Leading Scottish businesses recognised for outstanding growth

Aggreko and Strathberry have won British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (BVCA) Vision 2025 Awards for Scotland.

Sponsored by Grant Thornton and Santander, these annual awards honour the management teams of companies backed by private equity and venture capital, recognising both companies and their investors in different investment stages and across two categories: 
 

Large:

Aggreko, backed by TDR Capital, was chosen as a winner in the large category. Judges noted Aggreko’s strong financial momentum and operational progress, including completing five significant acquisitions in 2024. Aggreko has also demonstrated a sustained commitment to DE&I initiatives, including championing gender diversity in senior leadership positions in the historically underrepresented commercial and engineering sectors.
 

International Expansion:

Strathberry, backed by BGF, was chosen as a winner in the international expansion category. Judges drew attention to the company’s rapid growth over the last 3 years, with a global brand awareness supported by high profile product users including HRH Princess Catherine, The Duchess of Sussex, Jennifer Lopez and Pamela Anderson. Strathberry is also a female led business, and has championed women in the workplace, with 77% of the workforce being female, including 5 out of 9 members of the Board.
 

The Vision Awards followed the publication of the BVCA’s Private Capital in Scotland report earlier this week. The report shows that private capital-backed businesses in Scotland support 159,000 jobs and generate almost £11bn of GDP for the Scottish economy this year. In 2024, businesses in Scotland attracted £707m of private capital investment with 93 per cent of that investment going to small and medium sized businesses.
 

Commenting, BVCA Chief Executive Michael Moore said:

“These businesses exemplify the excellence that we aim to highlight with our 2025 Vision awards. Both companies demonstrated exceptional growth, leadership and a robust commitment to the social and environmental good. 

“We are proud to honour the successes of these companies and their backers and see the vital impact that private capital has in supporting businesses across Scotland.”
 

Commenting, Debbie Mayor, Partner at Grant Thornton said:

“We warmly congratulate the winners of the Vision 2025 Scotland Awards. The calibre of this year’s recipients reflects the strength of Scotland’s business landscape. Across sectors, these companies demonstrate how ambition and partnership can drive meaningful, long-term economic growth.

“Supporting the Vision 2025 Awards allows us to recognise the vital role private capital plays in helping Scottish businesses scale, compete globally, and contribute to a more sustainable and resilient economy.”
 

Commenting, Richard Mathison, Senior Director, Scotland & Northern Ireland, Structured & Specialised Finance at Santander, said:

“We are delighted to congratulate this year’s Vision Awards winners for Scotland, Aggreko and Strathberry. These businesses, and their private capital backers, exemplify the innovation and ambition that help drive the Scottish economy. Their achievements demonstrate the important role of private equity and venture capital in supporting growth, creating high-quality jobs and driving long-term value across the country.”

“At Santander, we are proud to support the wider private capital ecosystem, and we remain committed to helping high-growth businesses turn their ambitions into reality.”
 

Commenting, Martin Byrne, Managing Director at Strathberry said:

“Strathberry is honoured to receive the BVCA Vision Award 2025 for International Growth. This recognition reflects the dedication of our team, the craftsmanship at the heart of our brand, and the remarkable support of our customers around the world. We look forward to continuing our global expansion while staying true to our Scottish roots and our commitment to thoughtful, enduring design.”
 

Commenting, John Devine, Investor at BGF, said:

"We’re thrilled to see Strathberry recognised with the Vision 2025 award – a well-deserved achievement that reflects the team’s ambition, creativity and drive. Since our investment, we’ve worked closely with them to scale both in the UK and internationally, providing the capital and guidance to match their vision. Their ability to build a global luxury brand whilst staying true to their craft, identity and Scottish roots is what makes this success so impressive."
 

Commenting, Blair Illingworth, Chief Executive Officer at Aggreko, said:

“Our recent success at Aggreko owes a lot to the support we’ve had from our owners since 2021, TDR Capital and I-Squared Capital. Their backing has been a big part of us winning the BVCA Vision Award, which we’re hugely proud of. TDR’s experience in the specialty rental space has helped us sharpen our operational focus, make better use of data science for fleet utilisation, and speed up the transition of our fleet to hybrid and alternative energy. At the same time, I-Squared has brought invaluable expertise in energy and infrastructure, which has been critical to our journey.”
 

Commenting, Gary Lindsay, Managing Partner at TDR Capital, said:

“Congratulations to Blair and the entire Aggreko team on this achievement. The award recognises the remarkable transformation they have delivered at Aggreko, which has become a global leader in integrated energy solutions. By combining world-class operational execution with innovation in hybrid and renewable technologies, Aggreko has shown how commercial performance and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand. At TDR Capital, we are delighted to support the BVCA Vision Awards, which shine a light on exceptional businesses backed by private capital that are driving meaningful growth and innovation across the UK.”

Notes to Editors:  

For further information, please contact:  
BVCA Press Office 
Email: [email protected] 

A copy of the BVCA’s Private Capital in Scotland report is available here.

Background:

About the British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association  

The British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (BVCA) is the industry body and public policy advocate for the private equity (PE) and venture capital (VC) (private capital) industry in the UK. With a membership of over 600 firms, we represent the vast majority of all UK-based private capital firms, as well as their professional advisers and a large base of UK and global investors. The private equity and venture capital industry has a vital role to play in driving national and regional growth. Currently over 13,000 companies, employing more than 2.5 million people, are backed by private equity and venture capital investment in the UK.