Best Investor Communication Award

sponsored by Zeus 

 
The 2022 shortlist:

Bango plc

Cambridge-based Bango is a mobile-based payments platform used by the world’s largest online merchants, including Amazon, Google and Microsoft.

Bango takes a proactive and engaging approach to its investor communication. The group’s website provides exclusive investor content, supported by an innovative and distinctive design, which is replicated in its Annual Report. Its investor proposition provides an accessible range of detailed information. 

ESG is part of Bango’s core strategy and during the year the group made a further drive to encourage investors to switch to paperless communications. 

Belvoir Group plc

Lincolnshire-based Belvoir Group is a leading UK property, mortgage and franchise group operating through two divisions: a network of property franchisees and a network of mortgage advisers.

Belvoir demonstrates a lot of best practice with its investor communication. The group’s business model communicates its unique value creation process for its stakeholders and there is an impressive level of detail available online for investors, including video content. 

Belvoir’s ESG strategy is supported by case studies and senior leadership statements that support the group’s commitment to corporate responsibility.

IQE plc

Cardiff-based IQE is the leading supplier of compound semiconductor wafer products and advanced material solutions to the global semiconductor industry.

IQE preformed well in the Best Investor Communication benchmark exercise. The group’s website was noted as being accessible and responsive and it made good use of diagrams to effectively communicate its product development process and to explain IQE’s unique capabilities. 

The group formed a Board-level Environmental, Social and Governance Committee last year to oversee the communication of its ESG activities with all stakeholders.

NWF Group plc

Cheshire-based NWF Group is a specialist distributor of fuel, food and feed across the UK. 

NWF was one of the top performers in the benchmarking exercise due to its impressive investor collateral. The group’s annual report has a unique format which contains divisional reviews of each of its sectors. It’s easy-to-navigate website seamlessly guides users through each section. 

NWF made significant progress on its ESG framework this year and established a target of net zero carbon emissions by 2040. 

The Pebble Group plc

Based in Manchester, The Pebble Group provides digital commerce, products and related services to the global promotional products industry.

Investing in and developing stakeholder relationships are central to The Pebble Group’s values. The group’s Annual Report content is engaging and informative and the investor section of its website includes a compelling investment case. 

The Pebble Group’s strong ESG credentials set the group apart in its markets and form an important element of its client relationships. 

Watkin Jones plc

Founded in Wales, Watkin Jones is the UK's leading developer and manager of residential for rent, with a focus on the build to rent, student accommodation and affordable housing sectors.

Watkin Jones places great emphasis on its communication with stakeholders. The group has produced an engaging annual report, with a strong business model and clear strategy. Its website includes a video case study demonstrating the group’s work in action. 

Watkin Jones has impressive ESG credentials, highlighting its accountability and commitment to corporate social responsibility. 

Best Use of AIM Award

sponsored by Winterflood Securities

 
The 2022 shortlist:

Franchise Brands plc

Macclesfield-based Franchise Brands builds market-leading businesses, primarily via a franchise model. The group supports its franchisees to successfully grow and achieve their goals.

Over the past five years, Franchise Brands has used a combination of shares and cash to execute a number of innovative deals to complement its “buy and build” strategy. During the period, the group purchased AIM-listed Filta Group, a commercial kitchen services provider, in a deal worth almost £50m. The takeover boosts Franchise Brands’ presence in North America and enhances the group’s ability to make further acquisitions. 

The group made good progress on its ESG journey in 2021 and initiated a process to determine what matters most and what to focus on.

FRP Advisory Group plc

London-based FRP Advisory is a leading national business advisory firm. The group specialises in forensics, corporate finance, debt, restructuring and pensions.

Since listing in 2020, FRP has used the AIM market to successfully transition the business from a partnership into a plc. The group launched an employee benefit trust to incentivise colleagues at IPO, attracting further talent into the business from competing firms and enabling the staff base to grow by around 50%. In May 2022, FRP attracted additional institutions to its register through a £39m placing of new and existing shares, including an extension of the partner lock-in to further align this group with shareholders, with partners still holding 40% of the business.

The group is mindful of its responsibility to protect the environment, support colleagues and operate in a transparent way that reflects its values.

GB Group plc

Chester-based GB Group is a global specialist in digital identity. The group enables fast, simple and compliant customer onboarding, reducing the risk of fraud for many of the world’s leading organisations. 

