The BVCA’s flagship Foundation course delivers the vital knowledge and skills you need to excel as a private equity or growth capital fund manager in high-performing deal teams. Today’s industry leaders began their careers with the BVCA Foundation course.
Led by some of the industry’s most respected practitioners, Foundation covers the lifecycle of a deal, including investment returns and exits. The course utilises real life case studies, whilst creating a great opportunity to network and build relationships with peers as you network at dinner and drinks receptions throughout the week.
Running for over 35 years, hear from past delegates and our Course Director, Jon Andrew on why Foundation is the ultimate private equity and growth capital fund manager induction, fast-tracking new entrants into the industry.
Key topics include
Industry Overview
Due Diligence
Growth and key drivers
Focus your diligence
Types of diligence
MBOs
Objectives of structuring
Basic MBO structuring
Risk and return
Alternative capital
Structuring the transaction - Early stage
Structuring the transaction - Growth capital
Responsible Investment
Impact
Managing the portfolio
Sources of Shareholder value
Structure of Portfolio management
Allocating resources
Portfolio reporting
Board performance
Non-Executive Directors
Legal Considerations
Restructuring
Catalysts for restructuring
Understanding banks
Security ranking and value breaks
When cash is constrained
Restructuring options and common scenarios
Evaluating management performance
Exits
What will delegates take away?
Access to expertise from practitioners at top PE firms.
A fundamental understanding of the deal cycle.
Exclusive networking across the 4.5 days of content and socials.
Successfully completing the programme unlocks access to exclusive events including in-person networking events and meet-ups.
Benefits to employers
Strengthen and retain talent by building technical expertise in your teams.
Your team will return with a broader professional network.
Your team will work through real-life case studies, which simulate actual deal scenarios. This practical approach enhances their ability to apply theory to real investment challenges.
The course is designed to fast-track new entrants into the industry, helping them become productive and confident team members more quickly. It’s described as a “major milestone” in the career development of many who now lead member firms.
Please arrive with plenty of time to register and familiarise yourself with the venue.
Breakfast will be provided along with lunch, dinner and refreshments throughout each day. The course will kick-off with introductions followed by content from multiple speakers. We round off each day with some down-time, dinner and drinks.
Please bear in mind exercise facilities are available, should you wish to use them.
All rooms are equipped with essential shower toiletries and hairdryers. You may wish to bring something to work on/to take notes with such as a laptop or iPad (we will provide notepads and pens).
Yes, all materials including slides and case studies will be shared with delegates.
Course Directors
The course is led by Jon Andrew and Mark Freer. Learn more about them below.
Jon Andrew
Course Director
Jon works alongside investment teams to support operational value creation within investee companies. He shares best practice across the portfolio supporting management teams as they develop growth strategies and helps them monitor performance.
After gaining a degree in Molecular Biology & Biochemistry at Durham University, Jon qualified as a chartered accountant with PwC and held roles within the Training, Transaction Services and Consulting teams. During this time, Jon designed and rolled out PwC’s inaugural Due Diligence Training Programme across Europe in 1997.
In 2005, Jon joined LDC to focus on performance improvement in its portfolio companies. Over his 15-year private equity career Jon has gained significant experience in a wide range of value creating activities and has particular expertise in driving change through complex integrations, IT implementation programmes, as well as 100-day planning initiatives.
Jon was born in Middlesbrough and because he believes the team chooses you, is a long-suffering Boro fan. He is also an ardent Yorkshire Cricket Club follower and enjoys running and tennis. When not trying to keep in shape, Jon likes to spend time with his three daughters.
Mark Freer
Course Director
Mark Freer has over 25 years investment experience in both the private equity and growth capital markets, most notably with LDC and BGF. During that time, Mark had the privilege of working alongside a variety of owners and management teams across many different sectors, supporting them in accelerating and achieving their own growth plans.
