David Yates

Clean Growth Fund (CGF), a London-based venture capital firm focused on climate technology, has completed a €56.8 million first close for its second fund, aiming for a total of £150 million (€174 million). The funding will support early-stage UK startups driving net zero innovation in sectors like energy, mobility and the built environment. Ian Jamison | Beverley Gower-Jones OBE FEI | Beverley Gower-Jones OBE FEI | Robert Bahns | George Whitehead | Susannah McClintock | Jonathan Tudor 🔗 Read full article link in comment #CleanGrowthFund #ClimateTech #CleanGrowth #SustainableInnovation #GreenTech #EarlyStageStartups #VentureCapital #SustainableFinance #funding #eustartups #news

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E-taxi firm Sherbet raises £40m for growth Electric black taxi company Sherbet has raised up to £40m in supportive growth capital from European private equity firm Hoplon Investment Partners. The move marks one of the largest single investments in the history of the licensed London taxi trade, with the firm planning to use the cash in its expansion from 550 to 3,000 electric taxis over the next three years. Founded in 2013 by British entrepreneur and former black cab driver Asher Moses, Sherbet offers a zero-emissions, tech-enabled mobility platform, and operates one of the UK’s fastest-growing electric black cab fleet. Read the full story on the Transport + Energy website: https://lnkd.in/exDHWs9v #electricvehicles #etaxi #taxi #electrictaxi #london

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Now that the UK's £400 billion Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) has an explicit mandate to allocate assets to local investment, this authoritative white paper from The Good Economy provides helpful guidance to LGPS funds, pools and administering authorities on how to structure their collaboration to invest in the resilience of local economies in the UK.   The paper was developed in collaboration with most of the pools and several of the pension funds and asset managers who are leading in place-based impact investing today, so the recommendations are likely to resonate with other stakeholders in the LGPS.   The study also serves as an up-to-date description of current practise within the LGPS, illuminating the art of the possible for those funds and other stakeholders that are still forming their views.   I was pleased to see the discussion of "local" investment move beyond the narrow, stale debate on geographic definitions, to the essential characteristics of investing locally: local empowerment, focus on left-behind areas, holistic approach, collaboration across stakeholders, distinctiveness of local need, integration with local policy priorities. Download the full report at: https://lnkd.in/eq7K7Kwn (and don't forget the case study annex). #PlaceBasedImpactInvesting #pbii #impactinvesting #lgps #pensions #placemaking The Good Economy Partnership Limited Sarah Forster Sam Monger

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New reporting suggests that the UK has paid out staggering sums in R&D tax credits — and many businesses are feeling the squeeze. Director of R&D, Nigel Holmes FCA CTA, shared his thoughts with Business & Accountancy Daily. 🔑 Key insights:  -The scale of payouts raises questions about oversight, compliance, and risk.  -Legitimate claimants may be caught in the crossfire of stricter HMRC enforcement.  -The balance between rooting out abuse and protecting true innovators is under scrutiny. 💡 Why founders, finance leaders & advisors should care:  -Aggressive compliance regimes can chill R&D investment, especially for smaller firms.  -Documentation, transparency, and technical clarity are more critical than ever.  -Proactive review and expert guidance may be the difference between a smooth claim and a costly dispute. 📰 Read the article for further insight: https://lnkd.in/gA-Y7W8F  

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Investment in this country is key to getting growth. In September alone, we welcomed £150bn in investment commitments from some of America's top companies, including Microsoft, which announced a £22bn boost for AI infrastructure and its ongoing operations in the UK - its biggest ever financial commitment to this country. Today I met Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President, to discuss this landmark investment and to welcome the news that Microsoft will also partner with British company Nscale to build the UK’s largest supercomputer. This technology will help us confront the challenges of the future, from scientific breakthroughs to boosting productivity across our economy. With world-class universities, a wealth of talent, and the world’s third trillion-dollar tech sector, the UK is uniquely placed to seize future growth opportunities like these. By continuing to attract the most innovative companies to our shores, we are putting Britain at the cutting edge, delivering better jobs, higher wages, and growing our economy.

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Accountants: are your established SME clients feeling the squeeze?   In a new article for XU Magazine, Sophie Hossack, Head of Partnerships at Allica Bank, explores how the UK’s widening £65 billion lending gap is stalling growth and limiting productivity.    As trusted advisors, accountants are often the first to spot funding gaps early and can guide clients towards solutions before opportunities are lost.    Key takeaways:    📉 Traditional overdrafts are disappearing, removing a key safety net for everyday cashflow.  🚧 Access to flexible finance is tightening, making it harder for established SMEs to invest or seize growth opportunities.  ⚠️ Growth and productivity are at risk, with long-term implications for business owners.    👉 Read the full XU Magazine article for the data behind the gap, and how Allica is helping bridge it: https://lnkd.in/e4Cui_Uw   #accountants #SMEs #businessbanking #XUMagazine 

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FCA - Quantum Computing Applications in Financial Services This research was undertaken to explore the potential applications of quantum computing in UK financial services, and to assess how firms and regulators can prepare for their emergence. It was triggered by the continued advancement of quantum technologies, and by the need to understand what their deployment could mean for financial markets, consumers and the UK’s position as a global financial centre. Now is a critical moment: while commercial applications are still emerging, progress is accelerating and proactive regulatory engagement can help the UK capture opportunities while managing risks.

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