New Horizons

This report has been produced by the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association to highlight the ways in which the industry contributes public value to the United Kingdom and how in 2021 it can help address a range of policy challenges and opportunities.

The industry has a significant presence in the UK developed over the past 30 years. Private equity and venture capital provide UK companies with the finance and know-how to deliver sustainable business growth. Active ownership over the medium to long term delivers economic and social value to those involved in the businesses (from employees, management and owners on the one hand to customers and suppliers on the other) and a wide group of stakeholders (the local communities in which they are based and policymakers).

Both parts of the industry are focused on delivering sustainable growth for the companies in which they invest: venture capital firms typically support early stage and younger companies, holding minority stakes in the businesses, while private equity firms typically acquire controlling stakes in more established businesses.

Part one of the report highlights the key policy themes and how the industry is aligned to support policymakers’ objectives; part two provides further background and detail on how the industry operates; and part three offers further insights into the contributions made by private equity and venture capital.