Posted on 23 May 2012
Professor Dylan Jones-Evans at last year's award ceremony
The search is on for the fastest growing companies in Wales. Now in its fourteenth year, Wales Fast Growth 50 celebrates the best of Welsh entrepreneurship and has become firmly established as the list of business success that businesses across Wales aspire to.
The Fast Growth 50 project was created in 1999 by Professor Dylan Jones-Evans of the University of Wales Global Academy. Since then, 418 firms have appeared on the lists published in the Western Mail and it is estimated that all of these fast growth companies have created around 18,000 jobs and generated over £10 billion of additional turnover into the Welsh economy, much of which is spent on local goods and services.
The 2012 Fast Growth 50 project was officially launched by Mrs Edwina Hart, Minister for Business, at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay last week.
Every year, the Wales Fast Growth 50 shows the massive business potential that exists here in Wales and showcases the entrepreneurial talent we have at our disposal. More importantly, at a time where there is a shortage of jobs across the UK, last year’s fastest growing firms created around 2,000 new positions during the period 2008-2010, demonstrating the contribution they make to the Welsh economy”
Last year fastest growing firm in Wales was Afonwen Laundry of Pwllheli. Established in 1935, this family business is now one of the UK’s largest privately owned laundry and linen hire companies in the UK, supplying over 40,000 hotel bedrooms throughout the UK.
Speaking at the launch for this year’s competition, its Managing Director Mark Woolfenden commented:
“”It’s been fantastic for Afonwen to be recognised as the fastest growing firm in Wales and I would strongly encourage as many companies as possible to apply. The Wales Fast Growth 50 provides a unique opportunity to raise the profile of your business and further motivate staff in celebrating their success. As the winner last year and a runner up the previous year, participating has enabled us to raise our brand awareness considerably”.”
The 2012 list of the fastest growing firms in Wales will appear in a special supplement, which will be published by the Western Mail on Wednesday, September 19th 2012 in association with the University of Wales.
There will also be a gala dinner that will take place in Cardiff on September 14th 2012. This exclusive event has become one of the most prestigious in the Welsh business calendar and yet again promises to be a showcase of the best of Welsh enterprise for all attending.
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Sponsored by Capital Law, Santander Bank, Newport Business School, Sinclair Finance and Leasing, Venture Wales, Logicalis, Cake Communications and Media Wales, awards will be presented to the fastest growing firms in each of the key sectors of the Welsh economy, as well as individual awards for sustainable long term growth.
The closing date for entries is June 20th 2012. Further information on eligibility and how to enter can be obtained by emailing fastgrowth50@wales.ac.uk or by going to the website www.fastgrowth50.com.