12 May 2023

Yorkshire and North East Businesses recognised for exceptional performance

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Four businesses from across Yorkshire and the North East have been recognised for the exceptional performances in 2022.
Leeds-based Crisp and Panintellgience along with iamproperty from Gosforth and Cutwel, headquartered in Cleckheaton, all received the recognition as part of the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association’s (BVCA) ‘Vision 2023’.

Vision 2023, produced in collaboration with Grant Thornton, shines a light on the best management teams backed by the BVCA’s private equity and venture capital members.

Judging criteria includes growth, competitiveness, innovation and ESG factors, with judges considering the firms’ focus on the future as well as past performance.

Representatives from each of the recognised companies received a trophy at a ceremonial dinner last night in Leeds.


Michael Moore, Chief Executive of the BVCA, said:

2022 was a challenging year where companies faced difficulties with rising interest rates and inflation. However, even in these challenging times private is supporting businesses across Yorkshire and North East England to innovate, grow, create jobs and bring value to the communities they operate within.

“The companies recognised are leading examples of how a business can grow with the funding, business expertise and hands-on management approach synonymous with private capital.”


Grant Thornton, said:

“These four companies, with the support of private capital, have excelled over the past year through innovation, sustainable growth and job creation across the Yorkshire and North East region.

“We are delighted to support the Vision awards programme and to celebrate the success of the management teams of Crisp, Panintellgience, Iamproperty and Cutwel.”


Read the awards booklet

 

The recognised firms
Crisp, a Kroll Business backed by Baird Capital

Crisp came on top from all nominations received in the region. A strong business from an impact point of view, Crisp was established to protect children and teenagers using online games, apps, and social networks from child exploitation. The business has expanded its intelligence capabilities to also include trolling, hate, media, influencer, terrorist, conspiracy, election interference, bad actors, agenda-driven, fringe and community groups. With strong financial returns, innovation and a competitive edge the judges felt that the business ticked all boxes of Vision’s recognition themes. Crisp is also closely working together with the Government, and is a founding member of OSTIA, the gov-backed industry body for UK companies working towards a safer internet for everyone. Baird successfully exited the firm in 2022 and it was then acquired by Kroll.


iamproperty backed by LDC

The name might ring familiar as we recognised iamproperty as part of Vision 2022. However, since then the firm has accelerated growth and increased revenues by 31% from £37.9m to £55.2m and doubled its headcount from 200 to c.400, so the judges felt strongly about recognising them again. iamproperty was set up to provide digital solutions for estate agents and has evolved to become the UK’s largest residential auctioneer.


Cutwel backed by NorthEdge

A traditional business, Cutwel is a specialist distributor of engineering cutting tools and machine tool accessories. Cutwel tells a great PE story, the business has been well transitioned from family ownership to an incentivised management team. Cutwel has a good growth story, and it stands out against the recognition theme of competitiveness. The business invested in digital platforms and tools to drive sales, while competitors are still following the traditional person-focused, travelling to customers approach.


Panintellgience backed by YFM Equity Partners – marked as ‘One to watch’

Panintelligence is a provider of Business Intelligence and Predictive Analytics software to software vendors. They’re early in the journey, but have already achieved good growth. The business has a strong focus on the local community, the CEO has launched ‘No Code Lab’ a not-for-profit initiative helping people without coding skills to create software and ‘Lean in Leeds’ a community of 900+ women, focusing on enhancing female representation in tech.


Read the awards booklet

 

You can read more about the recognised businesses in the judging booklet here, or more about Vision 2023 on its webpage, here.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Karen Keany, BVCA: [email protected]

 


Notes to editors

About the British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association

The BVCA, as the representative body for private equity and venture capital, connects institutional investors, fund managers, companies, advisers and service providers together, with our membership currently comprising more than 700 businesses from across the private capital ecosystem. This includes more than 325 PE and VC firms, 100 institutional investors and 220 professional services firms.

Private capital drives growth – providing the funding, expertise and long-term view that enables companies to innovate and flourish. Our mission is to advocate the transformative nature of the private equity and venture capital community.

 

About Grant Thornton UK LLP

Grant Thornton is one of the world’s leading organisations of independent assurance, tax and advisory firms. We are an adviser that delivers technical expertise and a personal, proactive and agile service that goes beyond.

The UK member firm is part of a global network that employs 58,000 people in 135 countries. We combine global scale with local insight and understanding to build relationships and deliver the services you need to realise your ambitions.

The UK Grant Thornton member firm is led by over 200 partners and employs over 5000 of the profession’s brightest minds. We are a business adviser that celebrates fresh thinking and diverse perspectives to bring you proactive insights and a service you can trust.

Find out more at www.grantthornton.co.uk.

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