Business gazetteer: Deloitte's fast-track to success

Published on Sunday 6 July 2008 20:56

TECH AWARDS

THINK you've got one of the UK's fastest-growing tech businesses on your hands? Then you'll be eager to learn about the 2008 Deloitte Fast 50 awards.

Now in their 11th year, the awards recognise and rank technology companies with an "exceptional" growth in turnover over the past five years.

Nominations for the 2008 awards open today, and the accountancy giant behind the popular programme is calling on Scots firms to move quick. Last year, Edinburgh-based Rocela took second place – one of four Scottish success stories in the top 20.

Rocela boss Martin Mutch says: "Key plus points of the Deloitte Fast 50 Award have been meeting other technology entrepreneurs in the UK and across Europe and recognition of the Rocela team's hard work and commitment in the UK and internationally."

For full details and criteria for entry visit: www.fast50.co.uk.

FACT OF THE DAY

300m

SAINSBURY'S clothing brand TU now has a 1 per cent share of the UK market with annual sales of some 300 million.

Its success has been credited, in part, to a 100 per cent rise in sales of lingerie at the supermarket chain in the past year.

TU is now reported to have overtaken Topshop to become the UK's 11th-biggest clothing retailer.

Commenting on the growth of the business, TU boss Adrian Mountford said: "This is a tremendous milestone."

KILLER QUOTE

"WHEN I go into Marks & Spencer, I feel it's neither a department store nor a supermarket, but sits between the two. I wouldn't buy fashion in that environment when people like Zara have shop-windows like Chanel"

Retail guru Mary Portas

GOOD DAY

Shake Interactive

THE Edinburgh-based digital marketing group has made a second acquisition in South Africa as it grows its presence overseas. Shake, which develops marketing campaigns through e-mail, text messaging and podcasting, has bought a controlling stake in MyBeat.

BAD DAY

Scottish Widows

THE first legal action against the Edinburgh-based insurer – which is facing allegations of giving "negligent" advice to about 100 company pension schemes – is understood to have been filed in the Scottish courts by WTL International, a Macclesfield-based engineering firm.