2000 - Fast Track 100 League Table

What is the Fast Track 100 – 2000?
The Fast Track 100 league table ranked Britain’s 100 private companies with the fastest-growing sales in 2000 over their latest three years. To find out more about the research and to view all the league tables from 1997 to 2023 click here.

Sunday Times Fast Track 100 - Full 2000 Results

Rank	Company	Activity	Location	Year end	Annual sales rise over 3 years	Latest sales £000s	Staff	Comment
1	Dataworkforce	Telecoms recruitment agency	SE London	1999	272.69%	20,063	25	Founded by classical pianist who plays drums to help him think
2	Healthcare at Home	Home healthcare provider	Burton upon Trent	1999	223.66%	21,958	65	Cares for 2,000 patients in their own homes at any one time
3	Packman Contracts	Ceiling contractor	West London	1999	200.94%	11,980	52	Racehorse owner gave up gambling to found construction group
4	Drive Assist	Car lessor	Tamworth	1999	165.65%	47,790	116	Last year’s No 1 firm provides victims of no-fault accidents with rental cars [† Latest sales]
5	Elec-Track Installations	Overhead cable contractor	Kent	1999	155.07%	4,865	150	Started with only £5,000 of founders' personal savings [† Latest sales]
6	Equador Consulting	Telecoms consultancy	West London	1999	145.02%	5,664	25	Operates across Europe for clients including and Cable & Wireless and NTL
7	Music Box	Music retailer	Essex	1999	144.20%	6,056	70	Company went into liquidation in April 2002 [† Latest sales]
8	Medico-Legal Reporting	Medical reports compiler	Reading	1999	143.98%	6,253	28	Deals with 4,000 personal injury instructions every month
9	Ecosse Films	Film maker	SW London	1999	136.23%	7,254	15	Produced the Oscar-nominated film Mrs Brown, starring Billy Connolly
10	Project Telecom	Telecoms supplier	Nottinghamshire	1999	132.47%	117,087	303	Valued at £152m when it floated in September 2000
11	Hyperlink	Internet software developer	Central London	1999	128.62%	4,274	53	Turned down by British venture capitalists, it raised $6m in America
12	Genevac	Chemical evaporator maker	Suffolk	1999	125.47%	7,204	60	Produces evaporators that help cut cost of drug development
13	EC International	Executive search agency	Central London	1999	122.44%	5,347	37	Places experts in telecoms, banking, sport and entertainment sectors
14	Ultimate Events	Conference organiser	SW London	1999	120.92%	12,123	21	Founded with credit card, now charges up to £1m per event
15	Rovtech	Underwater vehicle operator	Aberdeen	1999	119.09%	10,778	80	Designed vehicle to bury telecoms cables at greater depth than before
16	World Circuit	Record producer	West London	1999	118.12%	4,415	12	Produced the international best-selling Buena Vista Social Club album
17	Alternative Networks	Telecoms systems integrator	SW London	1999	117.49%	6,897	46	Started with £9,000, now claims to operate as a 'mini-BT'
18	Catering Alliance	Contract caterer	Warwickshire	1999	116.14%	9,897	610	Won £1m contract to run staff restaurant at Asda headquarters
19	G Thornton (Contracts)	Sports ground contractor	Lancashire	1999	115.22%	6,136	20	Won £1.1m contract to build facilities for the Millennium Youth Games
20	Auto Tronics Communications	Telecoms equipment supplier	West Midlands	1999	113.79%	3,889	43	Founder used cash from sale of house to set up company
21	Jobserve	Internet recruitment publisher	Essex	1999	111.27%	8,271	31	Top company on the Profit Track 100 also appears on the Fast Track 100
22	Base London	Shoe wholesaler	North London	1999	110.78%	15,524	21	Marketing campaign included a guide to the seedier side of London
23	Mill House Inns	Managed pub operator	Buckinghamshire	1999	110.77%	29,681	1,279	Started with 12 derelict pubs, company sold for £57.6m in August
24	Peto Services	Electrical contractor	Norfolk	1999	107.65%	3,045	46	Won big contracts to fit out oil-industry support and production ships
25	Ragdoll Productions	Television programme maker	Warwickshire	1999	106.24%	21,933	70	Creator of Teletubbies sells programmes to 90 broadcasters worldwide
26	Hopkins Homes	Housebuilder	Suffolk	1999	105.15%	14,715	30	Built 200 homes on site of East Anglia’s largest mental hospital
27	Fone Range	Mobile-phone accessory maker	NW London	1999	103.90%	11,071	72	Set up by teenaged brothers when they were still students
28	Morgan Howard Group	Executive search agency	West London	1999	103.27%	4,660	34	Founder left school at 16, now runs 16 offices worldwide
29	Partners for Change	IT consultancy	Middlesex	1999	102.25%	6,519	15	Runs joint venture offering companies advice on energy consumption
30	Interport	Pharmaceuticals wholesaler	South London	1999	102.24%	17,231	22	Repackages and resells pharmaceuticals imported from the Continent
31	Remarc Technologies	IT training firm	Leeds	1999	101.77%	3,495	53	Claims to offer money back to anyone not satisfied with training
