Benefits for companies featuring in our league tables
Winning a place in our league tables brings significant benefits for companies, all at no charge thanks to our sponsors, including:- A profile of your company in The Sunday Times league table supplement
- Attendance at an invitation-only national awards dinner, giving you the opportunity to network with key directors from other companies on the league table, and to hear from inspirational speakers
- A certificate to celebrate your rank in the league table, and the opportunity to win one of our sponsors' special awards, ranging from the best management team to the innovation award
- Ongoing participation in the Fast Track community for the alumni of past league table companies, with regular invitations to networking dinners
- Improved standing in the eyes of clients, potential customers, banks and backers, as well as enhanced staff morale and retention
Nominate a company
Fast Track uses multiple reference sources, including self-nominations, to compile its league tables. To ensure your nomination is appropriate, please read the criteria below before submitting your nomination form.
General application
If you are not sure which league table(s) your company may qualify for, please provide us with some basic financial details so that we can start tracking it.
View criteria
If you are not sure which league table(s) your company may qualify for, please provide us with some basic financial details so that we can start tracking it.
View criteria
UK registered, unquoted, and not subsidiaries
Companies may be considered for our league tables, or special programmes such as “Ones to Recognise”. These special programmes feature companies that do not meet our league table criteria but deserve recognition, either because they have achieved strong growth (sales or profit), or have received venture-capital backing to fund their growth.
Companies may be considered for our league tables, or special programmes such as “Ones to Recognise”. These special programmes feature companies that do not meet our league table criteria but deserve recognition, either because they have achieved strong growth (sales or profit), or have received venture-capital backing to fund their growth.
To nominate a company click here
Tech Track 100
Companies are ranked by their compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in sales
over three years.
The 2012 league table will rank companies based on the latest accounts (i.e. 2011 or 2012)
and a base year of 2008 or 2009.
The closing date for nominations is 13 July, with publication on 16 September.
Entry criteria
The 2012 league table will rank companies based on the latest accounts (i.e. 2011 or 2012)
and a base year of 2008 or 2009.
The closing date for nominations is 13 July, with publication on 16 September.
Entry criteria
- Independent tech* company
- UK registered, unquoted, and not subsidiaries
- Sales of at least £250,000 in the base year (2008 or 2009)
- Sales of at least £5m in the latest year (2011 or 2012)
- Year-on-year sales growth in the latest year from 2010 to 2011,
or 2011 to 2012, plus forecast
(or actual) sales growth - Excluded companies include pure computer resellers, and those with
accounts qualified as
"going concern"
*The definition of a technology company is based on the amended London Stock Exchange's techMARK definition, i.e. "a company that shows a commitment to innovation, research and product development, and operates in sectors including software, internet, telecoms and biotech."
To nominate a company for the Tech Track 100 click here
Fast Track 100
Companies are ranked by their compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in sales
over three years.
The 2012 league table will rank companies based on the latest audited accounts (i.e. 2011 or 2012) and a base year of 2008 or 2009.
The closing date for nominations is 28 September, with publication on 2 December.
Entry criteria
The 2012 league table will rank companies based on the latest audited accounts (i.e. 2011 or 2012) and a base year of 2008 or 2009.
The closing date for nominations is 28 September, with publication on 2 December.
Entry criteria
- UK registered, unquoted, and not subsidiaries
- Sales of at least £250,000 in the base year (2008 or 2009)
- Sales of at least £5m in the latest year (2011 or 2012)
- Ten or more employees in the latest year (2011 or 2012)
- Pre-tax profits in the latest year (2011 or 2012)
- Year-on-year sales growth in the latest year from 2010 to 2011, or 2011 or 2012, plus forecast (or actual) sales growth
- Excluded companies include technology, LLPs, pure property and financial trading companies, and companies with sales of over £500m
To nominate a company for the Fast Track 100 click here
International Track 200
Companies are ranked by their compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in international sales
over two years.
The expanded 2012 league table will rank companies based on their latest available accounts (i.e. 2010, 2011 or 2012) and a base year of 2008, 2009 or 2010.
The closing date for nominations is 1 May, with publication on 8 July.
