BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
Cyclescheme received its Fast Track 100 Award from Sir Richard Branson last month.
The Sunday Times and Virgin prize was given to the Cycle to Work administrator for its impressive success over the past three years. During this period, Cyclescheme grew a staggering 348 per cent to £22.7 million in 2009, topping the league table that saw the firm pitted against a few fast growing private companies.
Co-founders Richard Grigsby and Gary Cooper picked up the award at the Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100 Awards event, held at Branson’s own Oxfordshire home.
The cycle industry was also honoured via the new ‘Ones to Recognise’ award. Folding bike manufacturer Brompton was singled out for the accolade – now being sold in 33 countries. Founder Andrew Ritchie and managing director Will Butler-Adams received the award.
Other winners outside the cycle industry included online card retailer Moonpig.com. The event also saw a charity auction that raised £210,000 for the Virgin Unite Charity.
Sir Richard Branson honoured the award recipients on the night and said: “If the owner of a business is passionate, that will ricochet all the way down the organisation.”
Richard Grigsby commented: “Receiving our award as the number one growing private UK business from Richard Branson at the Fast Track 100 was an absolute privilege. The whole event was particularly refreshing with a total lack of management speak, acronyms and corporate bull was a real pleasure to witness. It seems that small to medium sized businesses don’t learn that stuff until they get bigger.”
Gary Cooper added: “Winning the Fast Track 100 was a very proud moment in our lives and business career and really great to represent the cycle industry. This was a great accolade and acknowledgement for all the hard work the Cyclescheme team and our partner shops have put in over the last five years.”
Cyclescheme: info@cyclescheme.co.uk
Brompton: 020 8232 8484
