Three LDC-backed businesses shortlisted for Growing Business Awards

We’re proud to announce that our portfolio businesses iamproperty, Onecom and Zip World have been shortlisted for the 25^th annual Growing Business Awards.

Since 1998, the Growing Business Awards have been celebrating the UK’s most outstanding entrepreneurs and high-growth businesses, and this year’s awards will showcase the strength, vision and resilience of fast-growing SMEs across the country.

Newcastle-based iamproperty, the UK’s largest residential auction service, has been shortlisted for the Aquis Growing Business of the Year: Mid-sized Company (£25m-£45m). LDC first partnered with the management team in 2019. Since then the business has grown quickly, achieving an average annual revenue growth rate of 23% and it is currently on course to double its headcount from 2019 by the end of this year. We also supported the management team to complete its first acquisition in March 2022 to help drive even more growth.

Hampshire-headquartered business telecoms provider Onecom sees its CEO Martin Flick shortlisted for Entrepreneur of the Year. LDC first invested in Onecom in 2019 and it has gone from strength to strength since, emerging as the UK’s largest business-to-business mobile, fixed-line and cloud specialist after completing a series of acquisitions. In 2021, LDC supported Onecom to acquire Olive Communications and Olive’s CEO Martin Flick subsequently became Onecom‘s Chief Executive. Under Martin’s leadership, Onecom generates total sales of over £140m and has continued to expand, acquiring Exeter-based IP Office Ltd in October 2021.

Welsh outdoor adventure business Zip World has also been shortlisted, for the Santander Growing Business of the Year: Smaller Company (£10m-£25m) and The Bridges Positive Impact Award. Since 2018, we have supported Zip World’s management team to roll out new attractions and adventure experiences across the UK. In the past year, the business has launched its new Zip World Tower site in South Wales and added a number of new rides and attractions to its existing sites. The business is currently pursuing an ambitious ESG strategy, which includes a commitment to ending its reliance on fossil fuels by 2025.

The winners of the Growing Business Awards will be announced at the awards ceremony on Wednesday 2^nd November. We would like to congratulate all the businesses nominated for this year’s Growing Business Awards. You can find out more information on the Growing Business Awards here.

LDC is actively looking to support more management teams to grow their businesses. We are committed to investing in at least 100 new mid-market businesses over the next five years.