Star turns in the fast lane

Oct 18 2006 By Rebekah Ashby, The Journal

Rebekah Ashby looks back at the winners of 2005's Fastest 50.

Last year's Fastest 50 league saw transport company Schmitz Cargobull Curtainsiders (UK) named as 2005's fastest growing company in the North-East.

Business leaders gathered at Kingston Park, home of Newcastle Falcons, last time for the unveiling of the eighth Fastest 50.

The league recognises companies and organisations which have shown the strongest sales growth over the past two years and 2005 saw the formidable achievements of County Durham-based Schmitz Cargobull Curtainsiders (UK), Stokesley-based recruitment specialist NEL Recruitment and David Price Foods, of Wallsend, rewarded.

Jamie Martin, managing director of Ward Hadaway, was last year's keynote speaker in his role as CBI chairman for the Northern region.

He told the 200-strong audience: "Amazingly my first ever job was as a van driver for David Price and the van I got to drive was certainly not one of the Fastest 50, it couldn't even go as fast as 50.

"So I'm absolutely delighted to see their appearance in the Fastest 50 and as the recipients of this year's [2005] fastest growing medium-sized business award.

"The North-East has made great efforts over the past decade to build its reputation as a leading business centre, we have had some success in that objective - the professional service sector has for example flourished, we have also had some success in moving the region's economy away from a reliance on traditional heavy industry to a knowledge-based economy.

"The region is credited with having the most active start-up rates for `hi-tech' businesses in the UK outside London."

The fastest growing business in the North-East, which was also named Fastest Growing Large Business, was Schmitz Cargobull Curtainsiders.

Their financial director Colin Davison said at the time: "We are part of a German company whose growth in Europe has been quite dramatic.

"When we started off some four years ago, it was with an established product in Germany but, at the same time, it was on the back of a very good customer base that we had already established with our refrigerated delivery company which has been established since 1991."

David Price Food Services - the Wallsend provider of storage and distribution service for chilled and frozen products - was named the fastest growing medium-sized company. Set up in 1970, annual turnover is £6.4m, with an average sales growth of 11% a year.

Meanwhile, NEL Recruitment, which has witnessed a phenomenal 107% average turnover growth, walked away with the Fastest Growing Small Business prize.

The Stokesley-based agency, which supplies project personnel and specialists to the design, engineering and project sectors, is now turning over £2.7m.

Brian Aitken, editor of The Journal, said: "The Journal Fastest 50 list proves the North-East can lead the way in British business in terms of growth.

"At long last, the rest of Britain is sitting up and taking notice of the wealth of business talent we have in the region."

Ward Hadaway partner Colin Hewitt said: "The businesses in the Fastest 50 are not just the businesses to watch tomorrow.

"They are the cream of the region's businesses today."

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Hall of Fame

2005

Fastest Growing Large Business and Overall Winner:
Schmitz Cargobull Curtainsiders (UK), County Durham.

Fastest Growing Medium Business 2005:
David Price Foods, Wallsend, Newcastle.

Fastest Growing Small Business 2005:
Stokesley-based recruitment specialist NEL Recruitment.

2004

Overall Winner and Fastest Growing Small Business:
Harrison Packaging, Thornaby, Teesside.

Fastest Growing Large Business:
Eaga Partnership, Newcastle.

Fastest Growing Medium Business:
Fox Racing, Team Valley, Gateshead.

2003

Overall Winner and Fastest Growing Small Business:
Straight Line, Newcastle.

Fastest Growing Large Business:
DP Furniture Express, formerly Durham Pine, Sunderland.

Fastest Growing Medium Business:
Rivergreen, Durham.

2002

Overall Winner:
Rivergreen, Durham.

Fastest Growing Small Business:
AT&P Rentals, Guisborough.

Fastest Growing Large Business:
The Officer's Club, Cramlington, Northumberland.

Fastest Growing Medium Business:
Lab Medico Legal Services, Peterlee.

2001

Overall Winner:
Bannatyne Fitness, Darlington.

Fastest Growing Small Business:
Micromix RM, County Durham.

Fastest Growing Large Business:
Perlos, Washington.

Fastest Growing Medium Business:
Renoir Shoes, Thornaby.

2000

Overall Winner:
Doyen, Teesside.

Fastest Growing Small Business:
Just Learning, Darlington, County Durham.

Fastest Growing Large Business:
Savers Health and Beauty, Darlington, County Durham.

Fastest Growing Medium Business:
Bannatyne Fitness, Darlington, County Durham.

1999

Overall Winner and Fastest Growing Medium Business:
Bannatyne Fitness, Darlington, County Durham.

Fastest Growing Small Business:
Just Learning, Darlington, County Durham.

Fastest Growing Large Business:
The Health Clinic, Newcastle.

1998

Overall Winner:
Armstrong Technology Associates, Wallsend, Newcastle.

Fastest Growing Small Business:
Utility Technical Services, Durham.

Fastest Growing Large Business:
Bywell Holdings, Newcastle.

Fastest Growing Medium Business:
Isocom Components, Hartlepool.