UK entrepreneurs braced for fund-raising battle

Research from private bank Investec reveals growth ambition is there but more firms will seek private equity and VC cash

One in four entrepreneurs will look to private equity and venture capitalists to raise funds in 2011, research from specialist private bank Investec has revealed.

According to Investec’s research, many entrepreneurs questioned are looking to grow their business this year, with 44 per cent expecting to launch new ventures, and a further 31 per cent believing it is quite likely that they will do so.

But the bank, which works with entrepreneurs, management teams and private equity houses to provide finance of between £5m and £30m, said that many feared their plans would be put on hold because of the difficulty accessing capital.

Just six per cent of those polled expected it to be easy to raise funds during 2011.

James Stirling, a representative for Investec Growth and Acquisition Finance, said: “We see this as a huge opportunity for us, and as a specialist private bank we are looking to lend over £1bn this year to entrepreneurs with a strong track record.

“This is also an exciting time for private equity and venture capitalists, many of whom we partner with when it comes to providing funds to our clients,” he said.