Category Archives: Business Investment

Business Investment

Our relocation is a testament to our commitment to Manchester’s growth, and our investment reflects this promise.

The managing-director of fashion giant Whispering Smith says the company’s move to a new Manchester headquarters is evidence of the business staying true to its roots.

Rohil Kumar said Whispering Smith, the UK’s largest importer, wholesaler and distributor of fashion clothing, is planning to write a new chapter in its legacy, and wants to expand their team at its new head office on 274 Deansgate.

Already a worldwide leader in design, production and delivery, the firm is a third generation global business which supplies top retail and ecommerce names.

Whispering Smith also has its own portfolio of brands, including Brave Soul, Good for Nothing and Night Addict. But having outgrown its original HQ on Great Ducie Street, the business is now trading from the heart of Manchester City Centre in a new five-storey, 23,688 sq ft Deansgate base which it acquired for £6.35 million.

Commenting on the move, Mr Kumar said: “After occupying our previous premises for almost 30 years, we realised that in order to keep up with Manchester’s ever-changing landscape, we needed to relocate to the heart of the city.  Our relocation is a testament to our commitment to Manchester’s growth, and our investment reflects this promise.

“This site offers many benefits, not least superb transport links for the buyers we work with couple with the buzz of a city-centre life which will help add to the vibrancy behind our brands.

“But, most importantly, we are now in the heart of Manchester, which remains at the centre of England’s textile industry, and which has played a vital role in the industrial revolution. With its strong foundations, we believe Manchester remains the epicentre of the UK fashion industry. And, crucially, Manchester is where our family’s legacy began and it’s why this great city will continue to be the base of our global operations.”

Currently employing about 70 members of staff, Mr Kumar confirmed Whispering Smith has aspirations of growing even further employees in the next two-to-five years.

“We see opportunities for growth in strategic partnerships for our brands, Mr Kumar said. “We plan to expand the team in HQ in the areas of marketing and branding to support this.

“The industry has undergone significant changes since Brexit and Covid. There have also been many disruptors that have either faded away or are still present. But I believe the market is slowly adjusting itself, and we continue to have a positive outlook for the future.”

Explaining what will be happening at their old site, Mr Kumar said plans were in place for the site to be developed as part of Manchester City Council’s wider scheme for the regeneration in and around the area.

Bridgend, Business, Business Investment, Careers

Key promotion at industrial electronic repair specialist

One of the UK’s leading providers of industrial electronic repairs has announced a key promotion within its sales team.

Zach Taylor has been promoted from Account Manager to Regional Sales Manager, taking on the new position in February.

Zach joined the Bridgend-based business, which works with leading manufacturers and businesses globally, in December 2020 as a Commercial Management Trainee while studying for a degree in business.

He quickly progressed to an Account Manager role in south-west England and as the newly appointed Regional Sales Manager, Zach will now be looking after customers in Bath, Bournemouth, Bristol, Dorset, Exeter, Portsmouth, Plymouth, Salisbury, Southampton, Taunton, Torquay and Truro.

In his new role, Zach will meet with new and existing customers in the region, building and maintaining relationships to ensure they receive the best possible solutions and service from the firm.

Zach said: “Since starting at Kontroltek, the company has been very supportive of my progression and growth. I am excited to take on this new role and I am fortunate to visit businesses of all sizes in the south-west, with a variety of needs whether it be repair, supply or on-site engineer visits.”

Cath Demaid, Director of Commercial and HR, said: “Zach is a fantastic addition to our regional sales team. The experience and knowledge he has built since he started with us perfectly places him to provide an excellent level of service and expertise to our customers in the south-west region.”

Outside of work, Zach enjoys playing rugby and is the captain of local club Pencoed RFC, which Kontroltek has sponsored for a decade.

This year’s sponsorship includes an addition designed to enhance the game experience for both the Pencoed RFC senior and current U15s age groups. Kontroltek has invested in a Veo camera, a state-of-the-art technology that promises to transform the way the sport is played and analysed. The Veo camera enables detailed video analysis and performance tracking, offering players and coaches valuable insights to further develop their skills and strategies.

