• Mainspring Fund Services to sponsor the Best EIS Investment Manager award at Growth Investor Awards 2018

• The Best EIS Investment Manager of the Year award will be presented at the black tie awards ceremony for 450 guests on Wednesday 7 November at Royal Lancaster London

Intelligent Partnership, the leading curator of research and insights on the UK’s SME investment ecosystem, is thrilled to announce that Mainspring Fund Services will be sponsoring the Best EIS Investment Manager of the Year award for the fourth time at the Growth Investor Awards 2018.

The landmark event, taking place on the evening of 7 November at Royal Lancaster London, 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.

The Best EIS Manager award recognises providers specialising in Enterprise Investment Scheme solutions for UK SMEs. Mainspring Fund Services, has sponsored the category since its inception.

The entries are reviewed in context of size of client base and proportion of EIS investment in client portfolios. A panel of judges will score each entry based on questions related to increase in investment volume and performance, impact on investee companies, product development and adviser outreach.

Last year, Mercia  Fund  Managers  took  the  coveted  Best  EIS  Investment  Manager  award,  receiving  recognition  for  combining  a  strong  focus  on  investor  outcomes  with  invaluable  support  of  the  businesses  it  has  helped  to  grow.

Stephen Geddes, Managing Director of Mainspring Fund Services commented:

“As a leading fund administration and custody services service provider to private equity, venture capital, EIS, and other alternative fund managers in the UK, Mainspring is proud to support the Growth Investor Awards in its campaign to recognise the considerable contribution of the SME fund management community. By providing the core of their fund operations and investor reporting, Mainspring empowers fund managers to focus their time and energies on identifying and supporting the growth champions of tomorrow.”

The Growth Investor Awards comprise 18 categories. We will be successively announcing the shortlist of finalists for each of them between July and October. Please visit the Growth Investor Awards’ website for more information and latest updates.

Liz Truss MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, will give one of the keynote speeches at the glamorous black tie ceremony for 450 guests.

Last year, our judging panel, awarded the Financial Adviser of the Year award to Dennis Hall of Yellowtail. He was unanimously praised for his  exemplary  client-driven,  risk-mitigation  approach,  excellent  industry  knowledge  and  impressive  11-year  track  record.

Guy Tolhurst, managing director at Intelligent Partnership, reflected on the wider purpose of the Growth Investor Awards 2018:

“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.”

Tolhurst went on to describe the rigorous two-stage judging process which underscores the prestige of the 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: growthinvestorawards.com