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CELEBRATING
THE BEST
In trying times, it is hard to know whether celebrating
DVD rental business LoveFilm International are among the flourishing
success and good fortune is somehow tempting the
regional businesses featured on the most recent league tables.
Fates. Notwithstanding that, we believe the success
of others encourages everyone to raise their game,
Fast Track’s invitation-only national awards events and regional
dinners have also become the stuff of legend, featuring a long list
so we asked Hamish Stevenson of Fast Track to report
of well-known speakers including James Dyson, Alan Sugar and
on some of our region’s shining stars.
Stelios Haji-Ioannou. The evenings offer the owners and directors
of companies on the league tables an opportunity to network,
Over one hundred of some of Britain’s most successful entrepreneurs
sometimes to great effect. Prêt a Manger founder Sinclair Beecham
gathered at Sir Richard Branson’s family home this May for the 11th
raised funding for his Hoxton Hotel hospitality venture at one Fast Track
year to celebrate their achievements and forge new contacts.
event a few years ago.
The exclusive conference and dinner, attended not only by the
Aggressive acquisition, overseas expansion, outstanding innovation
founder of the Virgin empire but also by Conservative leader David
and an ability to exploit changing market trends are recurring themes
Cameron, drew together owners and directors from a wide range of
among the high-growth companies that win places on the Fast Track
the fastest-growing private companies from the South East and
league tables. In recent years a substantial minority of the ventures
beyond. Managers of well-known businesses such as Silver Cross, Gu
have been backed by private equity investors armed with cheap debt
Chocolate Puds and Travel Republic mingled with rising corporate stars
and in pursuit of rapid returns.
as well as sponsors from the banking and advisory sectors.
Take Towergate Partnership, which for the past four years has won a
What was the common thread that united such a diverse mix of
place on the Profit Track 100 league table of private companies with
talented business leaders? The answer is that their vision and
the fastest-growing profits. By the time the insurance broking and
determination have secured them a place on the Fast Track 100
underwriting group celebrated its first decade in business last year,
league table of Britain’s fastest-growing private companies, and
founder Peter Cullum – who helicoptered into one Fast Track event a
brought them into an elite circle committed to creating wealth and
while back - had racked up an astonishing 139 acquisitions. Many of
jobs.
his targets provide specialist policies covering military equipment,
private helicopters and overseas holiday homes, for example. As a
Fast Track 100 is one of six annual league tables published by Oxford-
result, profits at the Maidstone-based firm have grown 57% a year
based research and events company Fast Track with the Sunday
from £11.9m in 2003 to £45.6m in 2006. Since then, more acquisitions
Times, ranking Britain’s top performing private businesses by measures
have taken place following the sale of a 10% stake in the business to
such as sales or profit growth.
US hedge fund Och Ziff and a refinancing arranged by HBoS.
Over 11 years, the lists have tipped many famous brands, brilliant
Green homebuyers are clamouring for developments that incorporate
ideas and stock market stars of the future, from Carphone Warehouse
energy-saving installations such as those imported and modified by
to Carluccio’s. They have also charted changing patterns of corporate
Oxfordshire-based Ice Energy Heat Pumps, one of 15 South East
success through the dot.com boom, the broadband revolution and
companies on the 2007 Fast Track 100. The company is supplying an
more than a decade of Labour government. Buckinghamshire-based
increasing number of environmentally-conscious customers with
fitness chain Virgin Active, Hampshire retailer Fat Face and a host of
Swedish-made pumps that extract heat from the ground and use it to
London-headquartered firms ranging from estate agent Foxtons to
generate hot water and heating without burning fossil fuels.
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