OUR MISSION

The British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (BVCA) is the industry body and public policy advocate for the private equity and venture capital industry in the UK.

Our voice is one of authority when speaking for, or negotiating on behalf of, the UK industry. Our aim is to aid understanding, clarity and transparency around the activities of our members, promoting our industry to entrepreneurs and investors as well as to Government, the EU, trade unions, international media and the general public.

More than 430 firms make up the BVCA members and this number continues to grow as the knowledge, news and counsel the BVCA is able to offer its membership is recognised as increasingly invaluable and essential. The BVCA Membership comprises over 230 private equity, midmarket and venture capital firms with an accumulated total of approximately £32 billion funds under management; as well as over 220 professional advisory firms, including legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisers, corporate financiers, due diligence professionals, environmental advisers, transaction services providers, and placement agents.  Additional members include international investors and funds-of-funds, secondary purchasers, university teams and academics and fellow national private equity and venture capital associations globally.  Find out more about our membership here.

The BVCA provides a growing list of services and best practice standards for members across a spectrum of activities covering a network of interconnected committees, which focus on segment-led, legal, technical, regulatory, investor-led and service-led needs. We also provide networking opportunities, training courses, research, publications, public affairs and communications on behalf of the industry. Find out more about BVCA Member Benefits here

Our history

The BVCA, like the industry it represents, has changed immeasurably since its foundation over 25 years ago, as the sector has grown into one of the biggest success stories in the British economy.

During this quarter-century, the private equity and venture capital industry has been transformed from a cottage industry into part of the mainstream economy - making Britain one of the leading centres for private equity in the world.

In the early eighties, the BVCA's primary objective was to secure recognition from the government and policy organisations. Today, governments and policy makers at home and abroad seek our opinion on a wide range of issues - regulatory, fiscal, technical and legal - as the BVCA has become the respected voice representing the world-class industry, as well as a model for new and existing national private equity and venture capital associations across the globe.

As a result of the BVCA's lobbying and reputation-building efforts, private equity and venture capital today have a public face.  Venture capital is behind some of the most cutting-edge innovations coming out of the UK and that many of us take for granted: the medical diagnostic services we use in hospitals, the chips in our mobile phones, the manufactured components of our cars, and the bioethanol fuels that may run them in the future.  Likewise, private equity is behind a range recognisable High Street brands, such as Boots, Phones4U, Birds Eye, National Grid and Travelodge.

BVCA Chairmanship

We have an eminent list of past chairmen from the industry

2010, Hugh Lenon, Managing Partner, Phoenix Equity Partners (current chairman)