British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (BVCA)

The BVCA is pleased to welcome Sigma Connected Group as the latest BVCA member. Sigma Connected is a multi-award-winning Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) provider that specialises in outsourced (white-label) 24/7 customer contact centre services. Services include customer service management, collections, complaints handling, and vulnerable customer support. Founded in 2011, Sigma Connected employs over 5,000 people across the UK and South Africa. The company was one of the pioneers of offshoring solutions to Cape Town, South Africa and has recently expanded its operation across the Western Cape into Paarl. The business places its focus on creating opportunities for its people, investing in the communities in which it operates, and as part of its environmental commitment, aims to become carbon neutral by 2030, in line with UK Government targets. In 2023 & 2024, Sigma Connected was named as one of the UK’s top employers in the prestigious The Sunday Times Best Places to Work survey, which was voted for by its employees. For more information, visit their website at: https://lnkd.in/eU6inScv

"𝘐𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩"    The BVCA welcomes the Chancellor’s focus on the importance of investment in entrepreneurship in driving economic growth. The Chancellor was clear that “investment and innovation go hand in hand” - this makes clear private capital’s vital role in boosting investment across the nations and regions of the UK.    The BVCA and Public First Investment Commission highlighted many of the factors that the Chancellor pointed to today as blockers to growth. Our survey found that:  ◼️ A third (33%) of investment professionals surveyed say planning reform would make it easier for them to invest in UK businesses. ◼️ Nine in 10 (91%) investors surveyed say a faster and more agile regulatory system would make it easier for them to invest in UK businesses. ◼️ Over four in 10 (42%) of investors say they have decided not to invest in a UK business because of a lack of public infrastructure such as transport or grid connections. We therefore welcome the Chancellor's announcements today, including a 10 year infrastructure plan that will be published in the Spring and increased investment for every nation and region of the UK. These are key steps to breaking through these barriers and we look forward to continuing to work with the Government to make the UK the best place in the world for #privateequity and #venturecapital to invest.    The BVCA also welcomes further announcements from the Chancellor to help the UK's innovative businesses, including: 🏦 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: Building on the exciting DC and local government pensions review whose next steps are keenly awaited, moves to unleash defined benefit (DB) pension funds to allow them to invest locked-away “surplus funds” into fast-growing UK businesses, helping to tackle the scale-up gap.    🌱 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵: boosting investment in every nation and region the UK is vital to driving up UK economic growth. First announced last week, the Chancellor detailed her plans to turbocharge investment across the UK, announcing a new approach across the National Wealth Fund (NWF) and the Office for Investment (OfI), which will work with local leaders across the UK to support places to build pipelines of incoming investment and projects linked to regional growth priorities.   🥽 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝘅𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱-𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗼𝗿: New lab space, a new innovation hub and much-needed investment in transport infrastructure will amplify the UK’s reputation as a home for innovation. For more information, read here: https://lnkd.in/e3FT_wMb

𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝗦𝗚 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴   🚀 The BVCA’s third annual ESG survey sets out a series of metrics which #privateequity and #venturecapital firms use to track progress within their investee companies.   🎉 Over 2,700 private capital-backed businesses participated in this latest survey, which showed an increase in Environmental impact tracking and engagement. 🌱 Over the past three years, there has been a significant increase in the proportion of private capital-backed businesses which are able to track their carbon emissions. Data showed that in 2023, one third (33%) of energy used by private capital-backed businesses came from renewable sources, up from 30% in 2021. Key findings in the latest survey include: ♻️ 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴: The BVCA found that the proportion of private capital-backed businesses tracking environmental emissions has increased over time across all scopes and sizes of firm. 📝 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹-𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀: The BVCA asked member-backed firms a range of questions about their governance practices, finding that the vast majority have clear cyber security, customer privacy and anti-corruption procedures in place. 👩💻 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰: The BVCA found that representation of women on the boards of private capital-backed businesses is largely static, at 17% in 2023 vs 16% in the prior year. Private capital investors are key to backing the innovative UK firms developing sustainable solutions to the challenge of net zero and climate, with investment for the long-term in companies. Private capital provides public value by investing in environmental and social solutions and growing companies that are resilient to tomorrow's world. 🔗 For more information, read here: https://lnkd.in/en7dGctU

