Thursday 9 November 2017

Adam Lawrence of RW Blears Solicitors presented the 2017 Best SEIS Investment Manager award to Daedalus Partners

Six leading fund managers fought it out at the 2017 Growth Investor Awards

Visit growthinvestorawards.com for details of winners and runners-up in all 16 categories

Last night, at the Royal Lancaster in London, 450 leading decision makers from the UK’s vibrant SME investment ecosystem celebrated their stellar successes at a the third annual Growth Investor Awards, organised by Intelligent Partnership.

From a field of six leading fund managers, Daedalus Partners came out victorious in the strongly contested Best SEIS Investment Manager category, beating Deepbridge Capital, Goldfinch Entertainment, Startup Funding Club, Worth Capital and Symvan Capital. Daedalus, with a strong history in this field, is seen to have consistently identified promising companies for investment. Runner-up Symvan Capital won plaudits for its strong marketing initiatives and demonstrably successful support of investee companies.

Adam Lawrence of RW Blears Solicitors presented the award, which recognises providers specialising in Seed Enterprise Investment Schemes. It was judged on investment volume, performance, impact on investee companies, quality of adviser outreach and innovation in product development. In previous years Symvan Capital and Daedalus Partners have prevailed in the category.

Lawrence commented: “We are delighted to be supporting the Growth Investor Awards again this year – encouraging more alternative investment managers to look seriously at investment in start-ups and providing continued support to the UK’s entrepreneurial community.”

Guy Tolhurst, Managing Director at Intelligent Partnership, took time to expand on the judges’ decision: “Daedalus Partners has a very strong pedigree in SEIS. The judges were impressed by its ability to find interesting investments, provide strong returns and add impressive value time and time again.”

Rory Bremner presided over the exclusive black tie awards, spanning 16 different categories. Chris Philp MP, entrepreneur and Parliamentary Private Secretary to HM Treasury Ministers, gave the first keynote speech of the evening. The ceremony featured a second keynote speech from Alan Cheatle, CEO and founder of TEN Group, on its stages of growth and how magic can happen when great investors meet promising entrepreneurs.

The Growth Investor Awards have consistently showcased the resounding successes of investment providers, high-growth companies and financial intermediaries. Together they are promoting high-potential SMEs, striving to bridge the productivity gap, and creating jobs and wealth across the UK.

Tolhurst said: “Progress matters. We need to be more aware of the unconscious bias that draws us towards people just like us across all parts of the SME investment ecosystem. The UK is one of the best places to start a business, but for it to become one of the best places to scale a business, we need to campaign for opportunity and success for all.”

Margot James MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, commented “It is events like these – where the business community comes together to both reward and recognise laudable achievements – that instil in us all a great sense of pride in the UK. We are working hard to support businesses and entrepreneurs across the UK to ensure they can access the finance and wider support to grow and have the right conditions for companies to invest in the long term. Events like the Growth Investor Awards do a great service to that end. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate everyone who received an award and hope this serves as inspiration to others to start and build their own businesses.”

For more information visit growthinvestorawards.com. Please visit the gallery section to view photographs of the awards ceremony.