UK Private Capital has been championing the venture capital industry and pushing for unlocking greater domestic capital from institutions and elsewhere to back this asset class and the pipeline of companies they invest in.
The 2025 Autumn Budget’s focus on entrepreneurship was very welcome, particularly the announcements regarding the expansion of EMI company eligibility & the doubling of investment thresholds for the EIS and VCT schemes. We remain concerned about the accompanying reduction in VCT tax reliefs. Building on this, the government published a call for evidence on how the tax system can support entrepreneurship.
The UK’s growth agenda is entering a decisive phase. Pressure on productivity, intensifying global competition and renewed focus on economic resilience mean that 2026 will be a critical year for how the UK supports innovation, scale and long-term value creation.
Defence investment was once taboo for many VCs and their LPs, either considered too risky from a reputational perspective or perceived incompatibility with ESG/RI frameworks
Over the past two years, the BVCA has undertaken a significant plan of work to help unlock greater levels of pension fund investment in venture and growth capital. From our Investment Compact to the work of the Pensions & Private Capital Expert Panel, we have been working to bring two industries together for the benefit of ambitious SMEs and the pension savers who can benefit from their growth.
A shorter update this month, however, despite what some of our cousins across the pond say on social media about European tech shutting down over the summer, there has been no sense of that here or from our members. Deals, fundraising and exits have continued apace, including the sale of an Oxford University spinout, OrganOx, for a reported $1.5bn.
Besides the traditional of flurry of getting VC deals over the line, the period as we enter summer is also a busy one for government and regulators. This year is no exception.