GB Group is a regular fundraiser and acquirer on AIM. In November 2021, the group completed the £546m acquisition of Acuant, a leading US Identify Verification and Identity Fraud prevention business,  creating a global leader in the market. Shortly afterwards, in February 2022, GB Group acquired Cloudcheck, which helped the group establish a leadership position in New Zealand’s electronic IDV market.

GB Group recognises that delivering positive ESG outcomes is fundamental to the group’s success. 

Marlowe plc

Marlowe is a leader in business-critical services and software. The group delivers services and SaaS focused on assuring safety and regulatory compliance.

Marlowe made over twenty earning enhancing acquisitions across the 2022 financial year, deploying around £314m of capital. The group accessed equity markets three times during the period to fund its acquisition trail, which included the transformational £135m acquisition of Optima Health, significantly strengthening the group’s Governance, Risk and Compliance division.

The group is developing its Group-level multi-year sustainability action plan for 2022 and setting its group’s net-zero target.

Saietta Group plc

Northamptonshire-based Saietta Group is multi-national business which designs, engineers and manufactures complete powertrains for electric vehicles on land from scooters to buses and on sea.

Saietta listed on AIM in July 2021 raising £37.5m of new investment. The listing provided the group with the opportunity to execute its growth plans, including establishing a manufacturing facility and a pilot production facility in Sunderland, which is expected to significantly expand its UK based production capacity. In August 2022 Saietta raised a further £23m via an oversubscribed placing of 16.7 million new shares.

The group intends to implement a formal ESG policy, strategy and committee in due course.

Solid State plc

Redditch-based Solid State is an electronics group supplying commercial, industrial and military markets with durable components, assemblies and manufactured units for use in specialist and harsh environments.

Solid State is a prime example of a business optimising its AIM listing. In July 2022, the group used the market to raise £27.2m to part fund the $45m acquisition of Custom Power, a California-based battery power solutions business. The acquisition of a US company by a UK company goes against the perceived tide but received strong backing from investors, resulting in an oversubscribed placing. 

The group is committed to sustainability and aims to work in alignment with the 17 United Nations Sustainability Goals.

Best Technology Award

sponsored by Cenkos

 
The 2022 shortlist:

Clean Power Hydrogen plc (CPH2)

Doncaster-based CPH2 is a green hydrogen technology and manufacturing company. The group provides services across power, industry and manufacturing, transport and machinery, commercial and retail, and hydroculture markets.

CPH2 has developed a Membrane-Free Electrolyser™ to produce green hydrogen faster, more reliably, and more cost-effectively than other electrolyser companies. The group’s ground-breaking tech will support the global energy transition and has been validated by orders from ATOME Energy and a license agreement with GHFG Ltd, which will enable and accelerate the roll out of this game-changing tech.

CPH2 was established with the ambition to help clean up the environment for future generations.

Cropper (James) plc

Cumbria-based James Cropper is a world-class advanced materials and paper products group, with an operational reach in over 50 countries.

In addition to its legacy paper products business, the group produces a wide selection of materials for hydrogen technologies including water electrolysis materials and catalysts, coated electrodes and GDL (gas diffusion layer) substrate for fuel cells. Its Technical Fibre Products division has an established and highly profitable track record in fuel cell technology and has been developing and optimising material for fuel cell gas diffusion layers since the late 1980s.

James Cropper is committed to a programme that will result in net zero emissions by 2030.

LungLife AI, Inc.

Headquarted in the US, LungLife AI is a diagnostic company focused on the early detection of lung cancer from a simple blood draw enhanced by artificial intelligence. 

LungLife AI’s LungLB® test is positioned to bring certainty into early-stage diagnosis of lung cancer, via a non-invasive liquid biopsy. The blood-based test uses circulating tumour cells to stratify indeterminant lung nodules as either cancerous or benign following their identification by a CT scan, which supports clinician decision-making and eases the burden of increased testing in the healthcare system.

Lunglife AI is committed to identifying and minimising any effect on the environment caused by its operations.

MaxCyte Inc.

US-based MaxCyte’s cell-engineering technology is driving a new generation of cell-based therapies, particularly in gene editing and immune-oncology.

