2014 Deloitte Fast 50 entries open for NZ’s business stars

3 June 2014

2014 Deloitte Fast 50 entries open

Deloitte Fast 50 showcases NZ’s brightest business stars

Entries for the 2014 Deloitte Fast 50, the index of New Zealand’s fastest growing companies, open today and close on 25 July. The 2014 list will be revealed on 6 November.

For the 14th year, high-growth Kiwi businesses are invited to benchmark their - growth against the brightest business stars that New Zealand has to offer.

Deloitte Private Partner Bill Hale says the Fast 50 took a fresh approach last year, launching the inaugural Deloitte Festival of Fast Growth. As well as celebrating local business heroes at 5 regional events in September, we invited all winners who ranked on the index to attend a one day inspirational event at Auckland’s Villa Maria winery.

“It was quite a big leap for us to go from a traditional awards ceremony to a more unstructured full day worth of speakers, but it paid off with rave reviews from all that attended. This year’s Festival wrap party, also at Villa Maria on 6 November, will build on that success,” says Mr Hale.

New for 2014, BNZ joins the Deloitte Fast 50 as a premium partner.

“With the growth that we’ve seen in both interest and the number of entrants, it makes sense for us to bring a partner on board and BNZ are a great fit in terms of the value they can add for fast growing New Zealand businesses,” says Mr Hale.

BNZ Director Retail, Andy Symons says given BNZ’s drive to enable a higher achieving New Zealand, they are very excited to partner with the Deloitte Fast 50.

“Deloitte’s vision and focus on recognising high performance businesses in New Zealand is second to none and I’m personally looking forward to seeing the calibre of this year’s Fast 50 entrants," says Mr Symons.

Mr Hale encourages all businesses to enter the 2014 Deloitte Fast 50 by filling out the simple online entry form.

“You’ve got to be in it to win it. The index only ranks businesses that choose to participate,” he says.

“The straight forward entry process only takes 10 to 15 minutes but the rewards from making the index are immeasurable. Fast 50 companies receive considerable local and national media coverage, profile within the business community, including potential investors, and a huge boost to company morale.”

For more information on the 2014 Deloitte Fast 50, including entry criteria and key dates, visit www.fast50.co.nz.

Highlights of last year’s inaugural Deloitte Festival of Fast Growth can be seen at http://youtu.be/_z-dn4zajgo.

About the Deloitte Fast 50
The Deloitte Fast 50 index ranks the top 50 businesses in New Zealand according to their revenue growth over the past three years.

Entrants are required to be New Zealand registered companies, have been in business for a minimum of three years, and have had operating revenue of at least $300,000 in the 2011/12 financial year (FY12).

The exception to this is the Rising Star Category which is for start-up companies with high growth potential, Entrants have to have been in business for one full year, submit a set of accounts for one year and pitch their business to a regional panel dragon’s den-style. Regional finalists are selected and the overall National winner is announced at the Festival of Fast Growth wrap party in November.

As well as the Fast 50 index, in each of the five regions, six awards are made to the fastest growing manufacturer, technology business, services business, retail/consumer products business, exporter, and mature business (operating for 15 years or more). There is one award nationally for the fastest growing primary sector business. National winners for each category are announced at the Festival of Growth wrap party in November.

2014 Fast 50 key dates:
• Online entries open Monday 03 June and close Friday 25 July
• Regional winners and Fast 50 index announced – not in ranking order Wednesday 1 October
• 2014 Deloitte Fast 50 index (in ranking order), plus National winners announcedThursday 6 November at the Deloitte Festival of Fast Growth Wrap Party.

All technology businesses which enter the Deloitte Fast 50 are automatically nominated for the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 Asia-Pacific index announced in Hong Kong in December.

Since the programme began in 2001, a number of iconic companies have featured on our Fast 50 index including, Trade Me, 42 Below, HRV, Energy Mad and Earthwise. For a look at our Fast 50 alumni click here.

About Deloitte in New Zealand
Deloitte New Zealand brings together more than 1000 specialist professionals providing audit, tax, technology and systems, strategy and performance improvement, risk management, corporate finance, business recovery, forensic and accounting services. Our people are based in Auckland, Hamilton, Rotorua, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, serving clients that range from New Zealand’s largest companies and public sector organisations to smaller businesses with ambition to grow.

Deloitte provides audit, tax, consulting and financial advisory services to public and private clients spanning multiple industries. With a globally connected network of member firms in more than 150 countries, Deloitte brings world-class capabilities and high-quality service to clients, delivering the insights they need to address their most complex business challenges. Deloitte has in the region of 200,000 professionals, all committed to becoming the standard of excellence.

For more information about Deloitte in New Zealand, go to our websitewww.deloitte.co.nz.

About Deloitte
Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee, and its network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity. Please see www.deloitte.com/nz/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and its member firms.

ENDS\

© Scoop Media