32	Wilcock Consultants	Natural gas consultancy	Cumbria	1999	101.01%	3,805	120	Prizes experience over youth in its consultants
33	Kilnbridge Group	Construction contractor	East London	1999	99.27%	14,706	315	Founded in a recession and took on work big contractors did not want
34	Omega International Group	Kitchen maker	Doncaster	1999	97.97%	10,751	129	Recently launched new range of ready-to-assemble kitchens
35	Metro MCS	Engineering consultancy	Kent	1999	97.52%	4,275	80	Projects include Jubilee Line extension and Channel Tunnel Rail Link
36	Renoir Shoes	Shoe retailer	Cleveland	1999	96.64%	12,112	270	Founder started out selling men's platform shoes in the 1970s
37	Eaton Securities	Car park operator	SE London	1999	96.34%	4,617	35	Provides free umbrellas for car-park users when it rains
38	Molson Holdings	Construction equipment retailer	Bristol	1999	95.47%	11,969	19	Sells construction equipment in eight currencies
39	John Walker Developments	Housebuilder	Kent	1999	95.36%	5,107	15	Allows clients to personalise design plans
40	Antal International	Recruitment agency	Central London	1999	95.14%	13,151	302	Problems in east Europe cause firm to concentrate on west Europe
41	Knowledge & Merchandising Inc	Toiletries developer	Buckinghamshire	1999	94.08%	3,903	10	Started with one shaving product sold by one shop - Harrods
42	Restaurants at Work	Contract caterer	Surrey	1999	93.52%	3,883	160	Offers tailor-made catering services to blue-chip clients
43	Menzies Hotels	Hotel operator	Derbyshire	1999	92.91%	23,232	923	Founder refinanced the company and now has £30m for acquisitions
44	Eisenegger	Clothes retailer	Blackpool	1999	92.68%	16,212	205	Company moves into offices after 10 years in founders' home
45	Sportsmania	Sportswear wholesaler	Nottinghamshire	1999	92.15%	11,263	49	Operates 19 discount sportswear and leisurewear warehouses
46	Complete Mobile Communications	Mobile phone wholesaler	North London	1999	91.54%	17,772	41	Created force of 150 independent dealers to compete with larger firms
47	Computer Telecom Installations	Telecoms installer	Cambridgeshire	1999	90.64%	17,617	239	Started with investment of £140, sold for £28m in September [† Latest sales]
48	Em: seven communications	Conference organiser	West London	1999	90.16%	3,933	26	Chairman spent seven years working for the Conservative party
49	Gilmac Building Services	Commercial office refurbisher	North London	1999	89.55%	7,163	12	Currently working on Zandra Rhodes' Museum of Fashion and Textiles50
50	The Iron Bed Company	Bed manufacturer	Chichester	1999	88.78%	8,076	128	Founders branch out into linen and dining room furniture
51	Vistorm	Managed services provider	Oxford	1999	88.34%	13,585	98	Founded with £40,000 from friends and sale of motorbikes
52	Strategic Systems Solutions	Banking software developer	Liverpool	1999	87.98%	9,788	164	Develops specialist software for investment banks around the world
53	4cast	Financial-market analyst	SW London	1999	87.97%	3,025	57	Founders had to carry computers to potential clients to start business
54	Softcat	IT reseller	Buckinghamshire	1999	85.43%	16,318	52	Staff vote on management and their own salaries
55	Legends Surf Shops	Clothing retailer	Warwickshire	1999	84.89%	4,191	57	Surfer teams up with father to sell sports fashion in 14 inland shops
56	Opta Resources	Recruitment agency	Reading	1999	84.71%	5,532	12	Created match-by-match ratings system for Premiership footballers
57	TCG	Metal components maker	Oxford	1999	84.54%	166,410	2,172	Makes lightweight metal components for BMW and Ericsson
58	Friel Construction	Housebuilder	Staffordshire	1999	84.08%	12,721	200	Keeps staff on site and uses laptops to link them to company network
59	Claret Civil Engineering	Civil engineering contractor	Suffolk	1999	83.99%	3,303	40	Set up after founders talked over a glass of claret
60	Questus	Telecoms consultancy	Surrey	1999	83.83%	4,725	28	Bought by American telecoms company for $23m in August
61	Gemstone Travel	Travel agency	Berkshire	1999	82.17%	33,022	157	Moves into skiing markets to help boost turnover
62	The Mobile Phone Store	Mobile-phone retailer	Merseyside	1999	81.37%	19,200	172	Founder sold to BT Cellnet for £40m in April 2000
63	TransEDA	Software developer	Hampshire	1999	81.22%	3,147	34	Valued at £25m when floated on AIM in September
64	Salmon	Software consultancy	Hertfordshire	1999	80.27%	21,644	29	Demerger spawns two new companies as founders go separate ways
65	TSF UK	Computer hardware reseller	SW London	1999	79.96%	5,395	10	Started in spare bedroom and put everything founders owned on the line
66	Key People	IT recruitment agency	St Albans	1999	79.92%	11,477	18	Places staff in space, defence and telecoms industries