The group has developed a leading non-viral delivery platform for cell-engineering in clinical use with an approved commercial immunotherapy in Japan and is currently being used in over 10 clinical trials. Its Flow Electroporation ® Technology has the ability to safely and reproducibly modify primary human cells with high efficiency, low cytotoxicity, and at the scale required to treat patients.

MaxCyte is committed to fostering workplace development, diversity, and inclusion within its organisation and across the biotechnology industry.

Neometals Ltd

Headquartered in Australia, Neometals is focused on advanced minerals projects and developing its technology business unit.

The need for sustainable and circular end-of-life lithium-ion battery (LIB) recycling solutions is being driven by burgeoning LIB production for the EV and electronics industries.Neometals has developed a proprietary sustainable process for the recovery of valuable constituents from cell production scrap and LIBs. The group invested three years into R&D development, including bench and pilot trials, feasibility studies and engineering, culminating in a recycling commercialisation JV called Primobius, which has partnerships with global multinationalsMercedes-Benz, Stelco and Itochu.

Neometals is committed to optimising finite resources with circular practices to benefit society and the environment for a sustainable future.

Spectral MD Holdings, Ltd

Headquartered in Texas, Spectral MD is a predictive analytics company that develops proprietary optical technology and AI algorithms to help clinicians make better and faster treatment decisions for burns, chronic wounds, and other pathological conditions of the skin.

The group’s DeepView® imaging technology consists of patented proprietary multi-spectral optics and sensors that can classify wound tissue physiology and capture the viability of various biomarkers within the skin. DeepView®'s current accuracy for burn wounds is 91% compared with current physician accuracy of 50-70%.

Spectral MD is cognizant about its consumption of energy and resources and will continue to set additional goals as its business matures towards commercialization.

Diversity Champion Award

sponsored by BDB Pitmans

 
The 2022 shortlist:

Bango plc

Cambridge-based Bango is a mobile payments business used by the world’s largest online merchants, including Amazon, Google and Microsoft. 

Bango believes that equality, diversity and inclusion are three vital ingredients for a thriving, vibrant company. Bango aims to make the most of the collective talents of its staff by promoting diversity as a key objective and benefit to the business. With people from 18 different countries and 52% of managers and leaders identifying as non-male, Bango benefits from different backgrounds, perspectives, and talents.

The Bango ESG focus is not viewed as a separate exercise to be “completed”, but as a core part of the Bango strategy, integrated into work life and management processes.  

Next Fifteen Communications Group plc

London-based Next 15 Group is a technology and data based growth consultancy that delivers value to its clients through best-in-class specialists.

Next 15 believes the need for a diverse and engaged talent base is crucial for delivery of high-quality work. The company recently established an Ethics Group to help its brands make values-based choices about which clients and projects to take on, in addition to starting a major project to better understand its supplier base and ensure diversity of ownership.

The group is using the B Corp framework as part of its journey towards an effective ESG strategy. 

Peel Hunt Limited

Peel Hunt is a leading UK investment bank, based in London. The group’s integrated approach combines expert research and distribution with an execution services hub that provides liquidity to the UK capital markets.

Peel Hunt has been driven by its company philosophy to bring incredible standards of diversity, equality, and inclusion. The group consistently advocates providing the best possible opportunities for all people, which is highlighted by its organisational structure. The board boasts an incredible standard of diversity and equality with 50% of the board being female.

Peel Hunt is committed to the broader ESG agenda by responding to issues raised by its 'culture jam' focus groups and regular anonymous employee surveys.

Personal Group Holdings plc

Based in Milton Keynes, Personal Group provides benefits and services focused on improving employee health, wellbeing and engagement.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion has been identified as an integral part of Personal Group’s objective of providing a welcoming and inclusive working environment where people are engaged, recognised and rewarded. The group is one of the very few companies listed on AIM that can boast an all-female executive leadership team (there are only three others). The entire board is made up of 43% females.

ESG is a priority at Board level and the group has identified a number of ambitious ESG targets it is working towards.

TPXimpact Holdings plc

London-based TPXimpact delivers digital transformation to organisations, public services and to society. The group’s multidisciplinary teams work across technology, design, and digital experiences. 

During the period, the group had a particular focus on ethnic diversity and ran a Future Leaders accelerator specifically for young Black people. The programme creates positive change in the industry by supporting ten digital entrepreneurs from under-represented backgrounds to build their businesses, providing the expertise, mentorship and support needed. TPXimpact measures, tracks and discloses more DEI data than any of its peers.

