BGF invests £60m in 2024 across South West and Thames Valley

Growth capital investor BGF has reported a strong year across its South West, Thames Valley and South Wales offices, investing £60 million in small and medium-sized businesses throughout 2024.
Among last year’s deals was its multimillion-pound exit of Bristol-based engineering design, energy and sustainability consultancy Hydrock to Stantec.
The firm’s South West team backed five new businesses across sectors including technology, healthcare, food and beverage and cybersecurity.
They include investments in Kubus, a technology value-added reseller headquartered in Cirencester, and Plant-Ex Ingredients, a manufacturer of natural food ingredient solutions based in Bristol.
Across the Thames Valley, BGF completed an investment in Bournemouth fintech and advice tech provider Twenty7Tec and backed the expansion of Reading-based digital transformation business Proventeq.
Portfolio companies expanding through M&A last year included BN Care Group, which completed the acquisition of its sixth care home following new investment from BGF, and Troy, which celebrated its 20th acquisition.
Ned Dorbin, partner at BGF, said: “Despite several economic uncertainties throughout 2024, we’ve continued to see a great deal of resilience and innovation from the businesses within our regions.
“We’re proud to play our role in supporting these organisations with funding and strategic counsel throughout a crucial period in their growth journeys.
“Looking ahead to 2025, we’re optimistic there’ll be opportunities for the region’s ambitious businesses to scale, and we look forward to working with them to help achieve their goals.”
Across the UK and Ireland, BGF reached a milestone of £4 billion invested since its inception in 2011.
The firm also committed £25 million to the Invest in Women Taskforce, which has secured £250 million of funding to support female entrepreneurs and female-led businesses across the UK.