Since leaving BGF in 2021, Mark continues to work with small and medium sized businesses, both as Chair and in an advisory capacity. Alongside this, he also pursues his passion for training, working with several organisations, such as the BVCA, to share some of the lessons he has learnt over his 25-year investment career.
At other times, you might find Mark sitting at his piano playing some familiar tunes.
Guest speakers
The course features guest speakers with a wealth of expertise and experience from across the private capital industry. Click a speaker below to learn more about them.
Managing Director of National Strategy, Future Planet Capital
Alex Leigh is Managing Director of National Strategy at Future Planet Capital, where he leads venture investments through the UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund (UKI2S) in defence, security, space, and deep tech innovation. He also serves on the Investment Committees for Future Planet Capital Regional and the upcoming British Co-Investment Fund.
With over 15 years’ experience spanning venture capital, private equity, and startups, Alex has reviewed thousands of pitch decks, made around 40 investments, and supported multiple successful exits. His portfolio includes companies pioneering dual-use, quantum, and AI-enabled technologies.
An advocate for founder success, Alex combines board-level experience with hands-on mentoring to help entrepreneurs scale efficiently and achieve strategic exits—bridging innovation with national impact.
Alistair Brew
Head of Investment Operations, BGF
Alistair Brew joined BGF in July 2011 initially to lead on new investments. He then ran the London investment team, before moving into his current role as Head of Investment Operations. He also sits on the national Investment Committee and is a Trustee of the BGF Foundation.
Alistair has 23 years’ experience in small company investing and has led investments into over 30 businesses. His investment experience was gained initially at Close Brothers and then at Octopus Ventures, where he was involved in a large number of growth capital and management buyout transactions, across multiple sectors and throughout the UK. In the majority of cases, Alistair has joined the board of those companies. Alistair began his career at Price Waterhouse with direct entry into the Business Recovery Services team, but he also spent time in the Valuations team.
Faye Maughan
Investment Director, ECI Partners
Faye Maughan works in the Investment Team at ECI, supporting deal execution and working closely with management teams. Faye gained a degree in Economics from Cambridge, then spent a number of years in investment banking, before she began working in private equity in 2019. Since joining ECI, she has worked with interesting businesses across a wide range of sectors, including Clear, Imagesound, Commify and CSL.
Faye is particularly interested in the fintech, insurance and cyber security subsectors. She is also passionate about the people side of businesses, having been involved in ECI’s people strategy through Covid-19 and also leading on internship recruitment.
Isaac Paine
Senior Associate, Mayer Brown
Isaac is a senior associate at Mayer Brown and specialises in advising private equity sponsors on all stages of the investment lifecycle, including leveraged buyouts, minority investments, exits and portfolio company matters. He also has significant experience advising on complex domestic and cross-border M&A transactions.
Isaac has been recognised by the UK Legal 500 as a key lawyer for mid-market private equity transactions.
Malika Arshad
Business Development Manager, Future Planet Capital
Malika Arshad is a Manager at Future Planet Capital working across Business Development, Investments and Data. She works on fundraising, investor engagement, portfolio value-add and various investment opportunities at the FPC. She has a keen interest in understanding how the venture capital ecosystem can benefit wider economies through the lens of development.
Prior to joining Future Planet Capital, Malika worked at Credit Suisse as an Investment Banking Analyst and previously completed internships in Equity Research and Leveraged Finance with Credit Suisse, and Asset Management at the Bank of Montreal.
She graduated from Kings’ College Londo and has also completed the VC Executive Program at University of California, Berkeley.
Neil MacDougall
Neil is a private equity industry veteran with over thirty years’ experience of funding management buyouts as well as leading one. He was the Chair of the British Venture Capital Association (BVCA), as fate would have it, during the Covid pandemic. He is now Chairman of Sophora Unternehmerkapital, a lower mid-market buyout fund investing in German speaking Europe. With a degree in computer science Neil has successfully invested in several SaaS companies including TrustQuay (renamed Quantios and now owned by HgCapital), OneStock (now owned by Summit Private Equity) and smaXtec (now owned by KKR). He also chaired Atech Support, a cloud service provider and cybersecurity company backed by Pelican Capital and sold last year to iomart plc. He is currently on the board of PowerX Technology, an Enterprise SaaS company speciaised in managing the passive side of telecom towers and Data-Sec GmbH, a German end-to-end MSSP (managed security services provider).
