- Ten remarkable businesses make it to the highly coveted shortlist for the Growth Champion of the Year sponsored by Smith & Williamson, at the fourth annual Growth Investor Awards 2018
- The winners will be announced at a black-tie dinner for 450 guests, now in its fourth year, on Wednesday November 7 at Royal Lancaster Hotel, London.
- Visit growthinvestorawards.com/finalists for a full list of all finalists and information on how to attend the event.
Intelligent Partnership is delighted to announce the shortlist of ten impressive scale-ups that will be competing shoulder-to-shoulder for the title of the Growth Champion of the Year at the Growth Investor Awards 2018. The prestigious category is sponsored by Smith & Williamson.
The judging panel was so impressed with the quality of this year’s entrants that they decided to increase the number of finalists to from eight to ten.
The leading contestants represent a pool of diverse and highly competitive businesses. They have been singled out for their impressive growth facilitated using tax-advantaged EIS & VCT investment
Growth Champion of the Year 2018 finalists:
- ASI Data Science
- Avid Technology
- Depop
- Gousto
- Horizon Care & Education
- Monica Vinader
- Push Doctor
- Quiqup
- Revolut
- Thoughtonomy
Guy Rigby, head of Entrepreneurial Services at Smith & Williamson, sponsor of the award, said:
“This award celebrates the achievements of businesses that have been funded or part-funded by tax-advantaged equity investment, such as EIS or VCT funding. The success of these outstanding businesses demonstrates the fundamental importance of these government approved schemes, which contribute to jobs and wealth in the UK.”
The Growth Champion of the Year award recognises scale-up businesses and their founders or CEOs. The competition is open to any UK-based scale-up with a turnover of £3m+ in the last financial year that has best used tax-advantaged investment.
The shortlisted finalists will go to a second round of judging by a minimum of three experts drawn from an independent panel of more than 35 judges.
The Growth Champion of the Year will be determined by collating judges’ scores and the results of the public vote, which will make up for 20% of the final score.
The vote will be open for public from September 17 to October 1.
The winner will be announced at an exclusive black-tie awards dinner for 450 guests on Wednesday November 7 at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London.
In 2017, Gateshead-based snacks maker All Good scooped the prestigious title. The judges praised the impressive consumer brand as a perfect example of how timely investment and the right support beyond investment can help a great company grow at an extraordinary rate.
Guy Tolhurst, managing director of Intelligent Partnership, said:
“The Growth Investor Awards have rightly become a major focal point in the the UK’s SME investment community calendar. During one evening of the year, we come together to celebrate a whole year of vibrant energy, dedication and groundbreaking stories.
“We’ll celebrate the inspiring individuals and truly leading organisations as winners for their ability, bravery and commitment in helping UK entrepreneurs power Britain’s economic growth. Only one contestant can be a winner, so I’d like so send my best wishes to everyone in the running for this year’s trophy.”
Following the final round of judging, a personalised feedback and benchmarking report will be given to all finalists, providing them with valuable insight on areas of improvement.
The awards programme is guided by an advisory board including Irene Graham, CEO of the ScaleUp Institute; Luke Johnson, Chairman of Risk Capital Partners; Claire Cockerton, Founder and Ambassador of Innovate Finance; Tim Hames, Director General of the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (BVCA); Emma Jones MBE, CEO of Enterprise Nation; Simon Devonshire OBE, former Entrepreneur in Residence at BEIS; and Michael Hayman MBE, Co-founder of Seven Hills.
Launched in 2015, the Growth Investor Awards celebrate companies and individuals involved in putting investment to work in high-potential businesses. The awards honour those providing or helping to source investment and leading players that are helping to optimise growth capital for scaling UK companies.
Information about previous award winners, judges and selection criteria for each award can be found at growthinvestorawards.com.
2018 Growth Investor Awards: Finalists so far
Financial Adviser of the Year, sponsored by LightTower Partners
- Ed Holder, Holder & Combes
- Ian Smyth, Johnston Campbell
- Jonothan McColgan, Combined Financial Strategies
- Mike Hodges, Carrington Investments
- Stephen Jones, Clear Solutions Financial Planning
- Vanessa Townshend, Springfield Financial Services
Wealth Manager of the Year, sponsored by Kin Capital
- Amicus Wealth
- Barclays Wealth Management
- Carrington Investments
- Johnston Campbell
- Tavistock Wealth
- UBS
Best BR Investment Manager AIM
- Blackfinch
- Downing
- Octopus Investments
- Puma Investments
- Stellar Asset Management
- Thorntons Investments
- TIME Investments
Best BR Investment Manager Non-AIM, sponsored by Reyker
- Blackfinch
- Downing
- Ingenious
- Octopus Investments
- Oxford Capital
- Puma Investments
- TIME Investments
- Triple Point
Best VCT Investment Manager, sponsored by Crowe UK LLP
- Albion Capital
- Beringea
- Calculus Capital
- Octopus Investments
- YFM Equity Partners
Best EIS Investment Manager, sponsored by Mainspring Fund Services
- Calculus Capital
- Deepbridge Capital
- Mercia Technologies
- MMC Ventures
- Par Equity
- Sapphire Capital Partners
- Seneca
- Symvan Capital
Best SEIS Investment Manager, sponsored by RW Blears LLP
- Daedalus Partners
- Deepbridge Capital
- Earthworm Capital
- Sapphire Capital Partners
- Symvan Capital
Exit of the Year
- Albion Capital
- Beringea
- Foresight
- Par Equity
- YFM Equity Partners
- Seneca
Best Investment Platform
- Downing
- Kuber Ventures
- QVentures
- Seedrs
- Syndicate Room
- Wealth Club
Most Impactful Investment, sponsored by Bates Wells Braithwaite Compliance
- Deepbridge Capital
- Enterprise Investment Partners
- Ingenious
Industry Game Changer, sponsored by MICAP
- Grant Thornton
- Outlier Ventures
- Seedrs
- Symvan Capital
- Syndicate Room
- Wealth Club
Growth Investor of the Year, sponsored by Beauhurst
- Albion Ventures
- Calculus Capital
- Deepbridge Capital
- Mercia Fund Managers
- MMC Ventures
- Octopus Investments
- Oxford Capital
- Seneca
Growth Champion of the Year 2018 finalists:
- ASI Data Science
- Avid Technology
- ComplyAdvantage
- Depop
- Gousto
- Horizon Care & Education
- Monica Vinader
- Push Doctor
- Quiqup
- Revolut