BGF has now invested more than £419 million in Scottish businesses, marking a major milestone as the firm celebrates 15 years of supporting growth across the UK and Ireland.
The investment forms part of a wider £5 billion deployed into more than 650 companies since the firm was established in 2011 to address a long-standing funding gap in the UK’s mid-market. Over that period, BGF-backed businesses have generated £8.2 billion in additional revenue and created more than 35,000 jobs.
BGF provides long-term, flexible capital to small and mid-sized firms, taking minority stakes that allow founders and management teams to retain control. Its model supports companies at every stage of growth, from early-stage ventures to established family businesses, enabling them to scale on their own terms.
Today, BGF is the most active growth investor across the UK and Ireland, operating from 15 offices. Notably, 74 per cent of its capital has been deployed outside London and the South East, underlining its regional investment focus.
BGF’s investment strategy has delivered both economic and financial returns over the past 15 years. The firm has generated £3.7 billion in proceeds from more than 280 exits, while achieving a 22.6 per cent gross internal rate of return and a 2x money multiple since 2016.
Its portfolio companies have also played a significant role in economic growth, collectively delivering billions in revenue uplift and substantial job creation across multiple sectors.
In Scotland, BGF has backed a wide range of businesses spanning industries including luxury goods, technology, engineering and life sciences. Its current portfolio includes well-known names such as Strathberry, Waracle, Calnex plc, Walker Precision Engineering and Stellar Omada.
Recent activity includes a £15 million investment in Cruden Homes, alongside successful exits from Aberdeenshire-based catering firm Entier and Edinburgh AI consultancy Optima Partners.
BGF’s continued momentum has also been recognised nationally. In 2026, it was named the most active investor in the UK’s 245 fastest-growing private equity-backed companies in the Real Deals Private Equity Value Report, produced in association with BDO. The firm currently manages £3 billion in assets and supports a portfolio of around 360 businesses.
Patrick Graham, regional partner for Scotland, Ireland, South West England and Wales at BGF, said: “As we celebrate 15 years of backing Scotland’s most driven businesses, we are proud of the strong roots established in the region. Our track record of consistently healthy returns is a product of the trusted relationships we have built with some of the best management teams in the country.
“Since 2011, we’ve seen how resilient and determined the Scottish business community is. Our portfolio is at the forefront of developing pioneering technologies, providing high-quality services to communities and stimulating much-needed economic growth, despite a difficult operating environment.
“The value of our flexible, patient capital approach has given the businesses we back the confidence they need to reach their growth potential.”
BGF has committed to investing a further £200 million in Scotland over the next five years, signalling strong confidence in the country’s business landscape and its pipeline of high-growth companies.