Zach said: “It’s a real privilege to represent both Kontroltek and Pencoed RFC. The Veo camera is a gamechanger for us with regards to how it will help our team improve and develop. Thanks to Kontroltek for their ongoing support of both my professional and sporting endeavours.”

Founded in 2011, Kontroltek specialises in industrial electronic repairs and supply nationwide employing more than 60 staff.

Business Investment

Is Nvidia Paving the Way for a $2 Trillion Valuation with Its AI Innovations?

In the competitive world of artificial intelligence (AI), Nvidia has once again captured the attention and admiration of the tech community. This achievement comes as no surprise, given Nvidia’s standing as the third most valuable company on a global scale.

The company recently showcased its cutting-edge AI technologies at its annual GTC developers conference, a highlight event that has been conducted virtually since 2020. Back then, Nvidia’s yearly revenue hovered around $11 billion, primarily from selling graphics processors designed for video gaming PCs.

What Makes Nvidia’s Latest AI Technologies Stand Out?

However, Nvidia’s business landscape has transformed dramatically, with its revenue expanding nearly sixfold. This remarkable growth has made it one of the top-performing assets in the stock trading market. This growth spurt is attributed to the skyrocketing demand for Nvidia’s data-centre chips, which power generative AI services like ChatGPT.

Such demand has catapulted Nvidia and its CEO, Jensen Huang, into the limelight, with their status nearing that of rock stars in the tech world. A recent event saw over 11,000 individuals flocking to a Silicon Valley arena, eager to hear Huang unveil the company’s latest innovation: the Blackwell B100 systems. These new systems are set to replace the highly popular H100 systems, which have been instrumental in powering generative AI tasks and are still in high demand.

The B100 chips are a leap forward in performance, particularly in AI inferencing. This term refers to the process by which AI models, after being trained on a dataset, begin to generate responses. Nvidia’s advancements in this area are crucial, especially as the company faces perceived competition. Yet, the reveal of the B100’s capabilities seemed to align with Nvidia’s pre-released hints, pleasantly surprising investors during a fiscal quarter earnings call with news that 40% of its AI revenue was derived from inferencing work. Such revelations have led to significant reactions from analysts, with some, like Morgan Stanley’s Joseph Moore, expressing sheer astonishment.

Following these announcements, Nvidia’s stock experienced a modest uptick, a slight reversal from an earlier decline. This fluctuation occurred amidst a broader market downturn affecting the entire semiconductor sector, which had been buoyed by a significant AI-driven surge. Despite this, analysts remain confident in Nvidia’s ability to maintain its dominance in AI computing. The introduction of the B100 systems, along with other technological advancements, is expected to further cement Nvidia’s lead in the field.

Is a $2 Trillion Valuation Within Reach for Nvidia?

Yet, the road ahead for Nvidia is not without its challenges. The company’s unprecedented growth and success hinge on the continued interest and investment in generative AI services by major tech companies like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and others. Recent reports of mixed reactions to new AI tools and services, such as Adobe’s Firefly and Microsoft’s Copilot, suggest a cautious market. Despite this, Nvidia’s position appears secure for the foreseeable future, supported by optimistic capital spending forecasts.

Nvidia’s strategy focuses on maintaining its technological edge and pricing strategy, which has significantly enhanced its profit margins and made its stock valuation more appealing compared to many of its peers. With these strategies in place and the tech giant’s valuation standing strong, the possibility of Nvidia reaching a $2 trillion valuation seems within reach, marking another milestone in its impressive journey through the AI revolution.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, Nvidia’s journey in the rapidly evolving AI landscape exemplifies its pioneering spirit and technical prowess. Despite the challenges of fluctuating market demand and intense competition, the company’s strategic innovations, particularly with the introduction of the Blackwell B100 systems, solidify its leadership in AI technology.

As Nvidia continues to navigate through the complexities of the tech world with its advanced AI chips and robust market strategies, it stands on the brink of achieving unprecedented valuations. The company’s ability to maintain its competitive edge while navigating potential market hesitations showcases its resilience and commitment to driving forward the boundaries of artificial intelligence.

