2002 - Fast Track 100 League Table

What is the Fast Track 100 – 2002?
The Fast Track 100 league table ranked Britain’s 100 private companies with the fastest-growing sales in 2002 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 2002 Results

Rank	Company	Activity	Location	Year end	Annual sales rise over 3 years	Latest sales £000s	Staff	Comment
1	Ambition Recruitment	Nursing recruitment agency	SW London	2001	255.82%	28,257	56	Provides 24-hour emergency nursing cover to hospitals and care homes
2	Positive Solutions	Independent financial adviser	Newcastle	2001	215.66%	12,963	25	Uses a network of 511 self-employed financial advisers
3	Land of Leather	Furniture retailer	Kent	2001	196.58%	72,199	305	Expanded from single shop to 40 furniture showrooms throughout UK
4	Telecom One	Telecoms network provider	Central London	2001	181.82%	54,733	35	Telecoms company also runs three television channels on Sky Digital
5	Europc	Computer hardware reseller	Glasgow	2001	174.44%	6,523	28	Sells reconditioned PCs to more than 15,000 business customers
6	Coflex	Facilities manager	Surrey	2001	166.38%	20,569	220	Founders remortgaged homes before winning Mitsubishi bank as first client
7	Avellino	Data software developer	Berkshire	2001	160.02%	4,623	26	Software checks customer databases for BT and Abbey National
8	aka	Entertainment marketing agency	Central London	2001	154.24%	4,427	18	Promoted West End shows such as Art, Shockheaded Peter and Taboo
9	Sofas-UK	Furniture retailer	South Wales	2001	148.66%	4,211	41	Couple started out again after their furniture business went into receivership
10	Carshock	Car supermarket	Newcastle	2001	136.55%	3,439	14	Sells 3,000 cars a year to British customers
11	Bannatyne Fitness	Fitness centre operator	Darlington	2001	134.23%	15,708	453	Founder's fourth business has 23 clubs with 52,000 members
12	Utility Partnership	Utility consultancy	Cardiff	2001	128.82%	5,990	60	Handles power installation for 4,000 mobile-phone masts a year [† Latest sales]
13	De Montfort Fine Art	Art 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 Wirral	Drinks wholesaler	Merseyside	2001	126.48%	3,149	13	Father and son supply drinks to Liverpool nightclubs such as 051
16	Options Employment	Recruitment agency	Hounslow	2001	123.61%	57,206	302	Architect builds engineering recruitment agency with 50 UK branches
17	Time Facilities Maintenance	Business facilities manager	Essex	2001	122.86%	3,738	40	The company ceased trading in March 2003
18	Damar Civil Engineering	Civil engineer	Bath	2001	120.97%	3,869	28	Started by three brothers, now builds flood defences for Wessex Water
19	Sun Management	Telecoms services manager	Gloucestershire	2001	118.45%	9,344	29	Manages data, voice and mobile communications for large organisations
20	Complete Communications	TV 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 [† Latest sales]
21	CJ Garland & Co	Call-centre operator	Hartlepool	2001	114.22%	12,590	1,100	Employs 1,100 staff to answer phones for Vodafone, Egg and Powergen
22	Allpay.net	Electronic payment provider	Herefordshire	2001	113.50%	3,340	16	Offers bill payment network through 21,000 shops and 19,000 post offices
23	A4e	Outsourced employment adviser	Sheffield	2001	111.53%	17,032	496	Runs 83 redesigned government Jobcentres
24	City Refrigeration Holdings	Facilities maintenance provider	Glasgow	2001	109.24%	94,051	3,318	Keeps facilities in Asda's 255 stores running 24 hours a day
25	KW International	Trading software developer	SW London	2001	107.96%	8,751	79	Raised £9m of venture capital in 2001 to fund overseas expansion
26	Just Learning	Children's nursery operator	Kent	2001	106.60%	5,984	463	Chain of 30 nurseries bought by Alchemy in £32m deal last year
27	Fresh Bouquets	Flower supplier	Kent	2001	105.44%	6,412	76	Supplies flowers direct to 4,500 garage forecourts and retail stores [† Latest sales]
28	Netwise Systems	Computer network integrator	Surrey	2001	104.30%	11,122	15	Football injury inspired salesman to start IT business
29	Preferred International	IT recruitment consultancy	Southampton	2001	102.83%	17,700	41	Won first big contract with Computacenter after three-minute sales pitch
30	Cardinal Maritime	Freight forwarder	Manchester	2001	101.74%	6,296	15	Moves freight between Britain and the Middle East
31	WA Developments	Rail engineering contractor	Cumbria	2001	100.74%	7,564	90	Engineers reacted to coal train derailment within two hours
32	Permanent Health Company	Health insurance provider	Hertfordshire	2001	100.17%	7,554	16	Sells health insurance to 2,000 independent financial advisers
