Business

Strong showing for Northern firms as 13 make Deloitte Fast 50 list

Pictured at the Belfast offices of digital agency Made to Engage are its managing director Steven Cassin and Deloitte partner Peter Allen. Made to Engage is one of 13 Northern Ireland companies on this year's Deloitte Fast 50 list
Pictured at the Belfast offices of digital agency Made to Engage are its managing director Steven Cassin and Deloitte partner Peter Allen. Made to Engage is one of 13 Northern Ireland companies on this year's Deloitte Fast 50 list Pictured at the Belfast offices of digital agency Made to Engage are its managing director Steven Cassin and Deloitte partner Peter Allen. Made to Engage is one of 13 Northern Ireland companies on this year's Deloitte Fast 50 list

THIRTEEN Northern Ireland companies have made it on to this year’s Deloitte Technology Fast 50 list.

Now in their 19th year, the awards provide the definitive run down of the fastest growing tech firms across the island, based on revenue growth.

Companies which have appeared on the Fast 50 in previous years include the likes of Novosco and First Derivatives, which have grown from small start-ups to become internationally recognised sector leaders.

The 13 Northern Ireland firms on the 2018 Fast 50 are AquaQ Analytics; Decision Time; Export Technologies; First Derivatives; Flint Studios; Learning Pool; Lucid Interactive; Made to Engage; Neueda; Ozaroo; Repstor; Tascomi; and The Web Bureau.

They will find out where they are placed on the list and who will take top spot at a gala dinner on November 2 in Dublin.

The highest ranked Northern Ireland firm last year was Belfast-based online retail company Ozaroo Retail, which was named as the fourth fastest growing company on the island in 2017.

Deloitte partner Peter Allen said: “The Fast 50 is well established as the definitive guide to the fastest growing indigenous technology firms across the island of Ireland.

"Yet again Northern Ireland firms have made a strong impact and this year we’re pleased to see so many companies that have featured on the list before retaining their place in the Fast 50.

“The technology sector is already an important contributor to the Northern Ireland economy and has a big role to play in driving the economy forward in the years ahead, so it is encouraging to see so many innovative local companies enjoying such stellar growth.”

The Fast 50 is open to companies from across the technology spectrum, including software, hardware, communications, media, clean-tech and life sciences. Deloitte ranks the companies based on their revenue growth over the previous four years.

Steven Cassin, managing director of Belfast-based digital agency Made to Engage, which made the main listing for the second consecutive year, added: “In 2016 we were named as a Fast 50 Rising Star in recognition of our exceptional growth.

"Since then the firm has continued to expand with 60 colleagues based in offices in Belfast, Dublin and London, and clients such as Easons, Henderson Foodservice and Irish Ferries and most recently Hornby.

“The NI tech sector has earned a reputation for consistently delivering smart solutions and is consequently experiencing unprecedented growth. The Fast 50 remains an internationally acclaimed accolade and a highly sought after endorsement.”