Business, Business Investment, Business News, Business Reports, Cardiff, Cardiff News, Industry News, Industry Press Releases, Investment, Investment News, News

GS Verde Group admitted to secondary market platform JP Jenkins

GS Verde Group Limited shares now trading at JP Jenkins.

9th January 2024 – Shares in the GS Verde Group (www.gsverde.group) have been admitted to trade on JP Jenkins share dealing platform. The GS Verde Group is headquartered at The Maltings, East Tyndall Street, Cardiff, with additional offices in Bristol and Dublin, and is registered as a company in England and Wales under Companies House, company number 15101725.

The completion of the seven-figure raise gives the Group a £9m post-money valuation on the JP Jenkins platform, which is the UK’s oldest secondary market and has provided a marketplace for share trading for established household brands such as Dyson and Weetabix as well as football clubs such as Arsenal and Manchester City.

The GS Verde Group is a multi-discipline M&A advisory business advising businesses on corporate transactions such as business sales (including Trade Sale, Management Buy-Out and Employee Ownership structures), acquisitions, investment raises and corporate re-organisations.

Through its multi-discipline structure, the business combines Law, Finance, Tax and Communications to provide a ‘one team’ advisory support to businesses.

The award-winning business has experienced fast growth through both strategic acquisitions and organic demand.   With offices in Cardiff, Bristol and Dublin, the Group employs c.90 staff across a range of professional and support disciplines.

Having won accolades as leading Dealmakers in 2022 and 2023, the business has proven demand for the ‘one team’ offering, and is looking to accelerate its growth nationally and internationally, through further strategic acquisitions, as well as investment in technology by further developing its proprietary software platform AR:Deals.

JP Jenkins is a liquidity venue for unlisted or unquoted assets in companies, enabling shareholders and prospective investors to buy and sell equity on a matched bargain basis. JP Jenkins is a trading name of InfinitX Limited an Appointed Representative of Prosper Capital LLP (FRN950991).

Shareholders wishing to trade these securities can do so through their stockbroker. Trades will be conducted at a level that JP Jenkins is able to match a willing seller and a willing buyer. Trades can be conducted, and limits can be accepted, during normal business hours. Shareholders or potential investors can place limits via their existing UK-regulated stockbroker.

The indicative pricing for the ordinary shares (ISIN: GB00BNTZFL29), as well as the transaction history, will be available on the JP Jenkins website at https://jpjenkins.com/company/gs-verde-group/

Veronika Oswald, Commercial Director of J P Jenkins said: “At JP Jenkins corporate advisors are a core part of our ecosystem in supporting private companies in liquidity and secondary market solutions. GS Verde’s admission demonstrates how our platform can not only support growth companies, but in turn support a multi-discipline M&A advisory business such as GS Verde in their own growth ambitions too. We are delighted to be able to support GS Verde with their own liquidity solution from today.”

Nigel Greenaway, Co-Founder and CEO of GS Verde Group said: “We are delighted to be trading on the prestigious JP Jenkins platform, joining such a wealth of household names in doing so.   

 

There has been overwhelming interest in our business, and this step to join the secondary market, allowing private investment into our business is a milestone step in our journey.  The investment will allow us to grow through strategic acquisition in certain areas of the UK, as well as to add firepower to our dealmaking teams in Wales, the Southwest of England and Ireland.   We can also accelerate our investment into AR:Deals, GS Verde’s own proprietary technology.”

For further information, please contact:

J P Jenkins Ltd.          

Veronika Oswald

Director           +44 (0)20 7469 0937

GS Verde Group Limited

Matthew Sutton

Company Secretary / Director       +44 (0)3330 107 8498

Business Investment, Cryptocurrency

Bitcoin Trading Manifestoes in Thailand

Bitcoin trading has been picking up steam in Thailand, with a new wave of investors joining the fray. As more and more people look to get involved in cryptocurrency trading, it’s important to understand some key manifestoes to ensure successful trades.

The first manifesto is to only invest what you can afford to lose. While investing in Bitcoin can be lucrative, it’s important to remember that it is a highly volatile market and prices can fluctuate drastically. Therefore, it’s crucial to not invest more than you can afford to lose. Explore the news spy for further information.