Tim Clare
Director, Anthesis
Tim Clare leads Anthesis’ EMEA ESG Advisory and Mandatory Reporting Team, based in London. The team supports clients in developing and implementing ESG management and reporting programs that allow them to meet their sustainability ambitions and regulatory obligations. The team also provides due diligence support, covering both Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) and ESG and business integrity assessments, and advises investors to set and implement Responsible Investment strategies and add value to their investments.
Tim has over 28 years of experience in environmental and sustainability consulting, starting in waste minimisation and management and EIA before moving into M&A and wider transactional support. In transactions, Tim has over 25 years of experience, starting with traditional risks around “end-of-pipe” compliance, contamination and other legacy issues, before broadening into wider sustainability topics. Tim was an early mover into ESG, advising on the topic for over 10 years.
Tim is also the chair of Anthesis’ global private equity sector and due diligence working groups and a proud member of the British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association’s (BVCA) Responsible Investment Advisory Group. He is ranked by Chambers and Partners for Environmental, Social & Governance Risk.
Past attendees
Previous attendees include:
Alcuin Capital Partners, Aliter Capital LLP, Amadeus Capital Partners Limited, Aon, August Equity LLP, Baird Capital, Big Society Capital, Blue Water Energy, BP Ventures, Bridgepoint, Caledonia Investments plc, CBPE Capital, Charles Russell Speechlys LLP, Circularity Capital, CVC Advisers Limited, ECI Partners, Equistone, Innovate UK, LDCm Lincoln International LLP , Livingbridge EP LLP, Mobeus Equity Partners, NorthEdge Capital, NVM Private Equity, Oakley Capital Limited, Palatine Private Equity, Permira Advisers (London) Ltd, Phoenix Equity Partners, Sovereign Capital Partners YFM Equity Partners
Course testimonials
"A variety of different expert leaders. Jon is really engaging with everyone in the room and knows what it's like to be in our shoes. It really connects people at the same stage in their career."
Jack Redwood
YFM Equity Partners
"A diverse range of people attending the course, not only people from private equity but those in venture capital and law. It has been a great opportunity to expand my network and understand different stages of the investment cycle."
Vera Bartsch
Duke Street
"The private equity and venture capital ecosystem summed up in one word is network. I've just met 20 people from different funds, different sizes and different experiences."
Adam Lynch
YFM Equity Partners
Venue
De Vere Beaumont Estate
Burfield Rd, Old Windsor, Windsor SL4 2JJ
The story of De Vere Beaumont Estate in Old Windsor is a very British one; a tale of democracy, royalty, education and religion. The original house was built for Lord Weymouth but it was its time as a public school, from 1854 - 1967, that saw most of the estate’s architectural developments.
Following a multi-million-pound refurbishment, today you’ll find a wealth of these original features still intact along with a 21st-century style that ensures your stay will be anything but usual. Outside, you’ll find 42 acres of grounds complete with natural ponds and specially commissioned sculptures creating a relaxing space for guests to explore and unwind. Inside, guests have access to a state-of-the-art gym and heated swimming pool – the first artificially heated indoor swimming pool to be built in England.
De Vere Beaumont Estate is just 3 miles from Windsor minutes from J13 of the M25 and 15 minutes from Heathrow; Egham station is also 3 miles away with fast connections to London Waterloo and Reading.
CPD accreditation
This course is CPD accredited by the CPD Certification Service for 26 hours. By attending this course, you will receive a digital certificate from Diplomasafe. This certificate allows you to share and save your new CPD accredited qualification on LinkedIn, adding instantly verifiable credentials and strengthening your professional profile.
Course brochure
For further information about this course, please view our dedicated brochure.