"If neuroinclusive strategies are properly implemented, they can boost productivity, employee wellbeing and performance." The BVCA’s recent Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) series of panel discussions underlined the importance of reframing #neurodiversity as a strength and adapting workplace cultures to drive meaningful change. In the latest Insight article, the BVCA’s Sustainability Executive, Breeze Haywood, reflects on the event’s discussion about the critical need for businesses to embrace neurodiversity in the workplace. Read the full Insight article here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/ex_gDGrY

🎉 The BVCA were delighted to join a Public First Commission of cross-sector experts, to identify how to maximise the potential of the Government's Industrial Strategy to increase economic growth.  📝   The government’s number one mission is growth, and it sees industrial strategy as the engine which will power it. To ensure that the UK can maximise investment into high-growth parts of the economy and achieve its goals of regional growth, economic security, and net zero, its industrial strategy needs to have a laser focus on removing barriers to growth and doubling down on our existing strengths.    Our world-leading innovation capabilities should make the UK one of the best places in the world to invest or to grow a business, but at the moment, policy is holding back growth.   The findings underline the importance of private capital investment and access to capital. The report calls for removing barriers to capital by: ◼️ Addressing the scale-up gap and ensuring growing businesses can get the funding they need without having to leave the UK, through an institutional ecosystem that includes the British Business Bank (BBB) and the National Wealth Fund. ◼️ Delivering pension reform that includes a ‘Tibi’-style model of a fund-of-funds to facilitate the investment of pension capital into productive assets. ◼️ Government-backed R&D funding that supports innovation and the transition to Net Zero.

🚀 Global VC investment rebounds as UK leads Europe 🚀   🤝🌍 The latest Venture Pulse Report from KPMG highlights that global venture deal value in Q4 2024 rebounded to seven-quarter high of $108.6bn after subdued levels of activity earlier in the year. The US dominated, accounting for $74.6bn of capital investment, followed by Europe with $15.7bn.   The UK is the third largest venture capital hub in the world, and accounted for the largest share of European investment, both in Q4 and 2024 as whole, followed by France and Germany. While European investment did increase in Q4, the number of deals dropped, as investors preferred a smaller cohort of high-quality firms with proven track record to invest in.   📝 The BVCA's Venture Capital Report, published in November, highlighted the incredible pipeline of entrepreneurs and founders building amazing companies and a broad base of VCs and other investors backing them, wherever they are in the UK. In 2023, almost half (49%) of businesses backed by venture capital were located outside London, showcasing the geographic spread of innovation across the UK.    This venture capital investment is helping turn research and development into thriving businesses and economic growth. Sector-wise, artificial Intelligence attracted majority share of global VC funding in Q4 with defence tech space attracting record levels of VC investment in 2024.    Positively, the report forecasts growing market optimism in 2025 with expectations of lower interest rates contributing to improvements in the exit environment, including IPOs.    With thanks to KPMG’s Conor Moore Francois Chadwick Lindsay Hull.   🔗 Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gtHgQWt7

Join an exclusive audience of private capital industry leaders, entrepreneurs and leading service providers at the BVCA’s Invest Dinner Series taking place throughout 2025.  We are delighted to have expanded to six dinners across nations and regions in the UK, including Leeds, Birmingham, Bristol, Belfast, Manchester and Edinburgh. Hear exclusive local insights from senior speakers, connect with existing contacts, forge new relationships and celebrate the #privatecapital industry over a three-course meal and networking drinks reception. Each dinner event will host the BVCA Vision 2025: Leaders Driving Growth Awards sponsored by Grant Thornton UK LLP and Santander. It celebrates the best teams of 2024 backed by private equity and venture capital, awarding portfolio companies and their investors. This year, the Invest Series will launch a new series of Invest Forums, tied to our long-standing dinner series. These events will provide an opportunity for policy discussion on how best to develop investment in the nations and regions of the UK, and meaningful networking between local political figures, investors in the regions, portfolio companies, academia and other key stakeholders focused on maximising local opportunities. Thank you to our series sponsor, PNC and supporting partner, Aon. To elevate your profile in the regions, visit our website for more information: https://lnkd.in/eWRMv23n

