The UK Fast Growth Index, a flagship programme from Ideas Forums, was launched this week in partnership with headline sponsor UBS, a leading and truly global wealth manager.
The UK Fast Growth Index, a flagship programme from Ideas Forums, was launched this week in partnership with headline sponsor UBS, the biggest wealth management bank in the World.
The event, held in London, gathered business leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors to celebrate the remarkable growth of businesses across the UK.
The panel of industry experts featured 2024 Fast Growth Index alumni Conrad Ford, Chief Product and Strategy Officer at Allica Bank, Darren Briggs, founder of the Ascona Group, and Naomi Roberts, Founder of Flare Audio, who shared their insights on navigating growth and the opportunities that exist even amid economic uncertainty.
Professor Dylan Jones-Evans, who has been a staunch advocate of fast-growing businesses for over two decades, discussed the continued resilience of entrepreneurs despite economic challenges.
"We're seeing a clear trend namely that entrepreneurs remain bullish, determined to grow their businesses, even when the external environment is uncertain. In fact, crises often breed opportunity," said Professor Jones-Evans.
Professor Dylan Jones-Evans at the UK Fast Growth Index 2025 launch, hosted by UBS in London.
In 2024, the UK Fast Growth Index celebrated 350 businesses, collectively generating a turnover of £15.1bn and employing 62,000 people. These companies experienced a remarkable £9.6bn increase in turnover over a two-year period, creating 24,000 new jobs, accounting for 10% of all private sector employment growth during that time. A total of 162 firms had a turnover exceeding £20m, demonstrating the scale and ambition of the companies featured in the Index.
During the discussion on the panel, Conrad Ford reflected on the realities of growing fast: “Fast growth businesses will always have fires to put out. It’s important to deal with the immediate challenges, but don’t worry about the smouldering ones. If you don’t have them, you’re not ambitious enough.”
Darren Briggs, whose company Ascona has featured on the Index for the last four years, shared his entrepreneurial journey. “Seven years ago, when financing fell through, I had to make a decision: go bankrupt or go for growth. It was a difficult decision, but I chose to push forward, and now Ascona is valued at £350m,” he said.
Naomi Roberts from Flare Audio emphasised the importance of trusting your instincts in business: “You need to go with your gut to know when to pivot, even if it’s hard.”
The UK Fast Growth Index is the national expansion of the Wales Fast Growth 50, which has been recognising the fastest-growing businesses in Wales for 27 years.
This 2025 Index now covers seven nations and regions across the UK, providing a platform for the country’s most innovative and fast-growing companies. As part of the Ideas Forums portfolio, the UK Fast Growth Index joins other prestigious programmes such as the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, Ideas Fest, and the UK StartUp Awards, further cementing Ideas Forums’ role in championing and supporting the entrepreneurial community across the UK.
For more information about the UK Fast Growth Index and the businesses featured in this year’s edition, please visit: https://fastgrowth50.com/