Fast Growth 50 marks 20 years of identifying the best in Wales

This year, the Wales Fast Growth 50 celebrates 20 years of identifying the fastest-growing firms in Wales.

Since the project was established, in association with the Western Mail, the 577 firms that have appeared from 1999-2017 are estimated to have created 38,000 jobs and to have generated an estimated £20bn of additional turnover annually, much of which is spent in their local area.

In 2017, AerFin of Caerphilly became the only company to be given the accolade of the fastest-growing firm in Wales for two years in succession, with an incredible growth rate of 1,226% over 2015-17.

To celebrate two decades of the Fast Growth 50, this year’s event will be taking place at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, where it is expected that 1,000 guests will attend, making it the biggest business awards ceremony in Wales.

Professor Dylan Jones-Evans, the founder of the Wales Fast Growth 50, is looking forward to bring firms together from across the 20 lists to celebrate the best of Welsh business.

“The Wales Fast Growth 50 is a celebration of the best that Wales has to offer and we should all be delighted with the achievements of every business that has made the lists since we started in 1999,” he said.

“This year’s 20th-anniversary awards will not only commemorate the success of the hundreds of firms that have appeared on the Fast Growth 50, but also celebrate how far the Welsh economy has come in the last two decades.

“During the last two decades, the Fast Growth 50 has demonstrated the best of Welsh business and I am proud that it has become the awards to which businesses in Wales aspire to. I am looking forward immensely to the awards evening in October, as it will enable us to again showcase the entrepreneurial spirit and innovative drive of the Welsh business community.”

Barclays is again the overall sponsor for the awards. Karen Thomas, head of corporate banking in south Wales said: “As a business, Barclays is experienced and committed to helping entrepreneurs and high-growth companies every step of the way, so supporting the Fast Growth 50 is another opportunity to demonstrate our support to this vital sector.

“From inception to IPO, we are experts in helping other businesses grow, with support that goes beyond funding solutions to include skilled advice, mentoring, leading insights and access to essential networks.

“We are committed to continue supporting a strong pipeline of wealth creation driven by entrepreneurial success for years to come”.

This year the fastest-growing firm in Wales award is being backed by Carbon Law Partners, and founder Michael Burne is looking forward to supporting the event for the first time.

“Carbon Law Partners love that Fast Growth 50 celebrates businesses which are flourishing,” he said.

“After all, that’s what we’re all about at Carbon – helping entrepreneurs to do great things. Our partners across Wales and England support start-up, established and fast-growth businesses by creating the conditions for them to flourish.”

Other key sponsors for this year’s award ceremony include the Business Growth Fund, Cardiff Airport, Cardiff and Vale College, Horizon Nuclear Power, PWC, University of South Wales and the Welsh Government, as well as former Fast Growth 50 finalists IQE PLC, RMS, Sinclair Finance & Leasing and Smart Solutions

Three new awards are being introduced this year, with the Development Bank of Wales sponsoring the fastest-growing equity-backed business award, while the Valleys Taskforce will be backing an award for the fastest-growing firm in the south Wales Valleys. Wales’ leading executive search business Odgers Berndtson will also be giving a special award to those firms that have shown exceptional growth during the past 20 years.

The 2018 list of the fastest-growing firms in Wales will appear in a special supplement to be published by the Western Mail on Wednesday, October 24, with full coverage of all the winning firms on WalesOnline.

■ How to enter:

To be eligible for a place on the Fast Growth 50 list, firms must:

■ Have had sales of at least £250,000 in 2015

■ Be an independent and privately held business (not a branch plant or wholly-owned subsidiary of a nonWelsh based company)

■ Be based in Wales Rankings will be based on percentage growth of revenues from 2015-17.

Closing date for entries is July 31, 2018. For more details on how to enter, go to www.fastgrowth50.com