Excitement mounts for Greater Manchester Fastest 50 2014

Launched in November in association with Top 100 UK law firm Ward Hadaway, the Fastest 50 highlights and celebrates companies across the region who are setting the pace when it comes to growing their businesses.

Independent researchers are finalising the list of pace-setters, verifications are being made and invitations are being sent out to Fastest 50 company representatives and prominent members of the Greater Manchester business community for the Fastest 50 Awards, which take place at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester next month.

The Fastest 50 is made up of privately-owned, profit-making companies who have seen the biggest average annual growth rate in their turnover.

The final 50 companies will be revealed in Greater Manchester Business Week next month in an A to Z list.

Then at a ceremony on Friday, 28 February, awards will be handed out to the fastest growing small, medium and large businesses.

One of those three winners will then receive the accolade of being crowned the region’s overall fastest growing business for 2014 at what promises to be one of the highlights of the 2014 business calendar.

The Fastest 50 has been developed in association with law firm Ward Hadaway, whose own operation in Manchester has grown quickly since its city centre office was opened in summer 2012.

Martin Hulls, Partner and Head of Office at Ward Hadaway in Manchester, said: “It is terrific to be kicking off a New Year with these new awards which we hope will act as a showcase for all that is great about business in Greater Manchester.

“The final calculations and verifications are being made to compile the definitive list of the fastest growing privately-owned companies across the region and we are really looking forward to sharing the results with everyone next month.

“We believe that the Fastest 50 will act as a useful snapshot of the sectors enjoying the most growth across the local economy as well putting the achievements of those pace-setting companies firmly in the spotlight.”

The Fastest 50 is being compiled using publicly available information and data from Companies House rather than having businesses apply to be on the list.

Adam Jupp, head of business at the Manchester Evening News, said: “One of the beauties of the Fastest 50 is that it is based on the business performance of companies, day-in, day-out.

“As a result, we think it will help to uncover some of the real unsung heroes of the Greater Manchester business community as well as highlighting outstanding performance in a variety of fields.

“We look forward to unveiling the Fastest 50 run-down next month, followed by the Fastest 50 Awards at the end of February, which promise to be a fantastic occasion.”

Ward Hadaway, which also has offices in Newcastle and Leeds, has been running a similar awards scheme for companies in the North East of England every year since 1998 and for companies in Yorkshire since 2011.

Jamie Martin, managing partner at Ward Hadaway, said: “The Fastest 50 is a concept which has really caught the imagination of the business community in other parts of the North and we hope the Greater Manchester Fastest 50 will follow suit.

“There are some absolutely terrific companies across the region doing some excellent work and the Fastest 50 offers an ideal opportunity to bring those achievements to a wider audience.”