Entry criteria
The expanded 2012 league table will rank companies based on their latest available accounts (i.e. 2010, 2011 or 2012) and a base year of 2008, 2009 or 2010.
The closing date for nominations is 1 May, with publication on 8 July.
Entry criteria
- UK registered, unquoted, and not subsidiaries
- International sales of at least £500,000 in the base year (2008, 2009 or 2010)
- International sales of at least £1m in the latest year (2010, 2011 or 2012)
- International sales must be greater than 5% of total sales in the final year
- Total sales must be at least £25m in the final year
- Operating profit must be positive in the final year
- Excluded companies include pure property and financial trading companies, and those with restricted accounts
To nominate a company for the International Track 200 click here
Profit Track 100
Companies are ranked by their compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in profits
over three years. The 2013 league table will rank companies based
on the latest audited accounts (i.e. 2011 or 2012) and a base year of
2008 or 2009.
The closing date for nominations is 15 February, with publication on 14 April.
Entry criteria
The closing date for nominations is 15 February, with publication on 14 April.
Entry criteria
- UK registered, unquoted, and not subsidiaries
- Profits of at least £500,000 in the base year (2008 or 2009)
- Profits of at least £3m in the latest year (2011 or 2012)
- Profits are defined as operating profits with directors' remuneration added back
- Profits must increase in the latest year, from 2010 to 2011, or 2011 to 2012
- Excluded companies include pure property and financial trading companies, and those with restricted accounts
To nominate a company for the Profit Track 100 click here
Buyout Track 100
Companies are ranked by their compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in profits
(EBITDA) over two years. The 2013 league table will rank companies
based on the latest available accounts (i.e. 2011 or 2012) and a base
year of 2009 or 2010.
The closing date for nominations is 7 December 2012, with publication in February 2013.
Entry criteria
The closing date for nominations is 7 December 2012, with publication in February 2013.
Entry criteria
- UK registered, unquoted, and not subsidiaries
- At least 20% of shares owned by private equity
- Profits are EBITDA defined as operating profits + amortisation + depreciation (excluding exceptional costs and impairment of assets)
- Profits of at least £1m in the base year (2009 or 2010)
- Profits of at least £3m in the latest year (2011 or 2012)
- Profits must increase in the latest year, from 2010 to 2011, or 2011 to 2012
- Sales must be at least £10m in latest year
- Excluded companies include property and financial trading companies, and those with restricted accounts
To nominate a company for the Buyout Track 100 click here
Top Track 250
Companies are ranked by sales in their latest accounts between 2010 and 2012.
The closing date for nominations is 3 August 2012, with publication on 14 October.
Entry criteria
The closing date for nominations is 3 August 2012, with publication on 14 October.
Entry criteria
- UK registered, unquoted, and not subsidiaries
- Sales are taken as total turnover, net of VAT
- Companies are required to have increased either their sales or their operating profits over their latest year
- Companies may have their ultimate holding company offshore
- Sales are typically between £150m and £540m
- Companies that are either equal joint ventures, or majority-owned by quoted companies
- Companies with the majority of sales generated by quoted subsidiaries
- Companies with fewer than 100 staff
- Not-for-profit companies, co-operative societies, mutual societies, provident associations, and member-owned buying groups
To nominate a company for the Top Track 250 click here
Top Track 100
Companies are ranked by sales in their latest audited accounts. The
2012 league table will rank companies by latest sales in audited accounts
to latest financial year end (i.e. between 2010 and 2012). Draft accounts
will be considered.
The closing date for nominations is 27 April, with publication on 24 June.
Entry criteria
The closing date for nominations is 27 April, with publication on 24 June.
Entry criteria
- UK registered, unquoted, and not subsidiaries
- Sales are taken as total turnover, net of VAT
- Companies are not required to be in profit
- Companies may have their ultimate holding company offshore
- Sales are typically between £550m and £10bn
- Companies that are either equal joint ventures, or majority-owned by quoted companies
- Companies with the majority of sales generated by their quoted subsidiaries
- Pure trading companies with fewer than 100 staff
- Not-for-profit companies, including co-operative societies, mutual societies, provident associations, and member-owned buying groups
To nominate a company for the Top Track 100 click here