Our CEO, Paul Coles, took part in the Invest South West Forum & Reception, held at Bristol Harbour Hotel on 18 June 2026.
Organised by UK Private Capital, the event brought together policymakers, private equity and venture capital investors, local institutional investors, business leaders and portfolio companies. Its objective was to explore how greater investment, strong regional leadership and improved infrastructure can help drive innovation, sustainable growth and economic opportunity across the South West.
Paul joined the panel discussion “Investing in the South West’s Tech Hub”, alongside:
- Rosie Bennett, Executive Director, SETsquared
- Melanie Goward, Partner, Maven
- Ben Shorrock, Chief Executive Officer, techSPARK
- Rheanna Duffield, Associate Director, Gallagher, who moderated the discussion
The panel discussed the importance of the South-West to the UK’s Tech sector and the factors driving its success. What differentiates a good tech business from one that can genuinely scale? And what potential pitfalls should we be aware of within the South-West Tech ecosystem?
The forum also featured expert discussions, networking and the presentation of the Vision 2026 Awards for Wales and the South West, celebrating outstanding businesses backed by private equity and venture capital.
Images courtesy of UK Private Capital.