33	Global Beach	E-business software developer	SW London	2001	99.19%	6,155	75	Developed website where users can build a virtual Jaguar racing car
34	Jarvis Technologies	Computer hardware reseller	East Sussex	2001	98.70%	7,172	14	Computer reseller has expanded into continental and American markets
35	Solsis	IT systems integrator	Reading	2001	98.39%	4,094	16	Former Hewlett-Packard engineers retained employer as key client
36	SkyNet Systems	IT systems integrator	Oxfordshire	2001	97.60%	16,384	17	Former scampi factory worker builds £16m-a-year business
37	Focus DIY	DIY retailer	Crewe	2001	97.16%	1,462,400	15,994	Chain of 429 DIY stores postponed flotation in July 2002
38	Deliverance	Home 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 Electronics	Electronic equipment supplier	North London	2001	95.56%	138,890	37	Three sons transform father's small radio shop into electronics wholesaler
40	ABM	Crime software developer	Nottingham	2001	95.14%	3,846	68	Software helped solve two crimes during sales demonstration in America
41	Alphatec Software	Payment software developer	Milton Keynes	2001	94.82%	3,181	42	Software helps clear cheques for Barclays and Clydesdale Bank
42	Aircom International	Telecoms service provider	Surrey	2001	93.36%	17,660	152	Mobile-phone giant Nokia took 40% stake in January 1999
43	Sidcup Auto Centre	Car dealer	Kent	2001	92.59%	7,309	16	Brothers-in-law sell 1,100 Skodas a year from Kent garages
44	Selway Moore	Computer hardware reseller	Berkshire	2001	92.32%	5,952	17	Looks after computer servers for clients such as DHL
45	Stanton Interior Solutions	Office refurbishment contractor	NW London	2001	92.17%	11,400	26	Asian founder uses Gujarati contacts to employ top carpenters in City
46	Omni IT	Human resources consultancy	Cheshire	2001	92.08%	5,516	11	Founder started IT company at the age of 25 with £30,000 overdraft
47	PRO	Recruitment agency	Central London	2001	92.04%	11,238	106	Starting up a joint venture in Australia in 2003
48	Mistral Internet Group	Internet service provider	Brighton	2001	90.97%	4,154	24	Hosts websites for Sony Music and Bacardi
49	JK Environmental	Environmental waste manager	Hertfordshire	2001	89.74%	4,501	33	Childhood friends team up to unblock sewers for Anglian Water
50	Brookson	Financial consultancy	Warrington	2001	89.52%	3,364	33	Helps 7,000 independent IT consultants, engineers and vets pay less tax
51	Contender	Video distributor	Central London	2001	89.43%	4,709	12	Distributes videos of TV programmes, from Beyblade to Tipping the Velvet
52	Beds and Bars	Hostel and bar operator	Central London	2001	88.67%	5,505	131	Runs backpacker hostels and bars in Edinburgh, London and Newquay
53	QP Group	Purchasing consultancy	Hampshire	2001	88.63%	10,075	78	Helps companies such as Glaxo and Diageo buy goods and services
54	Advanced Resource Managers	Recruitment consultancy	Portsmouth	2001	88.56%	10,672	22	Started with £40,000 loan from founder's father
55	Simpson Carpenter	Market researcher	Wimbledon	2001	87.24%	4,024	20	Helps Honda measure the effectiveness of its advertising
56	World Class International	IT management consultancy	Portsmouth	2001	86.38%	62,298	295	Designed IT systems used by NHS Direct’s 24-hour helpline
57	Alternative Networks	Telecoms systems integrator	SW London	2001	86.01%	18,354	164	Provides telecoms services for 3,000 small firms
58	Wimco Group Coaches	Coach and bus operator	SW London	2001	85.88%	5,417	167	Runs five bus routes in south London and Surrey
59	Pacific International Recruitment	IT recruitment agency	SW London	2001	83.44%	10,941	26	Recruits professional staff for multinational clients
60	Care Management Group	Care home operator	Wimbledon	2001	83.28%	8,190	367	Looks after 330 residents with learning disabilities in 49 care homes
61	PES Group	Building contractor	Epsom	2001	82.49%	4,163	23	Helped build £4.5m office and apartment block at London’s Camden Lock
62	Hazell Carr	Actuarial services provider	Oxfordshire	2001	81.99%	93,170	372	Business boomed sorting out pensions mis-selling scandal of the 1990s
63	RDF Media	TV programme maker	West London	2001	81.51%	19,683	140	Created TV shows such as Faking It, Banzai and Scrapheap Challenge
64	Actix	Telecoms software developer	West London	2001	81.02%	5,188	56	Opened offices in Singapore and Shanghai to target Asian mobile market
65	Elec-Track Installations	Overhead cable contractor	Kent	2001	80.26%	14,562	247	Repaired overhead electrification cables after Hatfield rail crash
