Award for software firm Unitas

Software company Unitas Software has been named as the North's fastest growing tech company after it broke into the top 10 of this year's Deloitte Technology Fast 50.

The company - recognised as a key software provider in the agri-food market - achieved an overall 10th place in last night's gala Fast 50 awards ceremony at the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin.

Following five years of consistent expansion Derry-based Unitas Software posted an impressive aggregate growth rate of 583% which far surpassed the average growth rate for all Fast 50 companies North and South - 461%.

Coming in just behind was Lagan - the Antrim-based software solutions company claimed an overall growth rate of 560% and finished in 12th place overall.

Completing the region's top three best placed finishers was First Derivatives from Newry, which came in 14th with aggregate growth of 466%.

Walking away with the Northern Ireland 'Rising Star' award for the second year running was Belfast- based SLA (Stirk Lamont Associates) which achieved what the judges described as a "stratospheric" growth rise of 4,355%.

Overall the North had 18 companies in the 'Fast 50' and collectively they grew faster than ever - with a group annual turnover growth over five years of 513%.

Deloitte associate partner in Belfast, David Coates, said: "Congratulations to all entrants from Northern Ireland in a year that saw the USNI Investment Conference and international attention focused on Northern Ireland's potential for investment, these record-breaking performances say much about the quality of our talent and enterprising spirit."

Mr Coates added: "Every year Northern Ireland makes a bigger and bigger impact. Great performances from Unitas, Lagan, First Derivatives and SLA are indicative of the innovative approach that's being fostered in Northern Ireland at the moment."

There had been an extraordinarily high standard this year and any company which made it into the Fast 50 could pride itself in being among Ireland's elite, he said.