BDO is proud to provide accounting and business advisory services to over 180 AIM-quoted companies. Our clients are Britain’s economic engine – ambitious, entrepreneurially spirited and high-growth businesses that fuel the economy and the owners and management teams that lead them.

Our clients’ challenges do not exist in silos and neither do we. We do not shy away from investing time in a long-term relationship so that we can stand in our clients’ shoes while helping them. We get behind the numbers and understand our clients’ business so that we offer honest, practical advice that is relevant to their own situation. 

BDO LLP is a key member of the BDO global network of public accounting, tax and advisory firms. The BDO global network provides business advisory services in 167 countries, with 91,000 people working out of 1,658 offices worldwide. It has revenues of $10.3bn. Being a member of the BDO global network allows us to meet the needs of clients who are growing and trading internationally. 

Find out more about us at:

www.bdo.co.uk

Almost 26 years on from its launch, AIM is firmly established as the world’s leading growth market.

Over 3,900 companies have raised a combined £124bn on AIM since 1995, including £78bn through further capital raising, funding their ongoing expansion and development. The unique global community of advisers and investors who help companies join AIM and support them once on market is integral to AIM’s success.

AIM’s market structure, specially designed to meet the needs of SMEs, continues to create a compelling offering for companies seeking to raise long-term funds on a public market. AIM’s success has enhanced London’s reputation as the world’s capital market, where companies seek to benefit from London’s core strengths: international profile; high standards of regulation; and the deep pools of capital.

Zeus Capital is an independent investment bank with a multi-disciplinary team, covering corporate finance, corporate broking and sales, supported by research analysts with deep sector knowledge. The experienced team advised on five of the seven largest AIM IPOs in 2021. Established in 2003, Zeus Capital has offices in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh.
 
Zeus Capital provides high quality financial advice to both public and private companies. The team’s strength lies in its: 

• Extensive experience covering IPOs (particularly in the mid-market), private and secondary fundraisings, mergers & acquisitions and corporate advisory through to complex structured financings, debt advisory and restructuring 
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of markets 
• Consistency of people, quality and relationships 
• Access to independent sources of capital and innovative funding solutions 

Zeus Capital’s approach is characterised by an emphasis on developing strong relationships with clients through: 

• Long-term commitment 
• Understanding clients’ businesses and needs 
• Adding value through the generation of new ideas for business development and in the structuring, negotiation and execution of transactions 
• Building close working relationships at all levels 
• Dedicated relationship teams
• Entrepreneurial approach 

Mercia provides regional fast-growth SMEs with the capital crafted to help them scale; flexible funding to meet their immediate needs and the insight, experience and commitment of a team of great people to ensure that everyone invested in this journey grow, together. Mercia utilises its assets under management (AuM) to invest in promising regional businesses at any stage in their growth journey, from seed to Series B through Venture, Private Equity and Debt.

Its managed investment vehicles, including its VCTs (venture capital trusts) and EIS funds, are among the highest performing in the UK. Mercia’s EIS funds are the fourth best performing and its VCTs are among the highest and most consistently performing from the perspective of net asset value increase.

Mercia has a portfolio of around 400 companies across its managed funds and around 20 on its balance sheet, which are all carefully nurtured by its experienced investment team members and its central resources.

With over 120 employees, its talented team makes up the second most active venture capital manager in the UK outside of London (June 2021, Beauhurst).

www.mercia.co.uk

Winterflood Securities is No.1 in the UK Equity market, committed to providing liquidity and flexible execution services to institutional investors, retail brokers and asset managers.

Winterflood’s strengths are a combination of traditional trading values and the performance of our own cutting-edge technology.

Winterflood Securities has been fully committed to the AIM market since the beginning in 1995, when only ten companies were quoted. There are now over 800 companies quoted on the world’s leading growth market and we cover nearly every one of these stocks.

Winterflood Securities is once again delighted to sponsor the Best Use of AIM Award and would like to congratulate all of the award winners. We hope that their success will continue to promote the vital role that AIM plays in the provision of capital for small, young and fast-growing companies.

Cenkos is a leading independent institutional broker, delivering capital and corporate advice to support sustainable growth.

We understand that a commitment to the long term view and taking the time to understand our client’s needs and ambitions underpins successful growth stories. We are dedicated to finding pragmatic, realistic routes to achieve our clients’ aims. With a strong network of committed investors, we can provide multiple options to find the right approach for each client. By providing clear, honest feedback we are a trusted adviser to our clients. 

Cenkos completed 34 transactions including two IPOs in 2021 and raised over £1.2bn in 2021.

Cenkos are delighted to sponsor the Best Technology Award.

BDB Pitmans’ capital markets practice covers all matters surrounding the introduction of companies to AIM, and we are the retained legal adviser for a number of listed companies across a variety of areas.

We are proud to be sponsoring the ‘Diversity Champion Award’ at the AIM Awards 2021. At BDB Pitmans, diversity and inclusion isn’t just a tick box exercise. We strive to create an environment for all staff members which is not only free from any form of discrimination, harassment or bullying, but celebrates and values diversity. In 2020, we appointed our first ‘Diversity and Inclusion Manager’ which underlines the firm’s commitment to this area. 

