BVCA announces winners of South West Management Team Awards 2016

The British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (BVCA) is pleased to announce the winners of the South West Management Team Awards 2016, our annual celebration of excellence in private equity and venture capital, produced in association with Grant Thornton UK LLP.
Now in its eighth year, the BVCA Management Team Awards recognise and reward the achievements and success of businesses across the UK which are backed by private equity and venture capital funds.
All the winners will be announced and presented with their prize tonight as part of the annual BVCA Wales South West Dinner at the Bath Assembly Rooms. They will now be entered into the national final to compete against other UK regions before the national winners are announced at the BVCA Gala Dinner on 8 December in London.
The full list of winners for the BVCA South West Management Team Awards 2016:
Winner |
Backed by |
Category |
Oasis Dental Care | Bridgepoint Development Capital (to December 2015) and now GHO Capital |
Large Company Team |
Independent Vetcare | Summit Partners | Mid-Market Team |
Skyscape Cloud Services | Business Growth Fund | Venture or Growth Company Team |
Oasis Dental Care | Bridgepoint | Social Responsibility Team |
Chris Ormrod, Ministry of Cake | LDC | CEO |
Paul Oldham, Chair of the South West judging panel and Regional Director – South West & South Wales at Business Growth Fund, said: “The BVCA Management Team Awards are unique in their celebration of companies backed by private equity and venture capital, and I am delighted to see such a unique set of winners for the South West this year. From vets and dentists, to IT providers and cake makers, the South West is home to an impressively diverse range of businesses, each one a leader in their field and all perfect examples of what ambitious, talented management teams can achieve with the right support.”
Mark Naughton, Head of Corporate Finance, South West and Wales for Grant Thornton and a member of the BVCA judging panel, said: “It is a pleasure to be sponsoring these awards again. It is an honour to meet such a diverse range of successful businesses in our region, and great to be a part of celebrating the achievements of these private equity and venture capital-backed management teams. There was a high calibre of businesses nominated so this year’s panel had an extremely difficult task in deciding the winners.
“It has been extremely encouraging to hear such positive feedback from all the nominees about how supportive their investors have been during their respective journeys. The South West is establishing itself as a real entrepreneurial hotspot, nurturing a number of growing, ambitious businesses which are all helping contribute to a vibrant economy. Not only do these awards open doors to potential clients, they also strengthen business’ profiles in the wider corporate community. Congratulations not only to the winners but all those nominated.”
The winners are:
Large Company Team
Oasis Dental Care
Backed by Bridgepoint Development Capital
Oasis Dental Care is a leading provider of NHS and private dental treatment throughout the UK, employing 5,500 people, including 1,600 dentists, across 360 sites.
In April the Bristol-head quartered business was ranked 18th on the Sunday Times Profit Track 100 after having achieved 99% profit growth between 2014 and 2015, and growing its practice by 65% through the acquisitions of Apex Dental Care and Smiles Dental.
Since the investment by Bridgepoint in 2013, the management team led by Justin Ash has created a truly national brand with a commitment to growth, excellence and a strong company culture.
Judges comment: “Justin Ash and his team have led this business on a very successful growth plan since 2011. They have gone against the grain in building a strong unifying Oasis brand and this has been a platform for impressive organic growth, particularly in private treatment, alongside their large-scale acquisition programme.”
Mid-Market Team
Independent Vetcare
Backed by Summit Partners
Independent Vetcare is the UK’s fastest growing veterinary group with over 350 sites across the country.
Founded by CEO David Hillier in 2011 with the acquisition of three practices encompassing 20 sites and backed by August Equity, the Bath-based business was acquired by Summit Partners in 2014 and has undergone rapid growth, both organically and through acquisitions.
By carefully building a reputation based on ‘what is good medicine rather than good business’ it continues to acquire new practices, consciously not building a national brand and remaining sensitive to the local market. The group now employs over 2,500 people.
Judges comment: “David Hillier and his team have managed an impressive combination of both very rapid growth, acquiring over 350 vet practices since 2011, whilst at the same time developing a distinctive ‘vet friendly’ ethos. Impressive financial performance reflects their skill in integrating acquisitions whilst building a strong culture.”
Venture or Growth Company Team
Skyscape Cloud Services
Backed by BGF
Skyscape Cloud Services provides cloud infrastructure services solely for the UK public sector, with clients including the likes of the Cabinet Office, Home Office, HMRC and the Ministry of Defence.
Founded in 2011, Skyscape provides typical cost savings of over 50% versus the traditional server models as the public sector continues to shift its IT infrastructure to the cloud.
The business has increased its headcount ten-fold over the past four years and since BGF’s investment in May 2014, Skyscape has experienced rapid growth, increasing revenues from £3.7 million in 2014 to£16.2 million in 2015.
Judges comment: “Skyscape was founded in 2011 and in a short time has achieved an astonishing level of credibility and trust inits assured cloud solution, with some of the largest public sector organisations as clients. The judges admired the management team’s skill in taking a leading position in a market which had been dominated by very large,powerful competitors.”
Social Responsibility Team
Oasis Dental Care
Backed by Bridgepoint
Alongside building a national brand, Oasis has also shown an impressive commitment to environmental and social responsibility.
It has more than 200 outreach programs with schools and communities, teaching oral healthcare and promoting healthy eating.
As well as recycling 80% of its materials, Oasis supports the Bridge to Aid oral health charity in Tanzania, and recently held ‘Super Saturday’ where they opened all their practices on Saturday and gave 20% of the fees to charity.
Judges comment: “The judges were impressed with Oasis’ wide-ranging work to promote dental health, inducing their work with schools and communities, their support for a charity in Tanzania and their‘Super Saturday’ initiative, where they opened specially and gave 20% of fees earned to charity.”
CEO of the Year
Chris Ormrod, Ministry of Cake
Backed by LDC
CEO Chris Ormrod has been with the business since 2003 and sold it to Greencore in 2007. In 2013 the company expanded with the acquisition of Creative Foods (now Ministry of Puddings), and in 2014, with the backing of LDC, Chris led a management buyout.
Under his leadership the company has continued to produce strong growth in both profits and employee numbers and has recently secured a number of new international clients as it continues to crack the exports market.
Prior to Ministry of Cake Chris worked for Mars, Haagan-Dazs and Virgin.
Judges comment: “Chris Ormrod has led Ministry of Cake since 2003, selling it into Greencore and then buying it out again in 2014. Since then he has invested in new facilities and people and grown the business with impressive new international client wins. He is also an enthusiastic champion for the regional and sector business community.”
Notes to editor
- The BVCA Management Team Awards, produced in partnership with Grant Thornton, are the only awards to celebrate the achievements of UK private equity and venture capital-backed management teams. The awards consists of two rounds: regional and national. Each of the eight regions has a judging panel which decides on the winners following nominations from BVCA members and a comprehensive due diligence programme with in-depth interviews. The regional winners were announced in May and can be found here. All were automatically entered into the national final. For more information about the award categories please click here.
- The South West judging panel consists of: Paul Oldham (Chair), Business Growth Fund; Guy Davies, West Bridge Capital; Julian Dennard, Technology Venture Partners; Peter Latham, LDC; Mark Naughton, Grant Thornton; David Staziker, Finances Wales.
- 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 500 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