FGBA 2010: The winners

The finalists of the Fast Growth Business Awards 2010 were bursting with entrepreneurial ambition. We take a look at who came out on top – and why

The Fast Growth Business Awards (FGBA), now in its fourth successful year, has made its name identifying businesses on the cusp of hitting the big time. The scheme has earned a reputation for rewarding and recognising the most inspirational and fastest growing companies in the UK and, of course, the entrepreneurs behind them.   And this year’s event didn’t disappoint. Thankfully, after experiencing one of the toughest trading environments for decades, it didn’t feel like finding high quality, fast growing businesses was any harder. In fact, the overall standard of entries was arguably the highest we’ve seen in four years of running the awards. The kind of companies that have thrived while others are understandably satisfied with mere survival require watertight business models as well as resilient management teams. Having been presented with plenty of companies that fit that description, our judging panel, including the founder of investment and advisory firm Ariadne Capital, Julie Meyer, and last year’s overall winner and founder of King of Shaves, Will King, had a tough time picking the winners. “The calibre of nominations for this event is always so high, with companies demonstrating a spectacular level of innovation, ambition and strategic planning,” says Max Taylor, head of business marketing at T-Mobile, the scheme’s headline sponsor. The latest T-Mobile Fast Growth Business of the Year, Patersons HR & Payroll Solutions, joins an esteemed crop of previous FGBA winners, including King of Shaves, Maximuscle, Insureandgo and Lovefilm. If you think your business could be featured on these pages next year, visit www.fgba.co.uk and tell us why.

Winners Round-up

T-Mobile Fast Growth Business of the Year

Patersons HR & Payroll Solutions  

Online Business of the Year:

Parcel2Go.com Shortlisted: Media Ingenuity; Quayside Clothing

Product Business of the Year:

JAOtech Shortlisted: Boost Drinks; Ella’s Kitchen

International Business of the Year:

Patersons HR & Payroll Solutions Shortlisted: Bordeaux Index; EDS Group Holdings

Best Use of Technology:

Wonga Shortlisted: Greenlight; Team24  

Innovative Business of the Year:

Shortlist Media Shortlisted: Monitise; Wonga.com

Green Business of the Year:

Comtek Network Systems (UK) Shortlisted: EDS Group Holdings; Photostar LED

Family Business of the Year:

Team24 Shortlisted: Home Instead Senior Care; Skyform (Scotland)

Angel or VC-backed Business of the Year:

Wonga Shortlisted: Cambridge Broadband Networks; C Squared Holdings

Service Business of the Year:

World First Shortlisted: Hudson & Yorke; XLN Telecom

Female Entrepreneur of the Year:

Karen Paterson Shortlisted: Jennie Johnson (Kids Allowed); Laura Tenison (JoJo Maman Bébé)

Young Entrepreneur of the Year:

Warren Bennett and David Hathiramani (A Suit That Fits.com) Shortlisted: Sam Ricket (Activ); Daniel Halstead (Kite Consulting Group)

New Business of the Year:

Naked Wines Shortlisted: Associ8 Solutions; Graze.com

Visit www.fgba.co.uk for more information on the finalists