Investment for business growth: Springfield Healthcare Group

Growth targets: Graeme Lee and Springfield are using acquisitions to expand

Growth targets: Graeme Lee and Springfield are using acquisitions to expand

Care home operator Springfield Healthcare Group has already begun to use its Business Growth Fund cash to get acquisitive. We find out how progress has been since the investment as part of an exclusive portfolio roundtable.

More from The Entrepreneur

James Layfield is currently heading up the rapidly expanding Central Working

James Layfield is currently heading up the rapidly expanding Central Working

The Budget 2013: Help for those at the top and bottom, but not the middle man

With dust beginning to settle on George Osborne’s fourth Budget speech, entrepreneur James Layfield looks at whether, yet again, the middle ground SME has been forgotten about.

Diversifying the client base at launch and learning to say ‘No’ 

David Barker reflects on resisting the temptation to say 'Yes' to the first offer when he opened his data centre, and how choosing instead to diversify his client base at launch has enabled 4D Data Centres to maintain rapid growth in a recession.

Lessons learned: Not taking a business card was one of Adams' regrets

Lessons learned: Not taking a business card was one of Adams' regrets

Making the most of networking and exploiting customers contacts

Business coach Alan Adams explains the value of capturing good-quality data and reveals why he wished he’d made his clients feel loved at the start of his career.

Katz got the cream 

As part of a restructure, law firm Howard Kennedy has appointed partner Dov Katz as head of AIM within the firm’s capital markets group.

Technology review: Noise cancelling Ferrari by Logic3 R300 headphones

The R300 headphones by Ferrari by Logic3 provide a comfortable and high quality way to listen to music on the move and at home.

More from: Business Leaders

Market leader: Michael Phillips (left) is attempting to become the brand of choice

Market leader: Michael Phillips (left) is attempting to become the brand of choice

Investment for business growth: Broadbandchoices.co.uk

Advertising can often be a difficult thing to gauge in terms of return on investment, but is pivotal for the future success of Broadbandchoices.co.uk

Investment for business growth: Cennox

Back in June 2012, ATM services business Cennox became the Business Growth Fund's (BGF) 10th investment – at which point the company had already developed technology which was being used by the London cycle scheme to prevent card skimming.

Early deal: GCI Com joined Unruly and Benefax as BGF firms in February 2012

Early deal: GCI Com joined Unruly and Benefax as BGF firms in February 2012

Investment for business growth: GCI Com

With GCI Com one of the first three businesses backed by the Business Growth Fund, GrowthBusiness looks at why the company chose the funding route and how progress has been.

Planet X Bikes plots expansion course ahead of 2014 Tour de France UK visit

As the UK is increasingly swept up in Bradley Wiggins mania, Sheffield-based Planet X Bikes is gearing up for rapid growth on the back of a new funding package.

Future funds: Cleantech has had to weather a number of different storms

Future funds: Cleantech has had to weather a number of different storms

Making money out of cleantech the venture capital way

Getting a healthy return from a cleantech investment has often been hard work – but for David Mott and his Oxford Capital Partners firm, it’s made them award winners.

Simon Clark: Striving for easier fundraising and greater Euro engagement

Having spent a year shadowing former BVCA chairman Robert Easton, Fidelity Growth Partners’ Simon Clark is now stepping up to the role and has some ambitious targets.

Serial entrepreneur: Alastair Mills set up SpiriTel before Six Degrees Group

Serial entrepreneur: Alastair Mills set up SpiriTel before Six Degrees Group

Alastair Mills on Six Degrees Group’s thirteenth ‘final puzzle piece’ acquisition

GrowthBusiness catches up with Six Degrees founder and serial entrepreneur Alastair Mills to find out how his business has been bedding in its numerous acquisitions and what its latest purchase adds to the company.

Video: UK new energy innovators reflect on award wins

GrowthBusiness talks to companies including Abundance Generation and Ecology Building Society about being recognised at the New Energy & Cleantech Awards 2013.

Top gong: James McKenzie picks up his prize alongside award host Oliver Heath

Top gong: James McKenzie picks up his prize alongside award host Oliver Heath

PhotonStar LED's James McKenzie: From bright spark moment to cleantech entrepreneur

James McKenzie was lauded at the New Energy & Cleantech Awards 2013 for his ability to combine technical expertise with sound business acumen, as well as an ability to use the financial markets. GrowthBusiness took some time to find out more.

Photo gallery: New Energy & Cleantech Awards 2013

The London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square was the setting for the sixth New Energy & Cleantech Awards, where the topic on everyone's lips was how the cleantech market was going to evolve.

Future innovation: Human impact will necessitate cleantech development

Future innovation: Human impact will necessitate cleantech development

Innovation, progress and leadership in new energy and cleantech

Alex Blackburne, editor of sustainable investment magazine Blue & Green Tomorrow, looks back at the New Energy & Cleantech Awards and forward to the future of sustainability.

Business offers for growing companies

  • Is cash flow, financing, tax or something else holding back your business?

    The Business Advice Service is here to help. Get moving forward again with a free consultation with a local ICAEW Chartered Accountant.

  • 15th Annual London Business School Entrepreneurship Conference

    May 24 at the Bloomberg Center, Bloomberg Auditorium, London. Book your tickets today.

  • Lloyds TSB Commercial Banking supports business growth

    We’ve reduced the lifetime interest rate on our business loans by 1%. Find out more about our range of funding solutions.

  • Grow your business online

    4 in 5 people prefer a co.uk when searching online. Meet some real life success stories and discover why .co.uk is a great place to be for you and your business. Find out more.

  • Building British Business

    BGF is a champion for UK business, making long term capital investments of £2 million to £10 million in ambitious companies, typically turning over £5 million to £100 million. Tell me more.

  • Microsoft Office 365

    Whether you are a small business with limited IT resources or a large organisation with advanced IT needs, Office 365 has solutions optimised for all business sizes and IT needs. Find out more today.

  • Compare business insurance quotes

    Tailor your policy, compare quotes and buy in minutes! Up to 50% No Claims Discount. Compare quotes now or call 0845-0723340 today.

More from GrowthBusiness

News & Market Deals

On the road: Aeristech is providing technology for the automotive industry

Technology aimed at increasing fuel efficiency receives follow-on investment from Midven

Midven has invested in Warwickshire-based Aeristech for the second time in three years.

Growing A Business

Stifling business: Regulation on markets like AIM makes it hard for SMEs

Light touch regulation: Friend or foe? 

Sophia Harrison, director of financial and professional services at Grayling, looks at how a new exchange platform out of Sweden could strike the right chord of regulation for SMEs.

Comment & Analysis

Channeling Instagram for start-up success

That a team of 13 could build a business worth $1 billion should be the inspiration that all entrepreneurs need.

Research

Source of growth: There are 64 UK-listed cash shells holding £237.9 million

The rise of cash shells

New research from GrowthBusiness shows that the number of UK cash shells is climbing. We speak to new entrants to the market and those that have recently closed deals to find out what’s driving shells’ increasing popularity.