EISA's Mark Brownridge outlines his thoughts as to how we could make our industry bigger and better. 

Symvan Capital has been shortlisted for the Best EIS Investment Manager and Best SEIS Investment Manager awards at the 2018 Growth Investor Awards. These prestigious awards celebrate the UK’s investment provider community in championing tax-advantaged investments, spotting growth potential and backing outstanding UK small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs).

Nexus Investments, a division of Harry Hyman’s Nexus Group, has launched its first EIS Scale-Up Fund. This is believed to be the first UK EIS Fund specifically focused on scale-up opportunities to launch since the recent June announcement of the UK Government’s £2.5bn British Patient Capital programme.

The manager of the highly rated Draper Esprit EIS funds is expanding its team and looking to appoint a Financial Client Services Assistant.  

Advantedge Commercial Finance, a provider of invoice finance to UK based SMEs, has acquired Newport-based Henry Howard Cashflow Finance.

Since November 2016, when Mobeus provided £8.7 million to back its management buyout, Advantedge has increased its regional presence from two offices to five: in the Thames Valley, the Midlands, Glasgow, Manchester and now Newport.

The Enterprise Investment Scheme Association, representing the many companies and investors that have benefited from over £16bn of EIS investment since the scheme was created, has signed the Government's Women in Finance Charter.

Martin Sherwood, Partner at Enterprise Investment Partners discusses the challenges of timing the perfect exit. 

Andrew Aldridge investigates what drives EIS fund managers to do the job they do.

Silicon Microgravity (SMG), a spin-out from both BP and the University of Cambridge, has raised $7 million from IP Group, Parkwalk, BP Ventures and Cambridge Enterprise.

Silicon Microgravity Limited is a privately held company focused on developing and applying innovative technology primarily to improve surveillance, appraisal and production of oil and gas with additional application to CO2 storage, water management, mining and defence. Our technology has the potential to disrupt current practices and advance reservoir surveillance so that our clients can achieve real efficiencies and cost savings while meeting their desired social, safety and environmental goals.

Livingbridge has made an equity investment into online investment platform Munnypot to further develop its technology and enhance its customer proposition.

Seneca provided a cornerstone growth capital investment to support the Gear4music IPO in June 2015. Since investment the company has experienced significant growth, providing a 5.2x return to investors.  Since IPO, York headquartered Gear4music – the largest UK based online retailer of musical instruments and equipment – has experienced growth in the UK and overseas, particularly across Europe and Scandinavia. Gear4music has enjoyed annual revenue increases from £24m to over £80m in 3 years as well as growing its market capitalisation to more than £150m.

Oxford Capital's Lisa Best outlines some of the potential benefits of investing in the SME housebuilding sector.