Allocations
Peter Jones CBE, known for his role on Dragon’s Den, and BGF have joined forces to support two high-growth tech businesses, with plans for further collaboration in the future. An initial GBP9 million has been invested across Localised Group, an e-commerce platform for global brands which recently signed British retailer Boden as its latest customer, and Retail Services Group, a business that provides in-store end-to-end retail experiences for some of the world’s leading technology brands.
The collaboration between the investors brings together the joint networks, capabilities and financial firepower of two of the most significant voices in British enterprise, with the potential to
The Mercia AM managed Northern VCTs have invested GBP 3 million in Oddbox, the company behind the UK’s first sustainable fruit and veg box delivery.
The Northern VCTs provide series A venture investment of up to GBP 5million for SMEs. They are now managed by Mercia following its acquisition of the VCT fund management business of NVM Private Equity in December 2019.
Investment managers Ishaan Chilkoti and Jason Warren from Mercia worked on the deal. According to Chilkot, Oddbox offers a compelling proposition and a positive social impact.
The funding will allow the London-based company to expand its services beyond
Baird Capital has invested in Aura Futures, a UK-based provider of workspace technology to mid to large-size enterprises.
Baird Capital -– the private investment arm of Robert W Baird & Co – partners Andrew Ferguson and director Michael Holgate will both join Aura’s board of directors.
The Aura team is led by Alpesh Unalkat, CEO, who most recently ran Capita’s workplace tech business.
Operating across six offices globally, and servicing 300 clients in over 60 countries, Aura is a technology provider specialising in workspace design, collaboration solutions, workflow and management print services, digital media and transformation management.
Baird Capital has made venture
An award-winning IT company which provides cloud and network solutions to blue-chip clients nationwide, has secured a GBP2 million investment from the Northern Venture Capital Trust Funds (VCTs), which are managed by Mercia.The funding will allow Atlas Cloud to further develop its range of solutions and pursue its ambitious growth plans. The company expects to create 20 new jobs at its Newcastle headquarters in the next two years, increasing existing staff numbers to 55, and increase turnover from GBP2.5 million to over GBP10 million by 2025.
Established in 2010, Atlas Cloud offers a complete range of managed IT solutions
ESO Capital Partners UK (ESO), a provider of flexible capital solutions to European SME’s, has backed Churchill Group (Churchill) the UK-based business services company.The investment provides institutional capital and support to Churchill, with ESO taking a minority stake in the business and both Stephen Edwards and Stuart Hamilton of ESO will join the Churchill Board. ESO’s track record of backing high-growth businesses will assist the Company as it continues its upward trajectory through both impressive organic growth and strategic acquisitions.
Founded in 1988 by Joel Briggs and Phil Moxom, Churchill is a rapidly growing organisation with turnover now exceeding £230
Scottish private equity firm Par Equity, an existing investor in Glasgow-based cashback app Swipii, has invested an additional GBP1 million into the company.
YFM has completed a significant investment in West Midlands-based Innovative Safety Systems (ISS), a commercial vehicle safety specialist.This represents the final new investment from YFM’s Buyout Fund I, with the second fund having already announced a first close.
ISS was founded in 2009 by CEO Gavin Thoday and the business has grown rapidly in recent years through its commitment to product innovation, exceptional customer service and expertise in the waste management sector where it is a market leader.
Based in Pershore, West Midlands, ISS currently employs 31 people and is dedicated to creating products that improve safety for
Activa Capital’s portfolio company Alliance Etiquettes, a French company producing label printing for the wine & spirits industry, is acquiring 5 Sept Etiquette as part of its consolidation strategy.
With the closing of this deal Alliance Etiquettes completes its eighth external growth operation since 2015, bringing its turnover above EUR65 million. The group also continues to identify potential external bolt-on targets, both in France and abroad; particularly in Italy and Spain, according to the company.
5 Sept Etiquette, which addresses a diversified customer base in the agri-food, wine & spirits and cosmetics label markets, was taken over in 1995 by
Lloyds Banking Group’s private equity arm LDC has invested GBP11million in James and James Fulfilment to boost its software services and operating infrastructure.
Events
12 November, 2026 – 8:00 am
12 November, 2026 – 5:00 pm
Covid-19 crisis is a ‘shared shock with shared solutions’, says Invesco
Covid-19 crisis is a ‘shared shock with shared solutions’, says Invesco