Diversity in Investment

What does diversity in investment mean to you?

It’s really important that we do a good job of making sure that all entrepreneurs in the UK feel that they have access to venture. - Jon Coker Founding Partner, Eka Ventures

As the UK’s largest domestic investor in venture capital, the British Business Bank champions diversity within the industry. This is not only the right thing to do, but it is also the smart thing to do. Evidence shows that diversity of background, views and experience is better for business* and better for investors alike**.

We recently interviewed a selection of our Fund Managers from the Enterprise Capital Funds (ECF) programme to find out exactly what diversity in investment means to them. Watch the video below to find out:

What does it mean to the bank?

The UK benefits from the diversity of the businesses we support. We are committed to doing everything we can to help those businesses prosper and grow.

And we share the same ambitions for our people. They are our greatest asset, which is why we are committed to creating a workplace where inclusivity is a culture, diversity is championed, and all colleagues have the opportunity to be their true selves at work. Find out more on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

It is important to us that our delivery partners share the same ambitions that we do.

Our entire fund is built around a new model of inclusive venture, and we are really excited that British Business Bank saw the potential in that strategy. - Check Warner Partner, Ada Ventures

Here are some of our flagship research reports we have published on diversity and inclusion within small business finance across the UK.

Alone, together: entrepreneurship and diversity in the UK VC and Female Founders

Investing in Women Code

The Investing in Women Code is a commitment to supporting the advancement of female entrepreneurship in the UK. The Code helps drive the change necessary to improve venture capital markets for female founders, so they can raise the capital they need for their businesses to reach their full potential.

The British Business Bank is proud to be a founding signatory of the Investing in Women Code and to manage it on behalf of government for venture capital funds.

The Bank is encouraging Code signatories across both its network of fund managers and more broadly across the equity ecosystem. This is to achieve near–full market coverage by 23/24 and to be a representative benchmark for VC firms across the UK.

Find out more by visiting the Investing in Women page on our website.

*’Delivering through Diversity’, McKinsey & Company, 2018
**‘The Other Diversity Dividend’ Paul Gompers, 2018