The group is committed to delivering responsibly and to building sustainable futures for People, the Planet and Communities.
 

YouGov plc

London-based YouGov is an international online research data and analytics technology group. The group’s mission is to offer unparalleled insight into what the world thinks.

YouGov is committed to giving the world a voice by capturing the opinions of all groups, including the ones that are often under-represented. The group believes it is important to continuously improve and reflect this diversity and create an open and inclusive culture. YouGov operates a Diversity & Inclusion Council in addition to a D&I network Employment and Resource Group. 

The group’s social mission, termed “Giving a Voice,” is a key theme of its ESG roadmap. 

AIM Transaction of the Year Award

sponsored by Shore Capital

 
The 2022 shortlist:

GB Group plc

GBG is an identity verification, location intelligence and fraud prevention company based in Chester. 

During the period, GBG completed the transformational acquisition of US identity verification and identity fraud prevention business, Acuant Intermediate, for c£547m. This was part funded by  a placing which raised gross proceeds of approximately £300m, while retail investors also subscribed for shares, raising gross proceeds of approximately £5m. 

The group has ambitious ESG targets including being carbon neutral in its operations by 2023.

Kistos plc

London-based Kistos is a trading company engaged in producing low carbon intensity gas.

In January this year, Kistos purchased a 20% stake in the Greater Laggan Area (GLA), which produces gas fields and associated infrastructure, alongside various interests in certain other exploration licences, in a deal worth over £123m. The addition of the GLA interest to the Kistos portfolio expanded and diversified its producing asset base into one of the largest gas hubs in the UK.

The group recently conducted an inaugural materiality assessment to help identify the ESG issues that are most important to the company and its stakeholders. 

Marlowe plc

Marlowe is a leader in business-critical services and software, based in London.

Marlowe completed the acquisition of Optima Health in January 2022 for £135m in an all-cash deal, which was the group’s largest transaction to date. The acquisition propelled the group into a market leading position in Corporate Health Solutions, providing another vertical in which to consolidate. In the immediate aftermath of the completion of the transaction, the group’s market cap broke through the £1bn barrier for the first time. 

The group has an ESG Committee which has identified best practice and established group policies.

Mortgage Advice Bureau (Holdings) plc

Derby-based Mortgage Advice Bureau (MAB) is the UK’s leading mortgage intermediary brand.

In July this year, MAB completed the acquisition of 75% of The Fluent Money Group for £72.7m. Fluent is a fast-growing broker in the national lead source sector, and a leader in centralised telephone mortgage advice. The acquisition is expected to accelerate MAB’s growth and broaden its revenue mix and customer proposition. The group has stated that the acquisition is expected to be significantly earnings enhancing in 2023.

MAB has a Group Risk and Compliance Committee which meets four times a year to discuss ESG themes and major risk considerations.

Savannah Energy plc

Savannah Energy is a British independent energy company focused around the delivery of Projects that Matter in Africa and is active in Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria. 

In June 2021, Savannah Energy announced the proposed acquisitions of the Chad and Cameroon Assets from Exxon Mobil for $360m. The acquisition will be funded through a mixture of debt and equity/equity-linked financing and is expected to complete in Q4 2022. The assets are forecast to contribute an average of $137m per annum of free cash flow between 2022 and 2030 for Savannah Energy and will increase its employee base significantly. 

The group’s Sustainability Strategy is based on four strategic pillars which are aligned with the 13 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Solid State plc

Redditch-based Solid State is a value-added electronics group supplying commercial, industrial and military markets.

During the period, Solid State successfully completed a £28.4m equity fund raise, against a challenging market backdrop, in order to acquire Custom Power, a battery systems manufacturer and energy solutions provider based in Los Angeles. The deal was a year in the making and was transformational for the group, adding $30m of premium revenue in the Power sector. 

Solid State recognises its responsibility to protect the environment, its employees and the communities where it operates and works in alignment with the 17 United Nations Sustainability Goals.

AIM Corporate Governance Award

sponsored by ONE Advisory

 
The 2022 shortlist:

Ebiquity plc

London-based Ebiquity is the world leader in media investment analysis. The group is a data-driven solutions company helping brand owners to drive efficiency and effectiveness from their media spend.

