HSBC and helped rebrand BMI British Midland
82 Windrush Frozen FoodsFood wholesaler Oxfordshire 2001 72.19% 5,953 18 Develops and supplies complete menus for restaurants
83 Central TrustLoan broker Norwich 2001 72.11% 20,395 186 Staff play 20 seconds of their favourite song on completing a deal
84 LoganairAirline Paisley 2001 72.08% 21,022 176 Flies world's shortest scheduled flight of two minutes in Orkneys
85 Apex ContractorsBuilding contractor Kent 2001 71.42% 8,475 120 Manages site logistics at Canary Wharf
86 NetKonect CommunicationsInternet service provider Hampshire 2001 71.23% 5,093 37 Founder borrowed £150,000 to start company
87 BravissimoLingerie retailer Leamington Spa 2001 71.15% 7,168 50 Set up when pregnant founder could not find D to J bra cup sizes
88 Direct GroupInsurance outsourcer Doncaster 2001 70.85% 21,419 55 Designs insurance packages for banks and other financial institutions
89 Claim Control ConsultantsInsurance claim processor Walsall 2001 70.77% 16,387 45 Replaces stolen and damaged computers for insurance companies
90 Just DeliContract caterer Berkshire 2001 70.74% 5,334 141 Provides bistro-style catering for ITN and Fujitsu
91 iokoDigital media systems integrator York 2001 70.43% 10,083 143 Developed Britain's largest online portal for hotels, restaurants and pubs
92 Pets At HomePet products retailer Cheshire 2001 70.31% 178,292 1,976 Bought rival Petsmart in 1999 to build chain of 145 pet superstores
93 Independent Building SolutionsBuilding systems developer Croydon 2001 70.00% 10,033 80 Develops systems to control building services from lifts to ventilation
94 SMRSAdvertising agency Manchester 2001 69.96% 8,496 13 Helps Airtours, HBOS and Nissan with recruitment advertising
95 B&H PolymersSpecialist plastics maker Warrington 2001 69.67% 23,146 14 Makes plastic for drink bottles that can be recycled for textiles
96 SirocomTelecoms services provider SW London 2001 69.46% 6,376 32 Built network to connect STA Travel's 400 worldwide offices
97 History & HeraldryGift maker Rotherham 2001 69.39% 9,580 61 Makes gifts sold at tourist sites all over the world
98 WorldRoamMobile phone hirer Essex 2001 69.07% 4,186 20 American business travellers outside the US account for 80% of sales
99 Kalsi PlasticsPlastic products maker Birmingham 2001 68.93% 7,061 125 Brothers started making plastic guttering after supplier poached customers
100 BlueprintMarketing agency SW London 2001 68.77% 7,379 30 Company avoids giving staff job titles

* Supplied by Company  † Annualised figure

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