The search is on to find the top 50 growth-stage tech firms in the UK that could qualify to join the Future Fifty and Upscale UK programmes, which help to support the UK technology sector.

Future Fifty supports the UK’s top 50 growth-stage tech firms through a combination of development workshops, access to government contacts and services, promotional opportunities and collaboration.

In a statement published last week, the organisation said that businesses wishing to qualify for the programme must be UK-based, have an annual revenue exceeding £5m and be growing at 30 per cent year-on-year.

Meanwhile, the six-month Upscale UK programme is focused on early-stage start-ups helping 30 promising businesses to scale up by providing expert mentoring, networking and promotional opportunities.

Potential applicants for this programme must be headquartered in the UK, have achieved 30 per cent month-on-month growth for the last six months and have completed a Series A or equivalent. Bootstrapped firms must have £500,000 in revenues.

As a spokesman for Tech City pointed out, Future Fifty and Upscale UK are designed to support the different needs of high growth businesses and scale-ups, surrounding each team with their peers and industry experts who really understand the challenges they face as they expand.

He added that Tech City is delighted that its Future Fifty companies are now becoming scale coaches as well as role models for aspiring entrepreneurs, playing their part to create a sustainable ecosystem.

The deadline to apply for both the Future Fifty and the Upscale UK’s programmes is a minute before midnight on 7 December 2016.