During the period, the group’s Chair, Rob Woodward, oversaw the succession of the previous CEO, replacing him with an individual who has already demonstrated a significant improvement in performance, in addition to executing a heavily oversubscribed fundraise in March 2022 to fund two acquisitions. This resurgence in the group’s investment case owes a lot to the decisiveness of the Board.

Ebiquity’s ‘ESG framework’ for media investments offers clients global oversight of their exposure against key sustainability criteria.

Gamma Communications plc

Berkshire-based Gamma is a leading provider of Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) into the UK, Dutch, Spanish and German business markets.

Gamma takes a stakeholder-based approach to sustainability and governance. The group goes above and beyond to involve shareholders in important ESG matters and the Exec and Non-Exec team take materiality into account when making decisions. The team also went through a successful succession planning process during the period.

The group takes its ESG responsibilities seriously and is systematically assessing and developing its ESG agenda in order to improve it. 

Johnson Service Group plc

Cheshire-based Johnson Service Group provides textile rental and related services across a range of sectors throughout the UK. 

The group have a strong, experienced board with good investor communications, who have managed the transition of longer serving directors well. Johnson Service Group’s strong reputation has been built on the solid foundation of an ethical culture, underpinned by a well-defined and effective system of governance. 

In response to a changing world, the group has embedded a best in class sustainability programme throughout its operations. 

Smart Metering Systems plc

Glasgow based Smart Metering Systems (SMS) installs and manages smart meters, energy data, grid-scale battery storage and other carbon reduction assets.

SMS is committed to the highest standards of corporate governance. Over the past year, the group oversaw the transition of the CEO, in addition to successfully raising £175m in September 2021. The board continue to shape and develop its culture, with a renewed focus on equality, diversity and inclusion, led by the Board, through the launch of a partnership with the Hive Inclusion Works programme. 

SMS works with third-party ratings agencies and utilises ESG reporting standards and frameworks to communicate and benchmark its ESG performance.

The Pebble Group plc

Based in Manchester, The Pebble Group provides digital commerce, products and related services to the global promotional products industry. 

During the period, The Pebble Group reviewed succession planning and talent pipeline development, and further enhanced the reporting and flow of information from Facilisgroup and Brand Addition to the Group Board. Its approach is guided by published best practice materials, in addition to feedback from its teams, clients and investors. 

Last year, The Pebble Group published its first standalone ESG report in order to be transparent in its approach and its commitments and how these are measured. 

TPXimpact Holdings plc

London-based TPXimpact is a technology-enabled services company, providing full end-to-end digital transformation. 

TPXimpact continues to push the envelope in its inclusion of enhanced governance policies and procedures. The values-led approach that is at the very core of the group’s strategy is made apparent in its commitment to ESG governance. To make leaders accountable, TPXimpact has built DEI requirements into its share award eligibility for all leaders. 

The group has an ESG Committee to support its on-going commitment to people, the planet and community matters relevant to the company.

AIM Growth Business of the Year Award

sponsored by BGF

 
The 2022 shortlist:

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Alpha Financial Markets Consulting plc

Alpha FMC is a leading global consulting company to the asset management, wealth management and insurance industries, based in London.

Since listing on AIM, Alpha has enjoyed strong, consistent growth. This was accelerated in May last year by the acquisition of US alternative investment consultant, Lionpoint Holdings, which increased the group’s footprint in North America and provided Alpha with exposure to another investment market. 

Alpha recently introduced ESG Due Diligence and Culture Due Diligence as part of its suite of pre-deal M&A services. 

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Brickability Group plc

Wales-based Brickability is a leading supplier of facing bricks, blocks, cladding systems, roofing tiles, radiators, tiles, doors and windows to the UK construction sector. 

Brickability achieved significant growth during the period, due to a combination of strong acquisitions and consistent organic growth. In June 2021, the group completed its biggest deal to date, with the transformational purchase of Taylor Maxwell. The acquisition, in addition to numerous organic growth initiatives, led to a revenue increase of 187% and an adjusted EBITDA increase of 125%. 

Brickability aims to be net carbon zero in its operations by 2030 and to be carbon positive by 2035.

​

Calnex Solutions plc

Scotland-based Calnex Solutions designs, produces and markets test and measurement instrumentation and solutions in the telecoms industry. 

