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BGF deployed £489 million in 2024, supporting growth across the UK and Ireland, and introducing 47 businesses into its diverse portfolio of 360 companies.
During the same period, several portfolio companies achieved strong exits, after pursuing growth strategies backed by BGF’s investment and value creation support. These exits include engineering design consultancy Hydrock, design automation firm DriveWorks, and Operam Education — which delivered returns for BGF of 6x MM, 2.8x MM and 2.5x MM, respectively.
BGF invests for a minority equity stake in the businesses it backs, as risk-takers in the real economy. It provides growth capital investments, as an alternative funding route for entrepreneurs seeking to maximise growth and value creation in their business, typically ahead of a future exit.
Andy Gregory, CEO of BGF, said: “We’re pleased to have welcomed a new cohort of entrepreneurial companies that are driving growth, creating jobs, boosting exports, and fostering innovation across the UK and Ireland. Despite the challenges presented by a sluggish M&A market, we have also celebrated a series of strong exits with portfolio businesses and management teams, demonstrating the growth opportunities for ambitious entrepreneurs, and the benefits of our investment model and support.”
Over the last 12 months, BGF has championed businesses across all regions and sectors, demonstrating its commitment to driving growth in local economies. From Elite Dynamics in the North West and Skewb in the Midlands to Woodland Kitchens in Northern Ireland and Sulmara in Scotland, BGF’s investments reflect its mission to support regional growth.
Other investment partnerships include Eventmaster in the Republic of Ireland, Tevalis in Yorkshire, Vosaio in the South East, Tapered Plus in the North East, Pure Cyber in Wales, and Plant-Ex in the South West.
BGF continued to drive investments in businesses addressing critical global issues. Notable investments include Sunswap, Puraffinity and DEScycle in the sustainability sector, as well as Wobble Genomics, NanoSyrinx and Abselion in the life sciences field.
And the year marked a significant milestone for BGF, as it surpassed £4 billion in investments, having backed over 600 ambitious SMEs since its inception.
BGF also joined forces with other major investors and committed £25 million to the Invest in Women Taskforce, which has secured £250 million of funding to support female entrepreneurs and female-led businesses across the UK.
