The Technology Fast 50 is an awards programme designed by Deloitte & Touche to reward and promote the fastest growing technology companies. Originally started in San Jose in 1995, and expanded across the US in the last three years, the Technology Fast 50 has become a global programme enabling companies to review their performance on an international stage.

"Technology is the principle driving force behind economic development and will continue to be the focus of growth well into the next century" said Mark Mullins, partner, Deloitte & Touche, Bristol. "On average the technology industry in the UK is growing at 25% per annum, and provides the UK's best chance of making its mark internationally. The Fast 50 companies make a considerable contribution to the local economy, and the awards are our recognition of this".

At the regional awards ceremony held in Bristol on Thursday 8th April, Netcraft was ranked as the 7th fastest growing technology company in the South West region, bounded by Penzance, Swansea, Oxford and Portsmouth.

"We're all pleased to receive this award from Deloitte & Touche" said Mike Prettejohn, Director, Netcraft. "Any company is only as good as its customers, and we've been fortunate to have as customers people with whom we can have longstanding, stimulating and enjoyable relationships. We're proud that some of the world's most well known companies believe that they can best meet their needs with Netcraft."

Netcraft clients include British Telecom, Cable & Wireless, Compaq, Elsevier Science, Energis, Hewlett Packard, IBM, Intel, Lloyds of London, Microsoft and Sun Microsystems.

Deloitte & Touche is one of the UK's largest firms of chartered accountants and management consultants, with 24 offices, and 6,500 staff nationwide.

Netcraft provides network security, internet technology analysis and contract development and network administration. Netcraft's empirical analysis of the internet has been a key metric of the development of the World Wide Web and Electronic Commerce.