eFront, the leading financial software and solutions provider dedicated to Alternative Investments, has published its latest research, showing that infrastructure funds globally deliver strong performance over long time periods, at low levels of risk.

With 2020 expected to see major growth in compliance, leading testing, inspection and certification authority, Bureau Veritas, has revealed that a focus on tackling climate change, ‘Big Data’ and ethical supply chains will be the key trends in the year ahead.

InMotion, Jaguar Land Rover’s venture capital and mobility services arm, has invested in blockchain technology firm Circulor.  The investment will enable Jaguar Land Rover to source premium materials with greater transparency as to the provenance, welfare, and compliance of suppliers throughout its networks. As part of its commitment to be a responsible business, Jaguar Land Rover is always innovating to reduce the environmental and ethical impact of its products across their lifecycle. 

A Cambridge University programme, originally created to nurture the brilliant minds of academia, is now giving businesses and research organisations

New research released by BGF has highlighted for the first time how growth economy companies are responding to Covid-19.

According to the survey of 532 companies, carried out by independent research company Delineate, the pandemic has created significant barriers to growth for 67% of respondents, with operational risk highlighted as the primary concern around future growth.

Direct Online Services, the UK’s largest online retailer of kitchen worktops, has announced a record year of sales and profits, as well as a £5m internal investment plan.

The Gloucester-based, family-founded business has seen a 150% increase in profits in the last 12 months, with an expected EBITDA in excess of £4m in 2019. This has been driven by margin and productivity improvements, as well as the fruition of operational investments over the last few years. The group has seen a 14% increase in UK sales, as well as a 22% increase in revenue for its German business.

Scotland’s leading business angel investment group, Archangels, has sold its 25% shareholding in Bellshill-headquartered document outsourcing specialist, Critiqom, as part of the sale of the business to Opus Trust Communications.

Archangels first invested in Critiqom in 2005 and since then the company has grown to become a national provider of a variety of complementary document mailing solutions, including an end-to-end suite of data, print, post and multi-channel services. The business is headquartered in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire, with manufacturing operations both at Bellshill and in Warrington, Cheshire.

A popular hotel in a Pembrokeshire beauty spot has secured a bright new future after being bought by new owner Robert Jones and hotel manager Matthew Pugsley and securing a £50,000 loan from the Development Bank of Wales.

Edinburgh-based business angel investment syndicate, Archangels has recorded another active year of support for the Scottish tech and life sciences sectors, leading investment of £14.8m in Scottish start-up and early stage companies in 2019.

The syndicate directly invested £8.2m across the year (2018: £10.9m) and was lead investor on a total of 10 funding rounds with total investment, including co-investors’ contributions, of £14.8m (2018: £22.4m). Scottish Investment Bank (SIB), the investment arm of Scottish Enterprise, was the largest single co-investor in 2019 at £3.9m, with co-investment from other organisations including NVM, Par Equity and Tricap.

My Bespoke Room, the tech-enabled interior design service, has closed £700K angel investment as it reports 104% annual revenue growth. This brings total investment in the female-founded business to £2 million since 2014, as it continues to build innovative new products that benefit customers and designers.  

This investment round, which included high-net worth individuals from Angelgroups and Connectd, will help My Bespoke Room deliver on its mission to support more meaningful businesses and careers in interior design.  

Whirli, the toy sharing subscription service, has raised a £4m Seed funding round led by Octopus Ventures, with participation from MMC Ventures.

British Business Investments (BBI), a commercial subsidiary of the British Business Bank, has announced a £25 million commitment to asset finance specialist, Blackburn-based Haydock Finance Ltd.  The three-year funding commitment is structured as a block discounting facility and will help Haydock continue to grow its asset finance division, providing hire-purchase, leasing and refinance for business assets to smaller businesses wanting to invest and grow.