South West businesses recognised for outstanding growth

Barnstable based Compass CHC Limited and Bideford based Travel Chapter, have won the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (BVCA) Vision 2025 Awards for the Wales and the South West. 

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

Scale-up:

Compass CHC Limited backed by Omni Partners, was chosen as the winner in the Scale-up category, with judges praising the business for maintaining its market leader status through high-quality service and positive client outcomes, whilst expanding into a B2B client base with a successful pilot program and a client referral initiative. 

Large:

Travel Chapter backed by Intermediate Capital Group, was chosen as the winner in the Large category, with judges praising the business for combining organic growth with successful bolt-on acquisitions.

A new BVCA report Private Capital in the South West, published ahead of the awards showcased the economic impact of private capital in the region. It found that businesses backed by private capital generate £11bn for the regions economy each year. As of 2025, over 165,000 jobs are supported by the industry in the South West.
 

Michael Moore, BVCA Chief Executive said: 

“We are proud to honour the outstanding successes of this year’s winners who have demonstrated the impact that private equity and venture capital has in the South West and across all the nations and regions of the United Kingdom. 

“These businesses and their private capital backers exemplify how our industry is supporting jobs and growth in every part of the country.”
 

John Panteli, Partner at Grant Thornton said:

“Congratulations to Compass and Travel Chapter on their exceptional achievements. These businesses are outstanding examples of what can be accomplished with vision, determination, and the right backing.”

“The winners this year reflect the depth of talent, innovation, and ambition that defines Wales and the South West. As a sponsor of the Vision 2025 Awards, we’re delighted to celebrate the success of high-growth companies that are not only building strong commercial futures, but also contributing meaningfully to the regional economy and wider society.” 
 

Peter Abel, Director, Growth Capital Structured Finance at Santander said:

“Wales and the South West are home to some of the UK’s most dynamic and forward-looking businesses.  It’s inspiring to see how these companies are creating high-quality jobs, investing in their communities, and delivering real economic impact. Congratulations to all the Vision 2025 Award winners on their achievements.”

“At Santander, we’re proud to support the BVCA’s Vision 2025 Awards, which shine a light on the entrepreneurial energy driving growth across the UK. These stories highlight the powerful role private equity and venture capital play in helping ambitious businesses scale and compete on a national and global stage.”
 

Jayne McClure, CEO, of Travel Chapter said: 

“This award is a fantastic acknowledgment of the hard work, dedication, and passion shown by the entire Travel Chapter team over many years and we’re really honoured to win it. With the backing of ICG since 2022, we’ve achieved significant growth, almost doubling EBITDA over the last two years and making 7 acquisitions, including Original Cottages, which has been truly transformative for us.”
 

Jamie Rivers, Managing Director of UK Equity and Mezzanine, at Intermediate Capital Group said: 

“Congratulations to Jayne and the Travel Chapter team. This reward reflects their success in driving profitable growth, not only through the transformational acquisition of Original Cottages, but also the extensive number of wider initiatives executed across the business since. Their continued focus on being the leading player of quality, whether for their property owners or holiday makers, underpins their future growth for the years to come.”
 

Tim Davies, CEO and Founder, Compass CHC:

“It’s a privilege to be recognised by the BVCA Vision Awards. At Compass CHC, our mission has always been to support individuals and families navigating an incredibly complex healthcare funding system. Since founding the business in 2014, our mission has been to secure the care people are entitled to at their most vulnerable moments. This award reflects the commitment of our exceptional team and the impact we’re delivering daily. Our partnership with Omni has strengthened that mission and will allow us to amplify our efforts and support even more families in the years ahead.”
 

Charles Gallagher-Powell, Partner, Omni Partners:

“Compass CHC is a standout example of the kind of mission-led, high-growth business the BVCA Vision Awards were created to recognise. Tim and his team have built a specialist platform that delivers both commercial success and lasting social impact by improving access to essential care. It’s exactly the kind of business we’re proud to back - values-driven, expert-led, and focused on meaningful scale. We’re excited to support them on the next stage of their journey as they continue to lead and innovate in this vital space.”

Notes to Editors

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

About the British Private Equity and 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 almost 13,000 companies, employing more than 2.5 million people, are backed by private equity and venture capital investment in the UK.