66	Howarine Calvert	Office stationery supplier	North London	2001	79.24%	4,465	32	Teenage inventor of Pocket Gym builds office-supplies business
67	Paradise Computers	Computer hardware reseller	Hertfordshire	2001	79.14%	32,962	54	Founder started in garden shed and still helps out in warehouse
68	Ultralase	Eye surgery provider	Leeds	2001	77.80%	11,044	60	Uses lasers to correct eyesight in 1,000 operations a month
69	Mitek Group	Computer component distributor	Staffordshire	2001	77.72%	11,104	24	Financed expansion with £2m credit facility from IBM
70	Food Brokers	Food Brokers						Food Brokers is in liquidation as of November 2005
71	Spektra Group	E-business software developer	Livingston	2001	76.39%	4,940	55	Makes the software that runs Tesco's Personal Finance website
72	Whiteoak Developments	Housebuilder	Epsom	2001	76.38%	6,627	15	Built 390 homes at Eastbourne's Sovereign Harbour marina
73	Gainsborough Group	Serviced office provider	Central London	2001	75.49%	7,286	33	Recently opened its first American serviced office in Washington
74	QPC Homes	Housebuilder	Reading	2001	74.12%	6,411	30	Founder went without salary for 18 months in 1990s property crash
75	HotelConnect	Hotel reservation agency	NW London	2001	74.05%	9,187	57	Books hotels in Europe for non-package-tour travellers
76	ICM	Cleaning 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 Centres	Call-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	ICR	Management consultancy	West Yorkshire	2001	73.00%	17,738	16	Solves customer contact problems for Lloyds TSB and Thomson Holidays
79	The Officers Club	Discount 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 International	Music distributor	Slough	2001	72.69%	27,128	44	Claims to sell imported CDs at up to 40% cheaper than rivals
81	The Bank	Communication agency	Central London	2001	72.56%	9,608	27	Makes TV commercials for HSBC and helped rebrand BMI British Midland
82	Windrush Frozen Foods	Food wholesaler	Oxfordshire	2001	72.19%	5,953	18	Develops and supplies complete menus for restaurants
83	Central Trust	Loan broker	Norwich	2001	72.11%	20,395	186	Staff play 20 seconds of their favourite song on completing a deal
84	Loganair	Airline	Paisley	2001	72.08%	21,022	176	Flies world's shortest scheduled flight of two minutes in Orkneys
85	Apex Contractors	Building contractor	Kent	2001	71.42%	8,475	120	Manages site logistics at Canary Wharf
86	NetKonect Communications	Internet service provider	Hampshire	2001	71.23%	5,093	37	Founder borrowed £150,000 to start company
87	Bravissimo	Lingerie 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 Group	Insurance outsourcer	Doncaster	2001	70.85%	21,419	55	Designs insurance packages for banks and other financial institutions
89	Claim Control Consultants	Insurance claim processor	Walsall	2001	70.77%	16,387	45	Replaces stolen and damaged computers for insurance companies
90	Just Deli	Contract caterer	Berkshire	2001	70.74%	5,334	141	Provides bistro-style catering for ITN and Fujitsu
91	ioko	Digital media systems integrator	York	2001	70.43%	10,083	143	Developed Britain's largest online portal for hotels, restaurants and pubs
92	Pets At Home	Pet 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 Solutions	Building systems developer	Croydon	2001	70.00%	10,033	80	Develops systems to control building services from lifts to ventilation
94	SMRS	Advertising agency	Manchester	2001	69.96%	8,496	13	Helps Airtours, HBOS and Nissan with recruitment advertising
95	B&H Polymers	Specialist plastics maker	Warrington	2001	69.67%	23,146	14	Makes plastic for drink bottles that can be recycled for textiles
96	Sirocom	Telecoms services provider	SW London	2001	69.46%	6,376	32	Built network to connect STA Travel's 400 worldwide offices
97	History & Heraldry	Gift maker	Rotherham	2001	69.39%	9,580	61	Makes gifts sold at tourist sites all over the world
98	WorldRoam	Mobile phone hirer	Essex	2001	69.07%	4,186	20	American business travellers outside the US account for 80% of sales
99	Kalsi Plastics	Plastic products maker	Birmingham	2001	68.93%	7,061	125	Brothers started making plastic guttering after supplier poached customers
100	Blueprint	Marketing agency	SW London	2001	68.77%	7,379	30	Company avoids giving staff job titles

* Supplied by Company † Annualised figure

Data Source: www.fasttrack.co.uk

Book your FREE strategy session!

On your free phone consultation, one of our experts will discuss the following:

There’ll be no commitment or obligation to use our services.