The second manifesto is to always do your research before investing. This means analysing market trends, understanding technical analysis, and keeping abreast of news and current events that may affect the price of Bitcoin. By doing this, investors can make more informed decisions and reduce the risk of high losses.

Thirdly, investors should diversify their portfolio. While Bitcoin may be the leading cryptocurrency, it’s important to not overlook other coins that may be worth investing in. By diversifying investments, investors can spread their risks and maximize their potential profits.

Another key manifesto is to stay disciplined with investments. This means sticking to a solid investment strategy and not making rash decisions based on emotions. It’s important to remember that investing in Bitcoin is a long-term game and not a get-rich-quick scheme.

Lastly, investors should always be wary of scams and fraudulent ICOs (Initial Coin Offerings). With the rise of Bitcoin trading, there has also been an increase in scams and fraudulent schemes that prey on unsuspecting investors. Always do your due diligence and research any investment opportunities thoroughly before committing funds.

Is Bitcoin worth investing?

Bitcoin, the popular cryptocurrency, has been a topic of debate among investors and traders alike. The question on everyone’s mind is, “Is Bitcoin worth investing?” To answer this question, let’s take a closer look at the facts.

Firstly, Bitcoin has had a tremendous growth rate in recent years, with its value increasing by more than 900% since its inception in 2009. This growth has made early investors millionaires, and many are still hopeful for further growth in the future.

Additionally, Bitcoin is decentralized, meaning that it is not regulated by any government or financial institution. This means that Bitcoin transactions take place directly between individuals, providing a sense of anonymity and privacy to users.

Another factor to consider is the limited supply of Bitcoin. Unlike traditional currency, there is a fixed amount of Bitcoin available, with only 21 million BTC existing in total. This limited supply has the potential to drive up the value of Bitcoin over time.

However, like any investment, Bitcoin is not without risks. The cryptocurrency market is highly volatile, with the value of Bitcoin fluctuating wildly on a daily basis. This volatility can lead to significant gains but also significant losses.

Furthermore, Bitcoin has been associated with illegal activities such as money laundering and drug trafficking. While Bitcoin is not inherently illegal, its anonymity and lack of regulation have made it an attractive tool for those engaging in criminal activity.

What is the future of Bitcoin?

The future of Bitcoin remains highly uncertain, however it shows potential as a digital currency that could revolutionize the way people pay for goods and services. With its decentralized nature and low processing fees, Bitcoin has the potential to become a widely accepted global payment system. It is also possible that governments or central banks could issue their own digital currencies in the future, which may have an impact on Bitcoin’s value. Ultimately, only time will tell what will happen with Bitcoin and other forms of cryptocurrency..

Final Words

The Bitcoin trading manifesto can be a powerful tool for any investor looking to get involved in the cryptocurrency market. It provides investors with a clear set of guidelines that can help them make informed decisions when it comes to their investments, allowing them to maximize profits and minimize risks. The key is to find the right strategy for you and stick with it – no matter how volatile the crypto markets may become. With discipline, knowledge, and an understanding of these principles, anyone has the potential to succeed as a Bitcoin trader. So take your time learning about this new asset class and master its intricacies so you can start making money from your trades today!.

 

Business, Business Investment, Careers, Development, Entertainment, Exercise, Sport

Pontypridd United announce ownership investment from GS Verde

 

Ambitious Welsh Premier League football club Pontypridd United have announced a co-ownership investment from dealmaking business GS Verde Group.

The investment, which sees GS Verde’s Chief Commercial Officer, David Dulieu, join as Board Director and Ambassador, supports the club’s determination to become a sporting and community force and realise its ambition to achieve qualification to a UEFA European Football competition.

Paul Ragan, Chairman of Pontypridd United, said “It’s a true testament of the progress the club has made over the past few seasons; where we are now able to attract the kind of quality we have to the board in David and others. It’s also a real boost to the Pontypridd United Business Club, with GS Verde becoming one of our latest commercial partners.

It’s about supporting the local community, enjoying the journey, making friends, and doing business, and in simple terms that’s why we are attracting so much commercial interest at Pontypridd United.”

GS Verde joins the club as the 8th co-owner, alongside entrepreneurs such as Paul Ragan (Chairman) and Matthew Epps (Vice Chairman) amongst several others.

