Bristol-based companies Lifetime, a training provider, and specialist recruiter Timothy James Consulting have been named among Britain’s fastest-growing privately-owned firms.
The companies are listed at numbers 41 and 66 in the annual Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100 league table, which identifies companies with the fastest-growing sales over the past three years
Lifetime, which makes its third consecutive league table appearance, originally provided training to those seeking to work in the leisure and fitness industries, and has recently branched out into the hospitality and retail sectors. Sales grew 78% a year from £4.2m in 2008 to £23.6m in 2011.
The firm was set up in 1995 by former teacher Heather Frankham. It has gone from one member of staff to a team of more than 350 working with 15,000-plus learners a year.
Also making a third consecutive appearance is Timothy James Consulting which places senior directors and project managers in sectors such as financial services, retail, media and publishing.
Launched in 2003 by Christopher O’Connell, the firm has focussed on providing a quality senior appointments recruitment service within change management, project management, ICT, marketing, e-commerce, human resources, procurement and finance.
It works with public and private sector clients such as Lloyds Banking Group, Superdrug, Aviva and more than 70% of all the NHS Trusts and local authorities.
As well as headquarters in Bristol, it has offices in London and Manchester.
Sales grew 60% a year from £4.1m in 2007 to £16.8m in 2010 with the help of a revamped website. In November it received private-equity funding from Hamilton Bradshaw, headed by James Caan.
The companies feature in the league table alongside household names such as Cath Kidston, Ella’s Kitchen, Jack Wills, Joules and Patisserie Valerie.
The Fast Track 100 is sponsored by Virgin, Barclays, BDO and Microsoft. In total four South West firms appear in the table, down from 12 last year