67	Lynch	Civil-engineering contractor	SE London	1999	79.56%	3,525	45	Imports hardwood flooring and doorframes from Slovakia
68	Lexon	Pharmaceuticals distributor	Redditch	1999	79.32%	13,859	40	Guarantees 24-hour delivery nationwide
69	Direct Digital	Digital photocopier supplier	SW London	1999	79.13%	6,717	45	Expands into Europe by working for companies with foreign operations [† Latest sales]
70	Designphase	Office refurbisher	Surrey	1999	78.48%	3,594	12	Does everything from putting up decorations to refurbishing lifts
71	Travel Counsellors	Travel agency	Bolton	1999	78.45%	26,575	127	Head office includes beauty spa for staff
72	P&M Products	Toy manufacturer	Surrey	1999	77.41%	9,720	58	American subsidiary had sales of $5.5m in first year of operation
73	Paradise Computers UK	Computer hardware reseller	West London	1999	77.38%	11,716	21	Established in an old garden shed using founder's credit card
74	Quantum Microponents	Computer hardware supplier	Merseyside	1999	76.66%	20,049	72	Started in a barn, now supplies UK’s leading mail order companies
75	RS Communication Services	Cable contractor	Essex	1999	76.61%	13,293	36	Provided telecom cabling for Canary Wharf and London City Airport
76	Triage	Recruitment agency	SE London	1999	76.36%	18,733	38	Helps clients attract, recruit, develop and motivate their staff
77	Responsive Designs	Flooring importer	Surrey	1999	76.02%	20,853	30	Claims to import half of wooden flooring sold in Britain every year
78	Ceuta Healthcare	Sales and marketing agency	Bournemouth	1999	75.88%	3,128	45	Represents overseas companies such as Procter & Gamble in Britain
79	Intec (UK)	Recruitment agency	Lancashire	1999	75.60%	5,134	90	Went from testing of nuclear power stations to manpower provision
80	Mitek Group	Computer component distributor	Staffordshire	1999	75.39%	3,707	18	Managing director changed nature of the business almost overnight
81	Apex Hotels	Hotelier	Edinburgh	1999	75.23%	5,172	138	Spotted niche market for large designer hotels in converted buildings
82	Voyager Networks	Computer consultancy	Coventry	1999	74.59%	8,602	54	Sold to American telecoms giant RSL Communications for £75m
83	Land of Leather	Furniture retailer	Kent	1999	74.13%	14,684	61	Created market selling affordable leather lounge suites to families
84	Extra Personnel	Provision of temporary and permanent staff to industry	West Midlands	1999	73.80%	26,312	2,969	One of two companies to appear on Fast Track 100 for fourth year running [† Latest sales]
85	FDM Group	IT services provider	Brighton	1999	73.47%	41,245	277	Retrained 150 long-term unemployed in web design and technology
86	NS Optimum	IT systems integrator	Warwickshire	1999	72.74%	5,274	15	Provided computer networks for Harrow and Uppingham schools [† Latest sales]
87	Chem-Dry UK	Insurance claim manager	East Yorkshire	1999	72.65%	12,222	60	Manages insurance claims for fire and flood damaged carpets
88	Severn Group	Project management consultancy	Central London	1999	71.62%	4,146	24	Started as one-man firm, now has offices in Frankfurt and New York
89	Career Legal	Recruitment agency	Central London	1999	71.58%	8,294	34	Started by supplying legal secretaries, now places lawyers
90	Ecoflow	Magnetic device retailer	Cornwall	1999	71.33%	6,250	34	Founders took part in a round-the-world car rally
91	Markham Engineering	Building services contractor	Hertfordshire	1999	70.50%	7,003	50	Worked in Poland and Hungary for UCI Cinemas
92	Technocover	Steel product maker	Wales	1999	70.10%	3,140	51	Welsh 'metal basher' gets edge through marketing
93	Braylake Car Company	Car dealer	Milton Keynes	1999	69.49%	15,404	64	Colleagues told founder he was mad to set up on his own
94	PrismTech	Software developer	Gateshead	1999	69.25%	4,074	74	Sells mainly on the web; exports make up 90% of sales
95	Benchmark Scaffolding	Scaffolding contractor	West London	1999	68.97%	4,248	25	Won £1m contract to supply scaffolding for Isle of Wight’s only hospital
96	Ridgmont Care Homes	Nursing home operator	Hertfordshire	1999	68.89%	9,835	775	Former venture capitalist set up nursing homes with funds from Cinven
97	City & County Healthcare	Home care provider	Wembley	1999	68.88%	5,500	725	Took advantage of new legislation giving elderly people home care
98	Ives Development	Software developer	Cambridgeshire	1999	68.68%	6,723	82	Chairman completed 7,000-mile charity bike ride for Unicef
99	Direct Group	Insurance outsourcer	Doncaster	1999	68.47%	8,251	32	Carved out a niche selling insurance along with financial services
100	Spring Resources	Recycling machinery maker	Swindon	1999	68.22%	3,074	60	Sells everything from nuts and bolts to £3.5m crushing machines

* Supplied by Company † Annualised figure

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