Ragan continued, “With significant investment expected in Welsh Domestic Football over the next 5 years, this is a great time for both existing and aspiring ‘Ryan Reynolds’ to get involved. As a club, we are building a model based on 20 equal owners, who we refer to as Ambassadors. It was important to the Board that we considered longevity in our model and recognise we have a significant role to play throughout the Pontypridd Community. We boast a thriving grassroots section, a strong UEFA ‘Cat B’ rated Academy, and two very ambitious Men’s and Women’s Premiership teams”.

GS Verde Group is an M&A dealmaking group supporting businesses through transactions such as business sales, acquisitions, and raising investment. The Group have previously worked with a number of the entrepreneurs involved in Pontypridd United, including the recent announcement of GS Verde supporting UPVC Direct on their acquisition of Principality Plastics.

David Dulieu, CCO and Board Director of GS Verde said: “We have had a great relationship with many of the business leaders involved in Pontypridd United for several years, and so we know the calibre of those involved. When the opportunity arose, we were delighted to support the club.”

Pontypridd United prides itself on being much more than a football club. With a focus on developing teams of all age groups and genders, and supporting local businesses and charities, the Club puts the local community at the heart of its motivation.

David concluded: “Living in Pontypridd, I know first-hand the impact the Club is having on our local community, with an excellent structure across all age groups. We are excited to join the club and play a part in helping the club achieve its European football ambitions and become recognised as Wales’s number 1 domestic club one day!”

Business, Business Investment, Fashion, News, Tech

Outdoor clothing brand Jöttnar raises seven-figure investment

 

Technical outdoor clothing brand, Jöttnar, has completed its latest investment round, raising over £1m through a mix of re-investment and crowdfunding, in a deal advised on by expert dealmaking firm, GS Verde Group.

The raise will support the business in accelerating the expansion of its product range, team, and customer base.

Jöttnar was conceived in Arctic Norway by founders Tommy Kelly and Steve Howarth. As two former Royal Marine commandos, they honed their skills as the world’s elite specialists in extreme cold weather, mountain warfare, and survival by exposing themselves to Norway’s extraordinarily demanding environmental conditions. These experiences inspired them to launch a range of technical outdoor clothing which excels in performance, protection, and style.

The £1.3m raised through Crowdcube, more than 150% over the original target investment, will fuel hiring within the product development and marketing divisions, expand Jöttnar’s women’s range and broader categories, and open wider distribution channels.

Jöttnar co-founder and Director, Tommy Kelly, said: “As lifelong mountaineers, climbers, and skiers, we leverage our first-hand experience into creating premium, disciplined designs and personally test our products to ensure each is up to the challenge.

“Customer loyalty forms an integral part of our success to date, and so crowdfunding was a natural progression for our next phase of growth. There is now a great opportunity to break into wider marketplaces and deliver an exciting growth plan.”

Multidiscipline dealmakers, GS Verde Group, advised on the deal, and the Development Bank of Wales and Venrex also provided funding and venture capital investment respectively.

Business Investment

Preliminary Land Assessments: A Crucial Step for Your Real Estate Venture

Investing in real estate is an opportunity that is not only exciting but also has the potential to be rewarding.

It does not matter if you are looking to build residential homes or business spaces or invest in land; the key to success is making judgments based on accurate information.

Conducting preliminary land evaluations is one of the most important steps involved in this procedure.

In this post, we’ll look into the reasoning behind why these evaluations are so critical. Also, you will learn how they might pave the way for a profitable enterprise in the real estate market.

So, let’s dive right in!

Understanding Preliminary Land Assessments

Preliminary land assessments, also known as site evaluations, involve a comprehensive analysis of the property’s characteristics and potential.

These assessments serve as a foundation for sound decision-making throughout real estate development. It is highly crucial, especially when you are going for any greenfield project or if this is your first real estate project.

You may also use convenient and practical environmental due diligence software to identify the right site for project development. Such software can recognize all environmental red flags and requirements for a project site in minutes.

And this thorough preliminary land assessment ultimately empowers developers to make informed choices that align with both their objectives and ecological responsibilities.

