The Enterprise Investment Scheme Association (EISA) is stepping up efforts to support entrepreneurs and small businesses around the UK with a programme of regional funding information and advice workshops.

Voneus, a UK broadband provider, has secured a £4.8M Growth Capital loan from BOOST&Co alongside a £500k equity funding round raised by Jenson Funding Partners. Voneus makes super-fast broadband available to customers in UK rural and metro communities, using innovative solutions where alternative services may not be available.

Experienced life sciences investment manager Deepbridge Capital has announced the launch of Deepbridge Syndicate, an online investment platform created to facilitate investment by elective professional investors in to healthcare innovation.

Social impact investment company Resonance has published the first annual social impact report for the Resonance Bristol SITR Fund – the first impact investment Fund of its kind using Social Investment Tax Relief (SITR) to build a portfolio of investments into social enterprises in the region. 

Jenson Solutions has made 10 new investments from the Jenson SEIS & EIS Fund 4.  

Mark Brownridge, Director General of the EIS Association, discusses the Conservative election manifesto proposal for new Enterprise Investment Scheme incentives for digital businesses.

The Conservative Manifesto commits to “help innovators and startups, by encouraging early stage investment and considering further incentives under our world leading Enterprise Investment Scheme and Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (page 78).  It also commits to “opeoffices of the British Business Bank in Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Manchester and Newport (page78).

David Mott, Managing Partner of EIS manager, Oxford Capital, commented on the proposals.

Footfalls & Heartbeats today announce a strategic investment round of £1.25m with The Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) tax relief. New product innovation is a key area of focus for Footfalls & Heartbeats, whose wearable technology is providing personalised, preventative healthcare, and solutions to aid the wellbeing of individuals.

Cult Wines, a specialist in the acquisition and investment management of fine wines, has appointed Patrick Thornton-Smith as a Non-Executive Director and member of the firm's Global Management Team. Patrick’s appointment will support the firm’s record-breaking growth levels which have been driven by rising global demand, particularly in the UK and Asia.

The EIS Association (EISA) has produced a guide to the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS).  Grow your business with the Enterprise Investment Scheme is designed as an introduction to EIS and SEIS for businesses that are considering seeking external funding.

Online investment platform, InvestingZone, has added access to the Seneca EIS Portfolio service to enhance its offering for private investors.  The addition of the Seneca EIS Portfolio to the platform is the first stage of a strategic investment to broaden and reposition InvestingZone, which joined the North West-based Seneca Partners in early 2016.

Mark Brownridge, Director General of the EIS Association, comments on the 2015-16 Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) statistics, issued by HMRC.

The figures show a drop of some £230m in EIS fundraising in 2015-16 compared to the previous year, though the figure raised of £1.65bn was still the second highest ever amount raised since EIS began in 1993. There was a reduction of £8m in SEIS fundraising, which fell to £169m.