• BWB Compliance, a consultancy division of professional services firm Bates Wells Braithwaite, backs award to recognise the best-in-class fund manager’s impact on an investee company
• The Most Impactful Investment award will be presented at a black-tie dinner for 450 guests on 8 November at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London
• Online submissions for all 16 award categories of the 2017 Growth Investor Awards are now being accepted
London, 7 June, 2017: Intelligent Partnership, the UK’s leading curator of education and insights on alternative investments, is pleased to announce that BWB Compliance will once again be joining us as an award sponsor at the 2017 Growth Investor Awards on Wednesday 8 November at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London.
The 2017 Growth Investor Awards will celebrate the UK’s SME investment management community’s role in job and wealth creation successes. The awards recognise companies and individuals who are helping start-up and ‘scale-up’ businesses realise their full potential and power Britain’s economy.
The Most Impactful Investment award is based on a current investment and recognises a fund manager’s overall positive impact on an investee business, how funding has been deployed and growth or improvement has been enabled during the investment term. The judging will also focus on nominee’s deployment of funds, value beyond investment, social impact, and risk management.
Gillian Roche-Saunders, Head of BWB Compliance and Partner at Bates Wells Braithwaite, commented: “The funding from growth investment starts a ripple effect, spreading impact and fueling growth across the country. From job creation to social value creation, the decisions to focus funding on particular investments makes a tangible difference to the world around us. BWB has years of experience partnering with impactful investors, helping them to design innovative structures, measure impact and navigate all their legal and regulatory needs.
As a B Corporation, we understand that the bottom line is an important but incomplete measure of success so we are particularly proud to sponsor this year’s Most Impactful Investment award, which recognises the biggest game-changer going beyond the bottom line.”
Last year’s award was presented to Cyrus Investment Management, closely followed by runner-up Foresight Group. Cyrus win was thanks to its successful turnaround of Weymouth-based FGP Systems Ltd, helping the company to save over 100 jobs, regain profitability within six months, as well as creating a positive legacy for the local community.
Guy Tolhurst, managing director of Intelligent Partnership, commented: “The Growth Investor Awards celebrate the best in class in the SME ecosystem, driving success and growth in the UK economy. In today’s challenging environment, SMEs have to work harder to earn their success, grow their markets and build vital customer loyalty. As they seek differentiated sources of investment to achieve their growth ambitions, they also need to be laser-focused on carving out better access to markets, attracting the best available talent, and taking every opportunity to leverage the skills and expertise available in the UK’s impressive SME investment ecosystem.”
This year’s awards are now open to any organisation or individuals involved in putting investment to work in UK SMEs. All entries will be initially assessed to ensure that they meet the category requirements. All organisations and companies that meet the relevant award criteria will be able to submit an entry by completing the online form and submitting an administration fee.
Companies and individuals have until 2 June to submit their award entries. All information about the 2017 Growth Investor Awards, including award categories, criteria and how to enter, can be found at growthinvestorawards.com.
Guy Tolhurst said: “We’re thrilled to be taking entries for our third annual Growth Investor Awards, and we’re delighted that Bates Wells Braithwaite will be participating once more.”
Representing different sections of the fund management, alternative investment and SME community, an Advisory Board of influential leaders will once again offer guidance on shortlisting and judging while encouraging the best from their respective networks to participate in the awards.
Founding Advisory Board member Sherry Coutu — entrepreneur, investor and co-founder of the Scale Up Institute — commented: “Competitive advantage doesn’t go to the nations that focus on creating companies; it goes to the nations that focus on scaling them. The Growth Investor Awards recognise the broader contribution of the SME fund management community to scale up growth and those best optimising investment and support.”
2017 Growth Investor Awards timeline
5 April: Award entries opened
15 July: Finalists and Growth Champion of The Year shortlist announced
3 August: Growth Champion of The Year finalists announced
8 November: Growth Investor Awards ceremony and black-tie dinner