2011 Deloitte UK Technology Fast 50 announced an independent ranking of the UK’s fastest growing technology companies

 

*Fixnetix wins with 24557% per cent growth*

Companies selling technology to the financial services industry are prospering with three of the last four winners involved in this sector;

London tech scene thriving, with 52% of companies based in the capital, an increase from 36% in 2010

Deloitte, the business advisory firm, today announces the results of its 2011 UK Technology Fast 50 awards, an independent ranking of the UK’s fastest growing technology companies. This year’s winner is Fixnetix, a trading technology company, with a growth of 24557% per cent over the last five years. The average growth rate of the winning Fast 50 companies has increased to 2820%, a fifth (21%) higher than 2010 (2321%).

Tech and financial services – a winning combination

This year’s winner, Fixnetix, is the third company in four years serving financial services companies. Distribution Technology won in 2009 and Thunderhead in 2008 - both software companies serving this market.

Fixnetix is a trading technology company and provides solutions for high-speed access for trading information and executing trades on a number of electronically traded assets including stock markets. The company was founded in London in 2006 and its growth has been driven by a massive expansion of computerised trading and the increasing role of technology in global markets.

In June 2011, Fixnetix developed a microchip that can execute trades in nanoseconds, replacing the need for separate software. The chip is able to process trades at 740 nanoseconds. Speed is vital in the fast moving trading industry as hundreds of thousands of deals are done every second.

Hugh Hughes, the company’s chairman and CEO, said: “We are the only company offering this kind of technology across all asset classes.”

Fixnetix is expanding into the US and Far East and Hughes is feeling confident about the future. He said: “To succeed in the technology sector, you need to understand your product, listen to your customers and know what you’re up against. If you do all of that, and get your prices right, then you will continue to grow even in the toughest economic climate.”

David Halstead, partner leading the Deloitte Technology Fast 50, said: “The 2011 Deloitte Fast 50 shows that tremendous growth rates are still possible, with internet and software sectors showing particular strength and making up over half (56%) of the companies in the Fast 50 ranking.

“The Technology Fast 50 awards are an opportunity for businesses to gain recognition for their successes and achievements over the last five years. This year’s ranking highlights the importance of finding a niche product or service to beat the recession.”

Tech clusters – continued dominance of London and South

This year’s Deloitte Technology Fast 50 highlights the dominance of London, with eight of the top ten companies coming from the capital. Overall, technology companies from London make up 52% of the ranking and technology companies based in the South-East make up 16% of the ranking.

Capital internet hits

There are 12 London-based internet companies in the Fast 50, including LeadPoint UK, an online marketplace in second place, PKR, an online poker company, in fourth place, ratedpeople.com, a company that recommends tradespeople in fifth place, and notonthehighstreet.com, a gift website in eighth place.

David Halstead concludes: “This year’s Fast 50 demonstrates the continued dominance of technology companies London and the South- East.

“The large number of successful London based internet companies in this year’s Fast 50 reflects the importance of providing something bespoke whether the ability to play 3D poker online, to find good tradespeople or buy a distinctive gift online. The successful Fast 50 companies have combined winning ideas with successful business models.”

“The high number (52%) of Fast 50 companies based in London demonstrates the importance of the right infrastructure and easy access to overseas markets.”

Ends

Notes to editors

* Growth rates are all over the last five years.

Regional breakdown

Location

2011 F50

2010 F50

London

26

52%

36%

South East

8

16%

18%

North

3

6%

8%

Midlands

4

8%

6%

Scotland

4

8%

6%

Cambridgeshire and East

3

6%

14%

South West

1

2%

4%

Northern Ireland

1

2%

8%

 

Industry

2011 F50

2010 F50

Software

13

26%

11

22%

Internet

15

30%

17

34%

Telecommunications

8

16%

11

22%

Biotechnology

3

6%

2

4%

Media & entertainment

3

6%

3

6%

Peripherals

2

4%

2

4%

Electronics

3

6%

2

4%

GreenTech

3

6%

2

4%

London

Regional

National

Company Name

Industry sector

Growth rate

1

1

Fixnetix

Computers/Peripherals

24557%

2

2

LeadPoint UK

Internet

21801%

3

3


GPEG International Ltd

Semiconductor, Components and Electronics

17716%

4

4

PKR

Internet

9314%

5

5

RatedPeople.com

Internet

8144%

6

7

Mimecast

Software

3102%

7

8

notonthehighstreet.com

Internet

2720%

8

10

Quickstart Global

Software

2481%

9

11

Adconion Media Group

Internet

2443%

10

12

Monitise Plc

Software

2408%

11

13

Forward Internet

Internet

2388%

12

14

Grove Group

Internet

1817%

13

16

Kelway (UK) Ltd

Computers/Peripherals

1447%

14

18

Block Solutions Ltd

Telecommunications/Networking

1332%

15

21

Media Ingenuity Limited

Internet

1232%

16

24

Essence

Internet

1139%

17

25

Skrill

Internet

1113%

18

30

Sciemus

Semiconductor, Components and Electronics

970%

19

34

Ixaris Systems

Internet

859%

20

36

Comtact Ltd

Telecommunications/Networking

829%

21

40

TranslateMedia Ltd

Media/Entertainment

785%

22

42

Academia Ltd

Software

750%

23

45

Content and Code

Software

720%

24

46

Geo Networks Ltd

Telecommunications/Networking

709%

25

49

Reevoo

Internet

683%

26

50

The Foundry

Software

675%

Cambridgeshire and East

Regional

National

Company name

Industry sector

Growth rate

1

6

Nujira

Greentech

4487%

2

39

BlueGnome Ltd

Biotech/Pharmaceutical/Medical Equipment

808%

3

43

Breathing Buildings Ltd

Greentech

749%

Midlands

Regional

National

Company name

Industry sector

Growth rate

1

9

Voice 2 Voice Limited

Telecommunications/Networking

2610%

2

22

Mercato Solutions

Software

1219%

3

28

Contigo Ltd

Software

1019%

4

29

Innovise Plc

Software

1019%

North

Regional

National

Company name

Industry sector

Growth rate

1

15

eZe-Talk

Telecommunications/Networking

1547%

2

31

Bglobal Plc

Greentech

932%

3

32

Frog

Software

909%

Northern Ireland

Regional

National

Company name

Industry sector

Growth rate

1

26

Learning Pool

Software

1100%

Scotland

Regional

National

Company name

Industry sector

Growth rate

1

19

Cupid Plc

Media/Entertainment

1317%

2

27

Skyscanner Ltd

Internet

1030%

3

35

DEM Solutions

Software

852%

4

48

Reactec Ltd

Semiconductor, Components and Electronics

697%

South East

Regional

National

Company name

Industry sector

Growth rate

1

17

Global Personals Ltd

Software

1371%

2

20

Creativity Software

Telecommunications/Networking

1311%

3

23

Koozai Ltd

Internet

1173%

4

33

Isomob

Media/Entertainment

873%

5

37

CV-Library

Internet

822%

6

41

Beaming Ltd

Telecommunications/Networking

782%

7

44

Exco InTouch

Biotech/Pharmaceutical/Medical Equipment

730%

8

47

Wireless Logic

Telecommunications/Networking

698%

South West

Regional

National