Entries open for the 2018 Deloitte UK Technology Fast 50 awards

• Awards recognise and rank the 50 fastest growing technology companies in the UK
• Last year’s winner Deliveroo achieved a record average four-year revenue growth rate of 107,117%
• The average four year growth rate recorded for the Deloitte UK Technology Fast 50 companies was 3,756% in the year 2016/17
• Last year’s Fast 50 companies generated combined revenues of almost £1bn 2016/2017 and employed more than 9,000 people.

Since 1998, the Deloitte UK Technology Fast 50 awards have been showcasing an increasingly diverse and compelling range of UK-based technology companies, celebrating the fast growth and innovation of the start-up sector. Last year’s Fast 50 winners generated cumulative revenues of £960m in 2016/17, and employed more than 9,000 people in the UK, including 1,800 in research and development alone.

Julian Rae, Deloitte Cambridge Technology partner and local lead for the Fast 50 programme  (pictured)  commented; “Without question, the UK technology start-up scene is in rude health. This year’s awards will seek to capture the landscape during what is such an exciting and dynamic period for the UK technology sector.

“These awards have celebrated one thousand aspirational and influential new companies in the past two decades and a good proportion of these have started in Cambridge. This year we look forward once again to showcasing the breadth of innovative and talented companies who will participate in the 2018 awards, and wish them all good luck in the competition.”

Delivering results – Deliveroo (2017 overall Fast 50 winner)

With a record-breaking four-year revenue growth rate of 107,117%, last year’s winning entrant was online food courier service Deliveroo. In the twenty-year history of the Fast 50, no other company has ever grown at a faster rate.

Dan Warne, Deliveroo General Manager UK and Ireland, commented: “We were delighted to win last year’s Fast 50 award which recognised the hard work and dedication of the people who have made Deliveroo a British tech success. These awards act as an important vote of confidence for the UK’s technology start-ups in what is a highly competitive market.

“Since achieving this accolade, we’ve continued to grow and expand across the globe, powered by our cutting-edge technology and a desire to bring amazing meals direct to peoples’ doors.”

For full details and the entry form please visit: www.fast50.co.uk.

About the Deloitte UK Technology Fast 50

The Deloitte UK Technology Fast 50 is one of the UK’s foremost technology award programmes. Since 1997, the awards have ranked the country’s 50 fastest-growing technology companies, based on revenue growth over the last four years. The UK Fast 50 awards are all about growth driven by leading intellectual property and are a celebration of innovation and entrepreneurship. The UK Technology Fast 50 is part of an international programme run by Deloitte and qualifying entrants of the UK Fast 50 will be put forward to the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) programme. Previous winners have come from across the UK, are both large and small, and included some of the most dynamic players in all areas of technology, from internet specialists to biotech, digital media technology to life sciences, computers to semiconductors and software to telecommunications.

For more information visit www.fast50.co.uk

Last year’s  winners of the Deloitte UK Technology Fast 50

Deloitte UK Technology Fast 50 eligibility criteria

• The parent company must be UK-owned and have its headquarters in the UK
• NB: Companies headquartered in Northern Ireland can take part in the UK OR Irish programme, but need to choose one or the other and cannot enter both.
• Operating revenues must be at least £44,000 (€50,000) for the first financial year of the four year period and £880,000 (€1,000,000) for the most recent financial year
• NB: The accounts for the most recent financial year must have an accounting period ending between 1 June 2017 and 31 May 2018.
• All submissions must be accompanied by signed accounts for the first and last financial year being measured in the competition. Unless a statutory exemption is being taken, these accounts must be unabbreviated and audited.

For more information and to find out whether your company qualifies, please visit: http://www.deloitte.co.uk/fast50/about/do-you-qualify/

If you have any further questions regarding whether your company qualifies, please contact fast50@deloitte.co.uk