2018 GROWTH INVESTOR AWARDS IS OPEN FOR ENTRIES

• Investment providers, advisers and entrepreneurs are invited to enter the Growth Investor Awards, to celebrate their role in putting capital to work in the UK
• Black tie awards ceremony for 450 guests will take place on the evening of Wednesday 7 November at Royal Lancaster London
• 18 categories recognising excellence across the small and medium-sized enterprise investment community are open for entry by 1 June

Intelligent Partnership, the UK’s leading curator of research and insights on the UK’s SME investment ecosystem, invites entries to the fourth annual Growth Investor Awards. The awards will be presented at the Royal Lancaster, London, on 7 November.

The awards will recognise exemplars from the investment industry and entrepreneurial leaders that are pivotal to the UK’s growth and productivity ambitions. The landmark event is at the centre of the capital debate in the UK, and key to celebrating the achievements of companies and individuals that tirelessly support SMEs.

Entries for the 18 awards are now open until 1 June. Please visit the Growth Investor Awards’ website to enter.

The stellar work of the SME investment industry means the UK is one of the best places in the world to start a business. But as research findings from Intelligent Partnership’s 100 Stories of Growth – Capital at Work campaign and other industry-leading studies have found, significant numbers of ambitious entrepreneurs still feel they need more support and better access to patient capital. Guy Tolhurst, managing director at Intelligent Partnership, said,

“We know that scale-up and high-growth businesses are vital assets to a balanced economy. These businesses make a disproportionate contribution to job creation, skills development and regional productivity. The SME investment industry, which gained renewed support in the last Budget, is invaluable to that shared goal. The Growth Investor Awards were conceived to recognise their successes and achievements.”

“But our entrepreneurial innovators, disruptors and exporters demand better than business as usual. They need even more support, from follow-on funding to access to networks and markets to help them realise their growth ambitions. There is a wealth of diverse talent in all nations and regions of the UK and we applaud all those putting human and financial capital to work to give our businesses every chance to succeed.”

Intelligent Partnership is thrilled to announce that Liz Truss MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, will give one of the keynotes at the ceremony.

This year, two expanded categories single out investment and wealth managers that are investing into the Alternative Investment Market, in recognition of its well-earned ranking as the world’s premiere growth market.

Major award winners last year included North East-based snacks company All Good as Growth Champion of the Year, MMC Ventures as Growth investor of the Year and Seedrs as Industry Game Changer. Guy Tolhurst expanded on the rigorous two-stage judging process which underscores the prestige of these awards:

“Last year we received 106 entries across 16 different categories, with the winners and finalists chosen by an independent panel of 35 judges. In shaping the bespoke categories against which each entrant for each award is scored, we look to the guidance of our advisory board of CEOs, founders, investors and advisers working with government.

“The Growth Investor Awards 2018 are set to be the biggest yet, and the timing has never been more crucial. With a reinvigorated SME investment ecosystem optimistic about positive change following the Patient Capital Review, we look forward to shining a light on the whole industry and I’d like to wish everyone the very best of luck.”

More information about how to enter, categories, the selection process and previous winners is available on the Growth Investor Awards’ website: https://growthinvestorawards.com/

Categories

Industry Champion
Exit of the Year
Most Impactful Investment
Industry Game Changer
Best Investment Platform
Best Angel Syndicate
Best SEIS Investment Manager
Best BR Investment Manager – AIM
Best BR Investment Manager – Non-AIM
Best AIM Portfolio Service
Best EIS Investment Manager
Best VCT Investment Manager – AIM
Best VCT Investment Manager – Non-AIM
Financial Adviser of the Year
Wealth Manager of the Year
Corporate Investor of the Year
Growth Champion of the Year
Growth Investor of the Year