Celebrating 🔟years of the British Business Bank.   Today, the British Business Bank (BBB) launches its 10-year impact report, revealing it has delivered more than £32bn in public and private sector funding over the last decade, and highlighting its important role as the largest domestic investor in UK #venturecapital.   The BBB's equity investment programmes have driven innovation across the UK, and catalysed growth in high-potential sectors such as #lifesciences, #cleantech, and #software.   Its new #BritishGrowthPartnership is a promising first step to help unlock further investment from UK pension funds and institutional investors into British high-growth businesses. But more is still needed to close the UK's scale-up gap. To grow the UK’s innovation finance ecosystem further, the BVCA calls for the Government to: ◼️ Ensure that the British Growth Partnership invests in pooled funds. Investing pensions capital in venture and growth equity funds is how the UK will build a strong pipeline of UK growth businesses, attract the best investment talent, and draw in more capital from global investors. ◼️ Act fast to close the scale-up gap with cornerstone investment. This, alongside determined political leadership is needed because Britain has missed out on £44 billion of investment since the European Investment Bank largely stopped investing in the UK. ◼️ Focus investment on companies with the strongest growth potential across the ecosystem, regardless of whether they have received previous funding from the BBB, and enabling growth in smaller private equity funds that support the UK’s regional entrepreneurs. For more information, read the BBB's press release here: https://lnkd.in/eCdzekcq

📣 There is less than one month to go until the BVCA's 15th annual European Private Capital Conferences in North America. Across one week, the BVCA will host a series of conferences and receptions in Toronto, Boston and New York, designed for North American institutional investors, family offices and investment consultants to connect with European GPs. High-level themes include: ◼️ Pan-European macro-economic and political landscape ◼️ Benchmarking European PE/VC returns   ◼️ The European private capital market presentations on a range of sectors & strategies including FinTech, Life Sciences, ESG, Private Credit and more. ◼️ Drivers of value creation in private capital ◼️ Outlook for liquidity and exits? ◼️ North American LP perspective Thank you to our Toronto sponsor Clifford Chance, Boston and New York sponsor Debevoise & Plimpton, our supporters, Aon, Canadian Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (CVCA), Institutional Limited Partners Association (ILPA), PitchBook and our event partner, Department for Business and Trade. For more information on all the events, click here: https://lnkd.in/ecxW77DE

Private capital investing in environmental and social solutions for tomorrow’s world.   Private capital investors are key to backing the innovative UK firms developing sustainable solutions to the challenge of net zero and climate, with investment for the long-term in pioneering companies like zero-carbon transport manufacturer Sunswap, backed by BVCA members BGF and Clean Growth Fund. Sunswap is transforming transport refrigeration. Their British-engineered solution pairs powerful batteries with solar power to replace traditional diesel units. Fleet operators can now cut emissions and costs without compromising on performance - keeping loads at the right temperature.   This week, Helen Maguire BEM MP visited Sunswap’s newly opened facility in her constituency of Epsom and Ewell, which is creating 75 manufacturing jobs and will provide the company with complete oversight of production quality and assembly processes.   Commenting on the visit, Helen said: “Sunswap is a great example of how investment in innovative technologies is driving progress towards net zero. This key area of investment is creating jobs and supporting the transition to a greener economy. I'm delighted to have a local company here in Leatherhead showing the very best of British engineering and manufacturing.”   Helen was joined on the visit by Sunswap’s leadership team, Clean Growth Fund’s Beverley Gower-Jones OBE FEI and the BVCA.   📨 To find out more about the BVCA’s ongoing MP Connect programme, or if you have a portfolio company that would welcome a visit, please contact the BVCA’s Public Affairs team at PublicAffairs@bvca.co.uk.