Countdown to Fastest 50
Sep 2 2009 by Iain Laing, The Journal
As the countdown continues to the Fastest 50 North-East companies of 2009, Iain Laing looks back at the winners of last year's awards.
THE name could hardly have been more appropriate. For it was Fast Temp Engineering which lived up to its moniker to be crowned the fastest- growing company in the North-East for 2008.
The engineering, marine and offshore specialist staff supplier walked off with the title at the Ward Hadaway Fastest 50 Awards at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead.
The company, based at Hebburn, was named as the fastest-growing medium business, as well as winning the title for its phenomenal expansion over recent years.
Fast Temp was started in 1999 and supplies a wide range of staff from project managers and project engineers to piping technicians.
Managing director Steve Brennan runs the company with wife Sandra and staff Leanne Coxon and Elaine Smith.
Steve Brennan said: “We were really delighted to win the Fastest 50 Award last year - it was a very pleasant surprise to win because we are so focused on our business rather than on what goes on in other people's.
"Winning was great for the profile of the company and I was really pleased for everyone who works at Fast Temp because they all play different parts and all deserve to be recognised for their contributions.
"I would like to wish good luck for those in this year's Fastest 50. With the current economic situation, whoever wins in the awards will have certainly deserved it."
Elsewhere in last year's Fastest 50, County Durham-based coal ash management, sales and marketing company Hargreaves Coal Combustion Products won the title for fastest growing small business while hi-tech installation, engineering and facility management company Merit Merrell Technology was named fastest-growing large business.
The winning companies were revealed before an audience of 150 business leaders at the Rooftop Restaurant at the Baltic. Alastair MacColl, chief executive of Business & Enterprise North East, was the keynote speaker at the prestigious event, which rewards profit-making privately-owned companies and organisations in the region which have shown the strongest sales growth over recent years.
The winners of this year's awards - backed by The Journal and sponsored by leading North law firm Ward Hadaway - will be revealed at a ceremony next month.
Researchers from St Chad's College/Durham Business School are currently running the rule over the potential entrants for the list, which will be published in The Journal later this month.
Colin Hewitt, head of commercial law at Ward Hadaway, said: “Getting into the Fastest 50 has become a coveted accolade for companies in the North-East and competition for places on this year's list is again fierce, despite the challenges which have faced every business over the past 12 months.
“Fast Temp Engineering took last year's overall award thanks to a phenomenal rate of growth which would be the envy of any business.
"Researchers at St Chad's College/Durham Business School are busy assessing and verifying data from sources to compile the 2009 list, which should prove to be one of the most interesting in the event's 10-year history.”
The Fastest 50 winners for 2008: Fastest growing small business: Hargreaves Coal Combustion Products, Esh Winning, County Durham. Fastest-growing medium business and overall winner: Fast Temp Engineering, Hebburn, South Tyneside. Fastest-growing large business: Merit Merrell Technology, Wallsend, North Tyneside.
