BVCA announces Midlands Management Team Awards shortlist

Leading companies in the Midlands have been shortlisted in the British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (BVCA) Management Team Awards 2017.
Produced in association with Grant Thornton UK LLP, the awards recognise and reward brilliant businesses up and down the country that have been backed by private equity and venture capital investors, as part of our annual celebration of UK companies.
The regional awards will be announced at the Midlands dinner in Birmingham, as part of the BVCA National Dinner Series. They will then go forward into the national final to compete against our other regions, before the winners are announced at the BVCA Gala Dinner on 30 November in London.
The shortlist for the Midlands Management Team Awards 2017:
Allinea Software
backed by: Mercia Fund Management, Midven
Allinea Software is the leading provider of software tools for developing and optimising high performance code.
The judges were impressed with David Lecomber and his team, who have taken a project within a university spin-out and developed it into the leading provider of analysis tools for High Performance Computing. Allinea’s global customer base is a testament to the respect it commands in this sector. A strategic exit to ARM in December 2016 proved its pre-eminence.
Impression Technologies
backed by: Mercia Investments & Touchstone Investments
Impression Technologies specialises in forming complex, high strength, lightweight, ductile components which can be used in the manufacture of cars, trains and aeroplanes.
This company is commercialising a patented forming technology for light-weight metal components which has the potential to disrupt the automotive and aerospace markets. The team have brought this technology from concept to commercial reality, with initial application in production vehicles for Aston Martin and Lotus and interest from many others in the automotive sector.
Carter Accommodation
backed by: Connection Capital
Carter Accommodation specialises in the hire and sale of all forms of modular accommodation, anti-vandal units, jackleg cabins, containers, toilets and showers.
Darren Arnold and his team have doubled revenues in this business renting temporary accommodation since Connection Capital funded the MBO in 2015 and provided capital for the business to fund growth. The key to this, when up against larger competitors, has been their growing reputation for providing the best service in the industry.
Quantum Compliance
backed by: Midven
Health and safety consultants at Quantum provide proactive health and safety, fire, water, asbestos, environmental management services.
Mark Ball and his colleagues founded this business in 2003, with early backing from Midven. The company provides health and safety services, using innovation and its ability to motivate and retain staff to drive 25% year-on-year growth in a competitive market. Growth without compromising on quality of output has enabled the company to become strongly profitable.
Horizon Care & Education
backed by: Stage Capital
A manufacturer and supplier of medical and healthcare products.
Horizon operate 38 homes and six schools for young people in care.
Since joining as CEO in 2014 Paul Callander had built a strong management team and transformed both the culture and the performance of the business. Horizon are now innovators in the sector, developing new transitional pathways from children’s to adult care. The quality of delivery can be seen in the five-fold increase in demand from local authority clients.
Gardner Aerospace
backed by: Better Capital
Gardner is one of the aerospace industry’s largest and most diverse manufacturers of finished machined and fabricated detailed parts made from hard and soft metals.
Nick Sanders has led this business since 2010 when Better Capital invested. Working with his investors, Nick and his team have transformed the company, both by taking a UK business and making it fully international, but also by investing in quality at every level, both people and equipment. The company was recently ranked as Airbus’ number one supplier and has an order book in excess of $1bn.
Millbrook Proving Ground
backed by: Rutland Partners
Millbrook provide testing services to the automotive industry.
Last year saw them make significant progress in their strategy of diversifying their customer base, making their first overseas acquisition and investing in improved facilities. A focus on making the business more customer-centric has also contributed to their improving profitability.
Panther Warehousing
backed by: LDC
This group is one of the UK’s leading suppliers of national 2-Man and 1-Man Assisted ‘White Glove’ Home Delivery Services to a rapidly growing number of leading online and multi-channel furniture and white goods retailers and manufacturers.
From a background in general haulage, Panther re-invented itself as this new type of business. This bold step became the platform for growth, differentiation from the competition and re-investing profits in technology and service improvements. The company now leads this specialist segment, with returns to match.
UK Power Reserve
backed by: Inflexion, Equistone
This cash machine network is one of the largest in the UK and abroad.
UK Power Reserve is a leading provider of secure, flexible, low carbon electricity and services to the UK power market.
It operates 40 low-carbon generation plants and provides fast-response reserve power to the national grid as well as to other government bodies. Since being backed by private equity in 2015, Tim Emrich and his team have grown the business by investing in greater efficiency and responding in a fast and entrepreneurial manner to new opportunities. The business is increasing its footprint in the UK, with further potential internationally.
Westleigh Partnerships
backed by: Palatine Private Equity
Westleigh is an affordable, total-package housebuilder.
The company has shown impressive growth. The judges commented on the strong staff culture, underpinned by wide equity ownership and a long-term approach to staff development, including significant investment in apprenticeships and training. Last year saw them break through £100m revenue and continue their regional expansion with two new offices.
Riviera Travel
backed by: Phoenix Equity Partners
Riviera Tours is an European escorted tours provider.
Since being backed by Phoenix Equity Partners in 2014, David Clemson and his team have developed this business significantly, both by diversifying its sales channels and in adding river cruises to its core escorted tours business. River cruising now accounts for half of its £120m revenue. The judges were impressed with their skill in executing on this project and the resulting impact on revenues and profits.
NEC Group
backed by: LDC
The NEC Group welcomes over seven million consumers and corporate clients each year at its world-renowned venues.
Backed by LDC in 2015, Paul Thandi and his team impressed the judges by the way in which they are developing the commercial potential of this venue, notably the launch of Resorts World. Their management of the day-to-day business was also impressive, including their investment in people and in data capture technology.
Notes to editor
- The BVCA Management Team Awards, produced in association with Grant Thornton UK LLP, are the only awards to celebrate the achievements of private equity and venture capital-backed management teams. There are eight regions in total, each with their own judging panel, and all winners are automatically forwarded to the national final, the results of which will be presented at the BVCA Annual Gala Dinner on 30 November in London. Please click here for more information..
- The Midlands judging panel consists of: Andrew Ferguson, Maven Capital Partners; Roger Wood, Midven; Mark Freer, Business Growth Fund; Matt Upton, LivingBridge; Andy Lyton, LDC; Richard Thomas, Palatine; Charlie Robinson, YFM; Simon Ward, ITG; Mark Egerton, Quotient..
- The British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (BVCA) is the industry body for the UK private equity and venture capital industry. The BVCA has over 600 member firms, representing the vast majority of UK-based private equity and venture capital firms and their advisers..
- Grant Thornton is one of the world’s leading organisations of independent assurance, tax and advisory firms. These firms help dynamic organisations unlock their potential for growth by providing meaningful, forward-thinking advice. Proactive teams, led by approachable partners in these firms, use insights, experience and instinct to understand complex issues for privately owned, publicly listed and public sector clients and help them to find solutions. More than 35,000 Grant Thornton people, across over 100 countries, are focused on making a difference to clients, colleagues and the communities in which we live and work. The UK Grant Thornton member firm provides services to over 40,000 privately held businesses, public interest entities and individuals. It is led by more than 185 partners and employs more than 4,200 of the profession's brightest minds. Find out more at www.grant-thornton.co.uk.