Finalists announced for the Growth Investor Awards

We’re very excited to announce the shortlist of stellar companies for the Growth Champion of the Year award, sponsored by Smith & Williamson.

Eight SMEs have been shortlisted for Growth Champion of the Year Award, sponsored by Smith & Williamson and the Growth Champions now face a public vote to determine the overall winner.

The top accolade headlines the 2017 Growth Investor Awards, which recognise impact beyond investment in the UK SME investment management industry. Winners will be revealed at the Growth Investor Awards black tie dinner held on the evening of Wednesday 8 November 2017 at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London.

Eight impressive SMEs have beat off strong competition to make the shortlist for the Growth Champion of the Year award. This prestigious prize recognises top-performing SMEs that have best optimised EIS, SEIS or VCT schemes to scale up.

In arriving at the shortlist, the expert judges considered a range of growth metrics, including revenues, job creation, and regional and international expansion. The eight finalists (detailed below) will now go through to a public vote to decide which firm will be announced the Growth Champion of the Year:

• Blow LTD
• Chop’d
• Horizon Care & Education
• Housekeep
• Inspire Sports
• It’s all Good
• Laundrapp
• Lineup Systems

Guy Rigby, head of entrepreneurial services at Smith & Williamson, sponsor of Growth Champion of the Year, commented: “The future of our economy is dependent on entrepreneurship and innovation. Tax incentives for investment are therefore essential for businesses seeking the growth capital they need to scale-up. We are delighted to sponsor the Growth Champion of the Year Award which showcases how this type of investment is being used to create our businesses of the future. ”

Between them, the eight companies have received over £22.9 million of tax-advantaged venture capital, with an average investment of just under £4 million. They employ over 43,000 people, half of them are located outside London; and the sectors they work in range from beauty, to education and social care, and sports and travel.

About the Growth Investor Awards

A three-week publicity campaign will be launched on 11 September featuring video interviews with senior representatives of each of the companies. Each video will be promoted on social media, helping members of the public to choose how to cast their votes.

The winner will be announced at the Growth Investor Awards black tie dinner for 450 guests, to be held on 8 November at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London.

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, Entrepreneur in Residence at BEIS; and Michael Hayman MBE, Co-founder of Seven Hills.

The 2017 campaign for the Growth Investor Awards is supported by a family of sponsors including Smith & Williamson, Reyker, Bates Wells Braithwaite, LGBR Capital, Mainspring Fund Services, RAM Capital Partners, MICAP, and RW Blears.

Visit www.growthinvestorawards.com/finalists for a full list of all finalists and information on how to attend the event.

DISCLAIMER
By necessity, this briefing can only provide a short overview and it is essential to seek professional advice before applying the contents of this article. This briefing does not constitute advice nor a recommendation relating to the acquisition or disposal of investments. No responsibility can be taken for any loss arising from action taken or refrained from on the basis of this publication. Details correct at time of writing.