News
Committed to backing ambition
28 Oct 2020
Over the past five weeks, we have met 50 talented business leaders who are building resilient, innovative firms and driving the UK economy through these difficult times. As The LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders programme draws to a close, it is important to remember why these individuals need to be celebrated.
First and foremost, their grit and determination proves that it really is possible to find opportunity in times of crisis. We hope that these leaders can inspire other business owners and provide some much-needed positivity amidst the uncertainty.
“In the current climate, ambition has never been more relevant,” says John Garner, Head of New Business at LDC. “The Top 50 shows that it’s possible to build very successful businesses and remain optimistic about the future, despite the backdrop of COVID-19 and economic uncertainty. Leaders like these just need the right support.”
LDC has been backing ambitious mid-market business leaders for almost 40 years. “We have been around a long time, so we’ve been through ups and downs before,” explains John. “It’s in times like these that experience and flexibility count. We know that growth doesn’t always come in a straight line and that management teams need long-term partnerships to help them to build scale and resilience.”
The firm has committed to invest £1.2bn into Britain’s growing mid-market firms over the next three years. Indeed, during 2020, when many investors have been reluctant to do deals, LDC has completed nearly 30 new investments and portfolio company acquisitions.
We understand how important it is to keep supporting business leaders during tough times, not just when the economy is booming.”
LDC has long been a staunch supporter of growing firms with a track record, but in recent years it has also begun nurturing new entrepreneurial talent: tomorrow’s mid-market stars.
Last year, it partnered with The Prince’s Trust to launch Backing Youth Ambition, offering funding and mentoring to brilliant young entrepreneurs from across the UK.
“I wish I’d heard stories of successful entrepreneurs when I was 23,” says Noor Kimit, an ambassador from The Prince’s Trust and founder of marine recruitment firm Seaworthy Consulting. “You only have to be inspired by one person to think, ‘If they’ve done it, why can’t I?’”
“My ambition comes from growing up with not very much. I always strived for security and a safety net.”
Noor praises the Backing Youth Ambition programme, saying, “We need to give young people the funding and the confidence to pursue their dreams.” Noor, 30, started her business, with the help of The Prince’s Trust, despite being severely dyslexic.
“My mission is to show people that even if you have been let down by the schooling system you can still be dyslexic and successful in the corporate world.”
“We need great business leaders to steer our economy through uncertainty,” says LDC’s John Garner. “Our Top 50 are continuing to work hard, employing people and generating growth for the economy. I can’t overstate how important they are; we need them now more than ever.”
Next week we reveal the Most Ambitious Leader, as voted by our panel of judges.