The Importance of Preliminary Land Assessments

You can enjoy several benefits when you thoroughly conduct land assessments. Some of them are listed below:

1. Identifying Feasibility and Viability

Assessing the land’s feasibility and viability is essential to determine if your vision aligns with reality. Factors such as environmental concerns, zoning restrictions, and access to utilities are crucial in determining a project’s success.

2. Mitigating Risks

By conducting a thorough assessment, you can identify potential risks and challenges early on. This includes issues like flood zones, soil contamination, or endangered species habitats. So, understanding these risks allows you to develop risk mitigation strategies and potentially save significant time and resources.

3. Optimal Land Utilization

A well-executed assessment enables you to explore the property’s full potential. You can analyze various land uses and determine the best-suited option, whether it’s building single-family homes, apartments, retail spaces, or office spaces.

4. Budgeting and Financing

Preliminary assessments provide crucial information for estimating project costs accurately. When approaching investors or financial institutions, having a detailed understanding of potential expenses instils confidence and increases the likelihood of securing funding.

5. Legal Compliance

Understanding local laws and regulations is vital to ensure your project is compliant with zoning ordinances, building codes, and environmental regulations. Non-compliance can lead to costly delays or even the termination of your real estate venture.

The Key Components of a Preliminary Land Assessment

There are some aspects of preliminary land assessment that you need to consider while you assess the land.

1. Site Analysis

A thorough analysis of the site’s physical features, including topography, soil quality, and drainage patterns, lays the groundwork for successful planning and design.

2. Market Research

Conducting a market analysis helps you understand the demand and competition in the area, giving you insights into the potential profitability of your greenfield project.

3. Environmental Assessment

Identifying any ecological concerns or potential hazards is crucial for your development’s sustainability and long-term success.

4. Legal and Regulatory Review

Understanding local zoning laws, permits, and restrictions ensures that your project complies with all legal requirements.

5. Infrastructure and Utilities

Assessing the availability and accessibility of utilities, transportation, and other infrastructure will influence the feasibility of your project.

In Conclusion

So there you have it! Preliminary land assessments are an indispensable step in any real estate venture. They comprehensively understand the property’s potential, risks, and opportunities, guiding your decisions from conception to completion. Remember, investing in professional expertise and partnering with experienced consultants will enhance the accuracy and reliability of your preliminary land assessment.

Business Advice, Business Investment, News

Will 2023 Be the Year for Investment Opportunity?

Investing is a shrewd practice, and one which more and more individuals are engaging with as a form of long-term wealth management. After a decade of low interest rates, and an explosion in availability of consumer-side financial tools such as retail trading apps, consumers are taking investment opportunities into their own hands to maximise the leverage of their savings. But for investors new to the practice, the coming year can seem a difficult prospect. With recession all-but guaranteed, is 2023 the right time to invest?

A Year of Recession

The outlook for 2023 is a grim one, as analysts, economic speculators and even the UK government agree that a period of serious economic downturn is on the horizon. The nation has already experienced a difficult year, as a rising rate of inflation – fuelled by rising energy costs and increased costs relating to the importing of goods – has had a marked impact on the spending power of domestic consumers and even larger-scale businesses.

The continued downward pressure on the average consumer budget has led to decreased consumer spending – one of the leading factors in the development of recessions. Businesses were already struggling with marked increases in operating costs, but now face an extended period of reduced profit potential. Conventionally speaking, this makes for a difficult time for investors. But even in recession, there is opportunity.

Generating Profits from Downturn

Falling profits often herald falling stock values, leading many passive investors to see the value of their portfolio shrink as a result of market-wide downturn. Wealth managers can help their clients navigate through this downturn, though, with clever strategies that maximise short-term profits.

Shorting is a high-risk strategy, but something of an artform perfected by high-value hedge funds and investment institutions. It essentially enables portfolio managers to generate revenue from falling stock values as opposed to rising ones; this is achieved through borrowing shares from another institution at a particular price point, selling said shares then buying them back at a lower value. The difference is kept as profit, and the shares are returned to the initial borrower.

This strategy is a high-risk one in general, but periods of recession reduce the risk inherent to the practice. While not a recommended strategy for newcomers to investment, it can be an effective way to leverage volatile market swings – particularly when it comes to businesses with negative cashflow or high debt load.