Calnex listed on AIM in September 2020. On admission, the business was valued at £42m at the placing price and currently the group is valued at £128m. Demand for the group’s test equipment remains strong, meaning Calnex will start the 2023 financial year with a record order book.

Calnex operates in a traditionally male dominated industry, but is focused on ensuring a diverse workforce with a good level of female representation.

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Cerillion plc

London-based Cerillion is a leading provider of billing, charging and customer management systems across a range of industries including telecommunications, finance and transportation.

During the period, Cerillion continued to perform well across all areas of the business, delivering progress on every financial metric, including more than doubling its EPS in September 2022 versus September 2020. Last year produced a noticeable increase in contract sizes, with the group securing its largest ever contract in March 2021 ($18.4m), with Telesur, a full-service Latin American network operator. 

Cerillion only works with suppliers and customers with an equivalent high regard for quality, rights and a consideration for the environment.

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Eagle Eye Solutions Group plc

Eagle Eye is a SaaS business, based in Guildford, that allows retail companies to digitally engage with customers by offering promotions, discounts and subscription services. 

Eagle Eye has benefitted from the digital acceleration as a result of covid. The group has a clear strategy for growth, with revenues tripling over the last three years. Eagle Eye has rapidly expanded into the US, which has one of the largest digital promotions markets in the world and recently secured a contract with a national US grocer. During the period, the group delivered 39% revenue growth and 54% growth in adjusted EBITDA. 

Last year Eagle Eye launched an initiative to help the business become a role model for women in tech.

SDI Group plc

Cambridge-based SDI Group designs and manufactures scientific products for use in applications including life sciences, healthcare, astronomy and consumer manufacturing markets. 

SDI have a proven track record of exceptional growth, achieved by a combination of organic growth and strategic acquisitions. Over the last seven years, the group’s buy-and-build strategy has gathered pace, increasing turnover from £8.4m to £49.7m. This has been achieved through the execution of a proven value-creating business model in addition to building capacity and capability to enable future growth.

SDI  is moving towards a rigorous reporting/targeting process which avoids greenwashing and supports actual carbon reduction.

Best Newcomer Award

sponsored by Link Group

 
The 2022 shortlist:

Arrow Exploration Corp.

Arrow Exploration is a Canada-based junior oil and gas company engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of oil and gas properties in Colombia and Western Canada.

In October 2021, Arrow Exploration raised £8.8m from its dual listing on AIM, giving the group a market cap of £13.1m. The proceeds of the raise will help fund the drilling of two wells at its Rio Cravo Este property and one well at Carrizales Norte, with the balance used for additional working capital.

Arrow Exploration is committed to limiting its impact on the climate, air, land and water by adhering to the highest standards of industry ESG operating practices.

Ashtead Technology Holdings plc

Aberdeen-based Ashtead Technology provides critical technologies, in the form of equipment and solutions, to help facilitate the functioning and growth of the offshore energy sector.

Ashtead listed on AIM in November 2021, with a market cap of £175.48m. The group entered the market during a turbulent period, however it has performed well throughout, achieving  a 24% year-to-date return. Ashtead’s entry into the market demonstrates great promise for continuoued growth with the social and economic shifts towards greener solutions.

Ashtead’s clear commitment to energy transition and focus on ESG is well positioned to benefit all stakeholders.

Clean Power Hydrogen plc (CPH2)

Doncaster-based Clean Power Hydrogen plc (CPH2) is a green hydrogen technology and manufacturing company. The group has developed a technology to deliver pure hydrogen and pure oxygen as separate gases.

CPH2 floated in February this year, raising £30.5m and giving the group a market cap of £120m. CPH2 listed at a time of heightened volatility for comparable hydrogen electrolyser stocks, whilst still delivering an oversubscribed placing. The group achieved the Green Economy Mark upon listing and investors have been impressed with its unique and highly disruptive electrolyser technology.

As a group pursuing the decarbonisation of the energy system, CPH2’s ESG considerations are embedded across the business and products.

DSW Capital plc

DSW Capital is a fast growing, mid-market, challenger professional services licence network, based in London.

DSW joined AIM in December 2021, raising £5m andgiving the company a market cap of £21.4m. The IPO "halo" effect has successfully supported the group’s growth plans, with DSW being one of the few AIM IPOs from last year to put through upgrades in its maiden trading update. The group’s admission to AIM has enhanced and strengthened the brand, leaving it well placed to enjoy another year of sustainable growth.

