Brand new businesses, well-known brands, merged companies, fresh faced start-ups and floating heavyweights. They’re all in there.
It’s the Fast Track 100; the league table that Sir Richard Branson hails as the “definitive barometer of growth companies”. That’s no surprise – Virgin are the title sponsors.
Nevertheless, I tend to agree with our prolific, goateed wondertrepreneur. He’s right.
The likelihood is that you’ll relate to some of the businesses in the cut. If not, you’ll certainly find their stories inspiring – they’ve all achieved what this blog aspires to: fast growth through thinking big.
Glistening atop the list, you’ll see the Genuine Gemstone Company, which was established in 2008. It now posts sales of £54m and is manned by serial entrepreneur Steve Bennet, a man who originally appeared in the list in 1997 with his first venture, Software Warehouse.
It’s a home shopping jewellery retailer, with its own shopping channels and online store. It’s laced with all the trimmings of great entrepreneurship. The business-child of a man who has built and sold a business before, started a completely new venture, acquired other businesses and launched overseas – in the US no less.
Last time I checked, Gem Group was branching out with about 10 new TV channels, including music and movie channels.
Top tips from the top
Following the lead, there are a number of key messages that can be taken from this list of lists.
1. Almost inevitably, the story of this year’s Fast Track 100 is seeing through the recession – the light at the end of the tunnel, succeeding in the face of adversity and so on and so on.
Now, the recession has certainly taken its toll. But this blog has never been about holding back. Looking at this list, it’s pretty clear that there’s plenty of the UK business pie to go around. I would be surprised if any of those included were too preoccupied with the recession as they surged through it.
On the flip side, I think this list makes it clear that now is as good a time as any to get growing.
2. Continuing with an air of optimism, the next lesson is optimism. The official report found that “the more optimistic the entrepreneurs, the more likely they will be to bounce back from failure to learn from the experience”.
So resilience is key.
Most real entrepreneurs have tried and failed at some point. The fact that many have lived to tell the tale often makes them more credible. I suppose these people have experienced the fastest growth of all, learning from their mistakes then building back up to brilliance.
3. Finally, it’s clear that everyone has a chance. Manufacturers, financial advisors, high tech start-ups, furniture makers, brewers and holiday providers all feature in this year’s breakdown – and from all corners of the UK.
It’s easy to listen to the naysayers, the doom-mongers, the “no” men. It’s easy to think that bits of UK industry are peeling away like decades old paint. But as we’ve seen on the blog this year there are some fantastic, phenomenal success stories from a range of sectors and places – not just tech, and certainly not just London.
The fast growth club is open to everyone, and there are three simple entry requirements: a good idea, passion – and the guts to see it through.