Category: Insights

Matt Moore, Group CEO at affordable homes developer, Morro, talks to us about the culture shift behind the business’s science-based emissions target, the practical changes already paying off on site, and the difference having Palatine’s support made along the way.   Can you tell us a bit about Morro: what you do, the nature of…

Blog from Senior Sustainability Director Stephanie Wall Two years ago, you couldn’t open a business publication without reading about ESG. Today, the conversation has shifted. You’re more likely to read about ESG fatigue, political backlash, or another fund quietly dropping the three letters from its website. So, let me ask it plainly: is ESG dead?…

When total waste management solutions business Papilo, completed its acquisition of Allwood at the start of 2026, the focus shifted immediately to bringing two complementary businesses together in a way that was both structured and people-centred. We sat down with Papilo CFO Russell Collins and Managing Director Gavin Ebery to hear how the integration has…

From startup to global consultancy: what Tim Hipperson’s experience tells us about scaling with purpose If you are a CEO with ambitions to scale, you will recognise the tension Tim Hipperson describes. You have a strong vision. You have a team that believes in it. But growth – real, sustainable growth – demands more than…

Total score  2022: 111.3  –   2025: 119.7 / 200  We are proud to be a B Corp. Since 2022, we have been part of a community of businesses creating an inclusive, equitable and regenerative economy. In 2025 we successfully recertified as a B Corp, re-stating our commitment to meeting high social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency standards.   We are a B Corp because acting sustainably safeguards risk, resilience and reputation. Climate risk,…

Transitioning into a global player Today, Suntera Global is a leading international provider of fund administration and corporate and trust services. Backing a visionary leadership team with an entrepreneurial culture and strong fundamentals Suntera Global (formerly SMP Group) was formed in 1980 and relocated to the Isle of Man in 1997. At the time of…

Carbon Literacy has been a core part of Palatine’s approach to building long term resilience across its portfolio since 2021. Established by the Manchester-headquartered Carbon Literacy Project, Carbon Literacy training provides organisations with an understanding of the climate impacts of their activities, and the knowledge and motivation to take meaningful action to reduce greenhouse gas…

AI has become a polarising topic with a lot of myth surrounding it. For some, it’s a breakthrough technology that could help solve our most complex sustainability challenges. For others, it’s overhyped, energy-hungry, and riddled with ethical concerns. As with most things, the reality sits somewhere in between. But alongside the optimism, there is growing…

Mark Humphries is Chair at Bluprintx, a global digital transformation services provider focused on delivering technology and data solutions in marketing, sales and service. In our recent interview, Mark talks about refining the sales strategy to drive commercial performance, key lessons learnt from building a high-performing sales operation, and highlights from his career. Bluprintx has…

My Pension Expert recently achieved B Corp status with a score of 84.9. We spoke to their B Corp Team: Lily Megson (Policy Director), Bernie Dunlop (HR Director and CoSec) and Natalie Rowe (Marketing and Communications Executive) about their journey to gaining the accreditation. What inspired MPE to pursue B Corp certification, and what does…

By James Painter, Senior Investment Director at Palatine. Driving profitable growth is the cornerstone of every PE firm. At Palatine, creating lasting value in the businesses we back underpins all that we do. It helps us support sustainable growth and generate the strong returns our investors expect. While every investor will have its own approach…

By Gary Tipper, