• Three companies shortlisted for Best SEIS Investment Manager, sponsored by RW Blears
• Visit growthinvestorawards.com for details of finalists in all award categories

Today, the shortlist has been announced for the 2016 Growth Investor Awards, which recognises impact beyond investment in the UK SME investment management industry. Three companies have been shortlisted for the Best SEIS Investment Manager award, sponsored by RW Blears, which recognises providers specialising in Seed Enterprise Investment Schemes (SEIS) who can demonstrate innovation in product development and impact on SME growth.

Daedalus, Oxford Technology and Symvan will compete for the prestigious award, with the winner being revealed at the Growth Investor Awards black tie dinner held on 3rd November at the Marriott Grosvenor Square, Mayfair, London.

The Awards are organised by Intelligent Partnership (IP), the UK’s leading provider of research and education in alternative investments, and supported by partners including the BVCA, EISA, UKCFA, Centre for Entrepreneurs, The Entrepreneur Network and The Supper Club.

Daniel Kiernan, Research Director of Intelligent Partnership, who oversaw the shortlisting, commented: “The Growth Investor Awards were designed in consultation with the industry to create accolades they really want to win – with a robust judging process that enhances credibility and prestige. It’s clear that those shortlisted last year have used their Feedback Reports to strengthen their entries this year. It’s also good to see a lot of new entrants helping to raise the standard even further. Once again, the shortlist demonstrates real innovation and impact in the SME investment management industry.”

A total of fifty six industry leading businesses and individuals have been recognised for awards including Financial Adviser of the Year; Wealth Manager of the Year; Best Investment Platform; Industry Game Changer; and Best EIS / SEIS / BPR / VCT and the new AIM Investment Manager awards for those demonstrating innovation in product development, adviser engagement, and impact on SME growth.

Frank Daly, Partner at RW Blears LLP – sponsor of Best SEIS Investment Manager – commented: “Since SEIS was launched in 2012, 4,660 individual companies have received investment through the scheme and £424m in investment has been raised, according to HMRC. Like SEIS, the Growth Investor Awards has quickly established itself as an important part of the alternative investment landscape. RW Blears supports both in encouraging more alternative investment managers to look seriously at investment in start-ups – providing a much needed boost to our entrepreneurial community.”

The awards programme is guided by an Advisory Board including angel investor and entrepreneur Sherry Coutu CBE, Co-founder of the Scale Up 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 BIS; and Michael Hayman MBE, Co-founder of Seven Hills.

Commenting on the economic importance of schemes like EIS, and recognising the impact of the investment management industry through the Growth Investor Awards, Luke Johnson said: “Incentives like the Enterprise Investment Scheme have supported Britain’s economic recovery by enabling high growth businesses to scale – creating jobs and wealth while generating tax revenue for infrastructure that we all benefit from. The SME investment management community plays a vital role in ensuring that investment is best deployed – in talent, technology and R&D. The Growth Investor Awards provide an important national platform to demonstrate the value of this impact.”

Commenting on the new Growth Champion of the Year award, which recognises scale up businesses that have best optimised EIS, SEIS or VCT investment, Simon Devonshire OBE said: “Britain has more engaged investors and a more active eco-system than anywhere else in Europe and Growth Champions bring this story to life. It’s important to show how growth capital is being used to scale and transform the country’s economic landscape.”

Finalist entries will now go to a second round of judging to determine the winner in each award category. An independent panel of judges for each category is drawn from within and outside the industry – to bring a range of perspectives and level the playing field. The winner of the Industry Champion Award will be voted for by the Advisory Board later in the year. Winners of the new Growth Champion of the Year award will be determined by combined votes from a judging panel and a public voting campaign.

Guy Tolhurst, Managing Director of Intelligent Partnership, commented: “As this industry grows there is a growing need for new and established players to differentiate themselves in the eyes of the advisory community and investors. By telling the story of how they are putting investment to work in UK SMEs, the Growth Investor Awards are helping the best in the industry to set themselves apart.”

The 2016 campaign for the Growth Investor Awards is supported by a family of sponsors including Smith & Williamson, Bovill, Bates Wells Braithwaite, LGBR Capital, Mainspring, RAM Capital Partners, MICAP, and RW Blears.

Winners will be revealed at the Growth Investor Awards black tie dinner held on the evening of Thursday 3 November at the Marriott Grosvenor Square in Mayfair, London. Visit www.growthinvestorawards.com/shortlist for a full list of all finalists and information on how to attend the event.