Long-Term Investment Strategy

But the majority of investors are not investing for short-term gains. Instead, they will be looking for assurances that the value of their investment is secured for the long term. In this way, recessions are the perfect time to not only hang on to existing stocks and fund positions, but also to make active and ‘safe’ investments for the future.

Stable businesses have little to fear from the recession, as the markets will naturally rebound and stock prices with them. With this in mind, investors can leverage the stability of businesses with high cashflow and low debt burdens, investing at a ‘discount’ and benefitting from medium-term rises in value.

Business Investment, News

Impact platform, Neighbourly, secures £1.6m in accelerator investment round

Awarded Queen’s Award for Enterprise in innovation category

Neighbourly, the community investment and engagement platform for business, has successfully raised an additional £1.6 million led by Guinness Ventures. This latest funding round takes the total investment raised to date by the company to £8m ($10m).

Founded in 2014, Neighbourly matches businesses with local good causes to ensure that donations of volunteer time, financial support or surplus products reach those who need it most, creating positive and measurable impact for organisations, communities and the planet.

The investment will help further expand the team and accelerate both brand and product development at a critical time when businesses are increasingly needing to deliver on ESG objectives as part of their overall strategy. ESG has become even more of a focus for business following the impact of Covid-19, the climate crisis, and now the cost of living crisis.

The last 12 months have seen a significant increase in demand from businesses wanting to deliver and measure social and environmental impact at a local level, as well as from local good causes needing to meet increasing demand from the communities they support. Neighbourly estimate that over 7.6 million people across the UK & Ireland are being helped each week by the local charities and good causes on the platform. Recent new clients include Virgin Media O2, Sainsbury’s, Getir, Boden, Gallagher and The FCA.

Neighbourly has had other reasons to celebrate recently, when they were awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the innovation category.

Steve Butterworth, CEO, Neighbourly said “The last few years have been incredibly tough for local communities and businesses alike. For Neighbourly to have been able to grow a technology solution that’s enabled organisations to have a positive impact at a local level during this time signals a changing world in which being a successful business is being one that is a force for good. The new investment will allow us to reach more businesses to help them develop and deliver their social and environmental programmes, and benefit many more local communities.”

Ashley Abrahams, Fund Manager, Guinness Ventures commented, “We have been working alongside Neighbourly for just over a year now, and in just this short space of time, the platform has grown to support over 20,000 community organisations. This latest investment, into one of UK’s founding B corporations, is a testament to its sustained growth and strong business model.”

 

*Photo: Zoe Colosimo, COO, Neighbourly and Steve Butterworth, CEO, Neighbourly

 

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About Neighbourly
Neighbourly is a multi award-winning community investment and engagement platform, connecting businesses with thousands of local vetted good causes to make a positive and measurable impact in our neighbourhoods.

Companies including M&S, Sainsbury’s, Lidl, Heineken, Aldi, B&Q, Danone, Cadent, RSA, Samsung and Virgin Media 02 use Neighbourly to donate volunteer time, funds and surplus products to causes across the UK and Ireland, through CSR and sustainability initiatives.

As the UK market leader in community investment, Neighbourly has helped disburse £17.5m in financial donations, 80,000 hours of employee volunteering and redistribute 87m meals worth of surplus.

Neighbourly was one of the UK’s first B Corporations, a for-profit company certified by the non-profit B Lab to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.

In April 2022 Neighbourly was awarded a 2022 Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the Innovation category. The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are the most prestigious business awards in the country with the innovation category recognising businesses that demonstrate strong commercially successful innovative products or services.
www.neighbourly.com

About Guinness Ventures
Guinness Ventures is part of Guinness Asset Management, a London-based specialist fund management company, established in 2003.  Guinness manages over £4 billion for institutional and retail investors, investing in public and private companies.  Guinness Ventures is a leading EIS Investor, who since 2010 has raised and invested over £200 million into more than 100 companies. A generalist investor with an ethical focus, several of the fastest growing companies in the UK are held in their EIS portfolio. Guinness Asset Management is authorised and regulated by the FCA.
www.guinnessgi.com/ventures