We became BDB Pitmans in 2018 following the merger of legacy firms Bircham Dyson Bell (BDB) and Pitmans Law. Based at offices in London, Cambridge, Reading and Southampton we approach every case with the bigger picture in mind. 

www.bdbpitmans.com

Shore Capital is an independent securities business offering institutional and corporate clients leading investment banking, research, sales and trading services, including fixed income.  We are represented across the UK enabling extensive distribution and institutional coverage. This distribution capability is complemented by our experienced corporate advisory and broking team who offer discreet, innovative and valued advice to companies on both the Main Market and AIM.  We have circa 115 retained corporate clients and Shore Capital is also the 3rd largest market maker by number of AIM stocks covered.
 
Our cross-disciplinary team has deep, market leading experience in a wide range of small and mid-cap UK companies within the following sectors: Consumer, Financials, Healthcare, Insurance, Natural Resources, Real Estate, Support Services, Technology and Media. Our research on over 250 companies is distributed to an extensive institutional client base in the UK, Europe and US.

ONE Advisory is proud to provide its corporate services to more than 90 AIM and main market clients. 

ONE Advisory provides day-to-day Co-Sec, Corporate Governance and Compliance services to its clients as well as being AIM’s adviser of choice in delivering IFRS conversions, FPPP drafting and IPO project management services.

ONE Advisory has broad and deep relationships with the AIM capital markets community and is owned and staffed by ex Nomads, corporate lawyers, reporting accountants and company secretaries.

ONE Advisory is delighted to be the sponsor of the AIM Corporate Governance Award.

www.oneadvisory.london

BGF backs companies with ambitious growth plans, driven by strong management teams.

Whether scaling operations, expanding into new markets or pursuing a strategic acquisition, BGF can provide cornerstone investments to reduce fundraising and execution risk. BGF’s Quoted team has invested c£500m across over 75 AIM-listed companies to date. Investments span every region and sector of the economy within the smallcap space.

BGF typically invests between £2m and £10m in the companies it backs, but can provide follow-on funding beyond this to support growth. With a balance sheet of £2.5bn, BGF is the most active and influential investor in small and mid-sized businesses in the UK and Ireland.

www.bgf.co.uk

PrimaryBid is the only platform where individuals can join corporate fundraisings on equal terms as institutional investors. We're putting the public back into public markets.

In partnership with the London Stock Exchange and Euronext, PrimaryBid has created the infrastructure to seamlessly connect retail investors with public companies when it matters most.

Our mission is to enhance fairness, inclusivity and transparency in capital markets. Through our innovative service, retail investors have been able to access capital raisings on the same terms and same price as institutional investors. Individual shareholders should have the same opportunities as institutional investors.

The response from Boards and their advisers to our solution has been excellent: they recognise our digital solution for retail inclusion brings together both good governance and best execution.

www.primarybid.com

Octopus Investments, part of the Octopus Group, is a leading specialist investment business with over two decades of experience, dedicated to delivering tax efficient investment solutions to financial advisers and investors across the UK. We are the largest provider of VCTs, EIS and BPR-qualifying investments and an active investor in UK smaller companies. 
 
At Octopus we champion the value of financial advice and passionately believe that more people and their families could benefit from financial planning. We want to change the world of investments by offering a straight-talking approach, exceptional customer service and products that aim to do what they say they will.

WH Ireland Capital Markets provides financial advisory and broking services to public and private growth companies. Our expertise covers the full range of solutions, including IPOs, private and public equity placements, takeovers and M&A amongst other specialist remits. We have built a diverse network of public and private investors, encompassing everything from large institutions to high-net-worth individuals and family offices through the WH Ireland Investor Forum. To date we have helped multiple growth companies fulfil their ambitions and today the team is engaged by around 100 growth companies to support their strategies.

Do you have the right people, processes and technology for success?

Today’s business world is more complex than ever before. To address its biggest challenges, Robert Half & Protiviti together form the world’s first and largest specialised talent solutions and business consulting firm, helping organisations to navigate change and growth. We provide companies with the know-how, resources and advice they need to succeed, offering flexible managed solutions to their biggest problems. By combining expert consultancy with well-established, global talent networks, our combined solutions are as nimble as the companies that use them. 

Named in FORTUNE’s World's Most Admired Companies and 100 Best Companies to Work For lists, in addition to a Forbes Best Employer for Diversity, the two halves of our business come together to form a powerful whole – one global firm that delivers deep expertise, objective insights, outstanding talent and unparalleled collaboration to help you face the future with confidence.

www.roberthalf.co.uk www.protiviti.com/UK

Corporate
Creative
Communications

Design Portfolio is a group of strategic advisors, creative thinkers and compelling storytellers. Based in London and Leeds, we work with companies big and small to craft engaging and impactful communications. We combine strategy with creativity to bring stories to life through:

• Digital
• Reporting
• Sustainability
• Presentations
• Video
• Brand