The EIS Association Awards denote excellence in a number of EIS and SEIS fields. The Awards were presented to firms, advisers, companies, individuals and journalists that achieved outstanding performance in the context of the EIS & SEIS schemes during 2017. For the first time there were awards for the Best Result in EIS Diploma and Best Custodian/Administrator this year.
The judges said: “We have once again been hugely impressed with the standard of this year’s EISA Awards submissions, with entrants demonstrating their support from across the small business spectrum, from start-ups graduating from incubators all the way up to more established businesses. We have also been encouraged to see support for EISA and their efforts to bring together entrepreneurs, investors and professional service providers. The EISA awards celebrate all sections of the EIS and SEIS industry and our job as independent judges of the awards afford us a tremendous insight into everything the industry has to offer which judging from the quality of entries appears to be in rude health.”
The members of the independent judging panel for the Awards were:
• Dr Mike Bandar BEM – Serial entrepreneur, Partner at Turn Partners
• Mark Brownridge – EISA Director General – Non voting (pictured above)
• Martin Fox – Bulletin Marketing – Managing Director – Non voting
• Declan McAndrew CFA – Foster Denovo – Head of Investment Research
• Lee Moran -1825 – Chair of the Investment Committee & Head of Research
• Ewoud Karelse – Tilney – Product Specialist
• Ian Merricks – Founder of the Accelerator Academy and Partner at White Horse Capital
• Scott Shearer – Senior Manager, Communications – British Business
• Malcolm Snook – MPL Wealth Management – Senior Financial Planning Manager
The winners of this year’s awards and those highly commended by the judges are listed below:
Best EIS Fund Manager/Sponsor – sponsored by Edwin Coe
Winner: Parkwalk Advisors
Judges’ comments “Parkwalk – Good returns and good early focus exactly in line with the objectives of EIS.”
Pictured are John Young of Edwin Coe with Enrico D’Angelo of Parkwalk Advisors.
Highly Commended: Calculus Capital
Best SEIS Fund Manager – sponsored by Reyker
Winner: Sapphire Capital Partners
Judges’ comments “Sapphire – Very supportive of the space. Interesting mix of funds and at early stage. Strong comms and support of investors and portfolios.”
Pictured are Martin Auger of Reyker with Boyd Carson of Sapphire Capital Partners.
Highly Commended: CHF Enterprises
Best EIS/SEIS Tax Adviser – sponsored by Exact Financial Systems
Winner: Philip Hare & Associates
Judges’ comments “Philip Hare – Arguably the market leader in tax advice; good examples given of involvement with clients and achievements • Provided constructive feedback to HMRC advocating a progressive principles-based approach and assisted many parties in responding to consultation papers in addition to its own representations • Evidence of team-based support for EISA including ‘Green Shoots’ • Innovative pro-bono support for start-ups “graduating” from incubators as well as helping AIM brokers identify companies which could qualify for EIS • In addition to basic support for industry with publishing updates and commentary, the firm also helped HMRC with its digitisation initiative • While not known for PR and a social media presence, the team provides thought leadership to other tax firms and legal advisers as well as HMRC, BVCA and the EISA.”
Pictured are Gary Butcher of Exact Financial Systems with Alison Caulfield of Philip Hare & Associates.
Highly Commended: Chiene & Tait
Best EIS/SEIS Legal or Regulatory Adviser – sponsored by Guinness Asset Management
Winner: BWB Compliance
Judges’ comments “BWB- Detailed and relevant response to the criteria in this category. There were specific examples of the proactive nature of the work and especially multiple interaction with the regulator and government. Effective lobbying and influencing is easier said than achieved. To do so on the scope of issues is invaluable to the EIS sector that is too often misunderstood and wrongly designated. BWB Compliance’s level of service in tailoring training and support for clients are key positives. Chairing the EISA regulatory committee shows their commitment and is beneficial to all. A worthy winner.”
Pictured are Shane Gallwey of Guinness Asset Management with Gillian Roche-Saunders of BWB Compliance.
Highly Commended: Bovill
Best EIS Investment Exit – sponsored by Mainspring Fund Services
Winner: Endeavour Ventures for Blue Prism
Judges’ comments “- The returns are obviously very high, and investments made at early stage in process. That it went on to become Unicorn (although now dropped) particularly impressive given initial share price – tempted to give it a 10!”
Pictured are Natasha Head of Mainspring Fund Services with Bill Cunningham of Endeavour Ventures
Highly Commended: MMC Ventures for Love Home Swap
Best EIS/SEIS Custodian/Administrator, sponsored by CoInvestor
Winner: Mainspring Fund Services
Judges’ comments “Mainspring – Mainspring have demonstrated their commitment to investing in IT infrastructure via the launch of a new operating software platform. Both this and adaptive pricing structure appear to be positives, although the submission did not provide supplementary information or evidence to back up the claims of client benefit. EIS is a core business for them, as such they have developed specialist knowledge. Their willingness to be flexible to different fund types and welcoming new entrants are admirable qualities, Their website gives a good overview to potential new EIS participants. They have supported the EISA in both sponsorship of awards, hosting events and committee representation. Thought leadership pieces on their website and social media activity are points in their favour. Overall, a consistent entry”
Pictured are Sam Plumptre of CoInvestor with Stephen Geddes of Mainspring Fund Services
Highly Commended: The Share Centre
Best Innovation, Newcomer or Rising Star in EIS/SEIS – Company – sponsored by Downing
Winner: Startup Funding Club
Judges’ comments “Startup Funding Club – A new fund launch in 2017! The entry clearly demonstrates the funds objectives and how this is set apart from other offerings. Investors in the new proposition will have access to a genuinely innovative investment opportunity, this is exactly what EIS/SEIS needs to drive it forward.”
Pictured are Chris Allner of Downing with Stephen Page of Startup Funding Club.
Highly commended: Worth Capital
Best Innovation, Newcomer or Rising Star in EIS/SEIS – Individual – sponsored by Deal Partners
Winner: James Ramsay, Tax Efficient Procurement Services (TEPS)
Judges’ comments “James draws on wide experience in financial services and tax efficient vehicles, therefore not a younger professional. The TEPS offering is certainly innovative and arguably needed for the EIS sector. The submission is focused on TEPS rather than James, although it is entirely James’ baby so perhaps this is understandable. Having said that, developing relationships with other non EIS service providers such as SIFA and Intelliflo are vital to extend the sector’s attraction and dispel misconceptions. In many ways, adviser education, streamlining administration and valuation processes are vital components that James / TEPS are embracing. Due to not being directly a provider does lend James a distance and potential perspective. It is early days for TEPS and the success for James’ venture is yet to be determined, although he /its does make a valuable contribution to the sector.”
Pictured are Clive Morris of Deal Partners with James Ramsay.
Highly Commended: Boyd Carson, Sapphire Capital Partners
Best EIS/SEIS Journalist, sponsored by Kuber Ventures
Winner: Vanessa Houlder
This award was launched last year. At EISA we recognise that there is still a long way to go in both informing and educating people about EIS and the benefits it offers. Benefits not just to investors, but to companies and the wider economy through jobs, tax revenues and other social benefits. Journalists are key influencers in this and so it seems only right to recognise a journalist that is helping us to achieve this goal.
This award was judged by the PR agency of EISA, Bulletin, who reviewed what has been written on EIS across 2017.
Pictured are Dermot Campbell of Kuber Ventures with Vanessa Holder
Best Result in EIS Diploma, sponsored by Tolley
Winner: Neil Norman
Pictured are Chris Siddle of Tolley with Neil Norman of Chiene & Tait
Highly commended: Rachel Guest