DSW has developed a bespoke framework to enable the group to monitor and report progress against its ESG aspirations.

Eneraqua Technologies plc

London-based Eneraqua Technologies is a provider of specialist energy and water efficiency solutions for multiple occupancy social housing and commercial projects.

Eneraqua listed on AIM in November 2021, raising £20m, giving the group a market cap of £92m. The fundraise included around £12m of new capital, which will be used to support further development of the group’s technology, in addition to supporting expansion into new markets. Eneraqua has strong visibility in a critical area of sustainable/green tech, whilst delivering strong growth.

Eneraqua Technologies is recognised by LSE as contributing to the global green economy.

Facilities by ADF plc

Wales-based Facilities by ADF is a leading provider of premium services production facilities to the UK film and high-end TV industry.

Facilities by ADF scored the first IPO of the year with its listing in January this year. The group raised £18m in the float, giving it a market cap of £37.8m. The funds raised will help Facilities by ADF meet increasing demand in the UK's TV and film production industry, amid the streaming boom. The group reported upgraded earnings in its first update, with the share price up 28% since listing.

Facilities by ADF is the only facilities provider in Europe that is approved by Albert, the authority on environmental sustainability for the film and television industry.

Entrepreneur of the Year Award

sponsored by Octopus Investments

 
The 2022 shortlist:

Tim Dyson/Next Fifteen Communications Group plc

Tim joined Next Fifteen in 1984 after graduating from University, and became CEO of the group in 1992. As one of the early pioneers of tech PR, he has worked on major corporate and product campaigns with companies such as Cisco, Microsoft, IBM and Intel. 

Tim oversaw the flotation of Next Fifteen and has managed a string of successful acquisitions in both the US and the UK. Tim has driven the evolution of the group from a marcom business into a Growth Consultancy, grounded in data and technology. Tim was recognised on the Holmes Report’s In2’s Innovator 25, which recognises individuals who have contributed ideas that set the bar for the industry.

Alan Foy/Smart Metering Systems plc

Alan Foy joined SMS in 2004, which was a fledgling utilities connection business at the time. He was instrumental in leading the group’s transformational growth. Alan announced he was stepping down from his role in March 2022. 

Alan was visionary in moving SMS to the model of smart meter ownership and rental. He led the group through its IPO in 2011, raising £27m of capital, which was crucial to the company’s growth path. Alan was also the driving force behind a number of strategic acquisitions and fundraises that accelerated SMS’ growth.

Jay Lecoque/SourceBio International plc

Jay LeCoque is the Executive Chairman of SourceBio. He joined the Group in 2016 as Non-Executive Chairman and was appointed Executive Chairman in 2017. Jay has over 20 years of senior management experience mainly focused on listed UK life sciences companies.

Jay rose to the challenge during the pandemic by pivoting the focus of SourceBio’s multifaceted business to offer PCR testing. The group generated revenues exceeding £100m from delivering over two million Covid-19 PCR tests, allowing it to survive and thrive during a turbulent time. Following this, Jay orchestrated the acquisition of a leading digital pathology specialist, LDPath Limited, which was funded from existing cash resources.

Chris Hill/Northcoders Group plc

Chris Hill is Founder and CEO of Northcoders. He set up the business in 2015 after experiencing first-hand the challenges businesses face in hiring competent, work-ready software engineers in his previous role at Sky.

Chris showed his extended entrepreneurial flair and understanding of true leadership when he navigated the turbulent Covid-19 pandemic, which necessitated the closure of physical hubs and the acceleration of online delivery. Despite these setbacks, Northcoders continued to grow. Chris successfully led the team in delivering its IPO strategy against what was a very challenging market backdrop. The group’s shares are currently up 22% to date.

Sam Smith/finnCap Group plc

Sam established finnCap in 2007, having orchestrated the management buy-out of a small broking division of JM Finn & Co. In June this year, Sam announced she would be stepping down from the role of CEO and moving into an advisory role.

Under Sam’s leadership, finnCap has become the largest broker for AIM listed businesses. She spearheaded the group’s IPO in 2019, which gave finnCap a market cap of £47m, in addition to adding an M&A advisory arm to the firm. Sam was the first female CEO of a City stockbroking firm and is a supporter of many social enterprises designed to inspire and engage the next generation of female business leaders and entrepreneurs.

