Celebrating excellence within private capital.
Every year, UK Private Capital (formerly the BVCA) celebrates outstanding performance within our membership. Our awards recognise high growth leaders, rising stars, lifetime achievers and the best teams backed by private capital, as well as our members’ outstanding commitment to responsible investment.
An overview of our awards can be found below.
UK Private Capital Awards | 1 December 2026, London
The UK Private Capital Awards mark a new chapter in the evolution of our flagship Gala Dinner. For the first time, we are bringing together the full breadth of our awards programme into a single, landmark event. This festive occasion will showcase the excellence, leadership and contribution of the industry’s role in shaping the UK economy.
Rising Star Award
Championing the next generation of private capital
New for 2026, the Rising Star Award, supported by Gowling WLG, celebrates outstanding early-career professionals who are already making a meaningful impact within the private capital industry. Open to individuals in the early stages of their careers, the award recognises those who have played a significant role in projects, deals or portfolio value creation initiatives, demonstrated innovation through new ideas and approaches, and made a positive impact on their firm's culture or the wider private capital ecosystem.
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Designed for professionals typically at Analyst, Associate, Senior Associate, Executive and Manager level, the award shines a spotlight on the next generation of industry talent. By recognising emerging leaders, the Rising Star Award helps strengthen the talent pipeline across private capital while showcasing the individuals shaping the industry's future.
2026 Award – nominations open
Please submit your nomination for this year's award using our online submission form. Nominations close on Friday, 2 October 2026.
An independent judging panel comprising private capital industry leaders will review the submissions and present the award in December 2026.
For further information about the award or your submission, please contact Natalie Whiley, Head of Learning & Development, UK Private Capital.
2026 Award criteria
Industry Experience
Nominees must have:
- Less than five years' total experience in the private capital industry. This may include experience as an investor, dealmaker or in professional services across venture capital, growth equity, private equity and private credit.
- Years of experience will be calculated as of the application deadline.
Role and Employment
Nominees must:
- Be currently employed by a UK Private Capital member firm.
- Be in a permanent role or a long-term contract position (e.g. a contract of more than 12 months).
- Be based and working in the UK.
Contribution
Nominees must demonstrate a meaningful contribution to their area of work within the last 12–24 months in one or more of the following areas:
- Project – playing a significant role in a project, deal or portfolio value creation initiative.
- Innovation – introducing new ideas, tools or approaches.
- Culture and Industry – making a positive impact on their firm's culture or the broader private capital ecosystem.
Nomination Type
Nominations may be submitted:
- By the nominee's firm; or
- As a cross-firm nomination.
Supporting Evidence
Applicants should provide a short case study covering:
- The context of the project or deal.
- The nominee's role and responsibilities.
- What they did differently or exceptionally well.
- The outcomes achieved (quantitative and/or qualitative).
Inspirational Women Award
Recognising high growth leaders
In 2024, UK Private Capital launched a new Inspirational Women Award to recognise and celebrate the successes of leaders backed by private capital who have led and exited high growth businesses.
Born out of the government's 'Women-led high-growth enterprises taskforce', this award, supported by Grant Thornton, is designed to motivate and encourage the next generation of female entrepreneurs and will showcase the talent, best practice, dynamism and innovation that is emerging, providing another crucial layer of visibility for female-led, high growth private businesses.
2026 Award – nominations open
Please submit your nomination for this year's award using our online submission form. Nominations close on Friday, 2 October 2026.
An independent judging panel comprising past UK Private Capital Chairs will review the submissions and present the award at a dedicated event in December 2026.
For further information about the award or your submission, please contact Amy Abbott, Director of Industry Development, UK Private Capital.
Sponsored by
2026 Award criteria
The award recognises female founders and CEOs managing high growth private businesses.
The female leader's business will have received backing from private capital (UK Private Capital members only).
For this award, a high growth business is defined as an enterprise which has an average annualised growth greater than 20% per annum, over a three-year period, measured by the number of employees or turnover, with at least 10 employees in the baseline year.
The business should have been exited (through trade/IPO/PE). The timeframe for exited businesses should be within the past three years.
The nominees should not only have demonstrated their ability to build a high growth business, but should also be role models for other female founders/entrepreneurs/CEOs, and have demonstrated their commitment to mentoring/helping other female entrepreneurs.
The nomination process opened on Tuesday, 3 March 2026 and will close on Friday, 2 October 2026. The winner will be announced in December 2026.
2026 Judging panel
- Cheryl Potter (2026 Chair of the Judging Panel)
Non-Executive Director, Level 20 and Marks & Spencer - Kerry Baldwin
Managing Partner, IQ Capital - Dame Anne Glover
Chief Executive and Co-Founder, Amadeus Capital Partners - Helen Steers MBE
Past Winners
2025 Winner
We were delighted to announce Monica Vinader, the Founder and CEO of Monica Vinader, as the winner of the 2025 Inspirational Women Award.
The judges recognised Monica as an extraordinary entrepreneur whose commitment to building a purpose-driven, high growth business has transformed the luxury jewellery landscape and inspired a generation of female founders. Her values-led leadership sets her apart as an inspirational founder and CEO, building a brand with sustainability, transparency, and inclusion at its heart. Monica has shown enduring dedication to using her business to drive wider change in society and commitment to empowering women.
2024 Winner
We were delighted to award Baroness Poppy Gustafsson as the inaugural winner of the Inspirational Women Award, recognising high growth leaders. Poppy is the Co-Founder and former Chief Executive Officer at Darktrace, who successfully demonstrated leading and twice-exiting high growth private organisations, proving a role model for other female founders and entrepreneurs. Shortly after winning the award, Poppy was appointed Investment Minister in the newly formed Labour Government.
Vision – Leaders Driving Growth Awards
UK Private Capital's Vision initiative celebrates the best teams backed by private equity and venture capital, awarding portfolio companies and their investors.
Supported by Grant Thornton and Santander, these annual awards take into account growth, competitiveness, innovation, ESG and the challenges of the year, with a focus on the future and the sustainability of the business as well as past performance. In addition to the portfolio companies, this initiative also awards GPs to recognise the incredible support our members provide to their investee companies.
The themes for recognition include:
- How companies remained competitive
- How growth was achieved
- Demonstrable innovation or agility
- ESG commitment and progress
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Supporting Sponsor
Excellence in Sustainability Awards
UK Private Capital's Excellence in Sustainability initiative celebrates firms from across the private capital ecosystem that have made an outstanding commitment to responsible investment principles. The initiative recognises the vital work our members are undertaking to embed responsible investment principles and practices, and provides a platform to demonstrate our industry’s commitment to sustainability.
Categories:
- GP (above £1bn AUM)
- GP (below £1bn AUM)
- LP (all sizes)
- Venture Capital (all sizes)
- Portfolio Company (backed by a UK Private Capital member)
Excellence in Impact Awards
UK Private Capital's Excellence in Impact initiative celebrates our members’ commitment to making an environmental and social impact, alongside making financial returns. The initiative aims to showcase best practice in impact investing, alongside the environmental and social solutions our members are facilitating through their portfolio companies.
Categories:
- GP (specialising in impact investing strategies)
- LP (with an impact investing strategy)
- Portfolio Company (backed by a UK Private Capital member)
Latest award winners