Andy Walters/Quartix Technologies plc

Andy Walters founded Quartix in 2001 with three colleagues. After twenty years of leading the business, Andy retired as CEO in October last year but will remain on the board as Non Executive Director.

Under Andy’s leadership, Quartix has gone from strength to strength due to the group’s strategic focus on reliable, high quality recurring income. He steered the group through it’s IPO in 2014, which valued Quartix at £54m and has been instrumental in its continued growth. Today, the group’s telematics units have been installed across 8 countries and its market cap is £158m.

Company of the Year Award

sponsored by WH Ireland

 
The 2022 shortlist:

Alpha FX Group plc

London-based Alpha FX uses cutting-edge technologies to solve the financial challenges of global corporates and institutions. The group has a community of 300 people, based across eight global offices. 

Alpha has experienced a remarkable track record of growth since arriving on AIM in 2017, transforming into a high-growth, multi-product and multi-national business. The group has strengthened its position in FX Risk Management and built new propositions in its Alternative Banking Solutions division. Alpha reported full-year revenue increase of 68% to £77.5m compared to last year. 

Alpha’s unique partnership structure means everyone that works there has the opportunity to become an equity holder in the business, with 36% of employees already shareholders.

Calnex Solutions plc

Calnex Solutions is a leader in the test and measurement industry, providing equipment to the world’s telecoms network operators, network providers, systems suppliers, laboratories and network infrastructure. The group is based in Linlithgow, Scotland, with additional locations in Belfast, Northern Ireland and the US.

Calnex is a company that epitomises British innovation and growth. The business benefitted from the evolutionary trends affecting the telecoms sector, notably in 5G and cloud computing, meaning demand for its test equipment remained strong and Calnex will start FY23 with a record order book. The group reported revenue growth of 23% to £22m during the period.

Calnex has set-up an employee-led Social Responsibility team who have a dedicated fund assigned to allow them to provide meaningful support to social and environmental charities.

Ergomed plc

Surrey-based Ergomed focuses on providing specialised services to the pharmaceutical industry . The group has two key business areas, CRO and pharmacovigilance services.

Ergomed had a number of key developments during the period, demonstrating the successful execution of its strategy. These included opening a new office in Japan to establish its presence in the APAC region and accelerating its expansion into the US through the integration of two acquisitions, establishing Ergomed as a leading, global provider. The group reported revenue increases of 24.8% to £69.9m.

Ergomed has a key role in improving patient health and well-being through supporting the safe development and monitoring of medicines and believes it has a positive impact on society.

FRP Advisory Group plc

London-based FRP Advisory is a leading national business advisory firm providing restructuring, corporate finance, debt advisory, forensic accounting and pensions services.

FRP delivered another year of excellent progress, despite the challenging backdrop. The group’s success was driven by organic growth, underpinned by several strategic acquisitions, which resulted in establishing the group as a leader in its sector. FRP reported a full year revenue increase of 21% to £95.2m.

Recognising a need for transparency in difficult situations is how FRP came about and is integral to the solutions the group provides.

Next Fifteen Communications Group plc

London-based Next Fifteen helps clients deliver sustainable growth by connecting them to their customers in innovative, impactful and insightful ways.

This year was a transformational year of growth for Next Fifteen. The group was well placed to capture the increase in demand for digital communication and marketing strategies and has seen its growth rate take a significant step up as a result. Next Fifteen delivered five earnings upgrades during the period, in addition to winning a $400m contract. The group reported record performance driven by double-digit organic revenue growth across all four business segments, with reported revenue growth of 65% to £274m.

Next Fifteen uses the B Corp framework as part of its journey towards an effective ESG strategy, which has already had a positive impact.

YouGov plc

YouGov is an international research and data analytics company, based in London. The group provides its clients with the data and insights to help them plan, develop and evaluate the impact of their marketing and communication activities.

YouGov continued to demonstrate its excellent growth prospects through a multitude of acquisitions completed during the review period. The group delivered a strong performance, ahead of expectations, as the business benefitted from sustained momentum. The outlook for 2023 remains positive on the back of a strong sales pipeline and better execution from a transformed sales structure. YouGov reported revenue growth of 28% to £101.2m.

YouGov publishes an ESG roadmap which defines the group’s overarching objectives that apply across the business, as well as outlining specific ESG strategies and objectives.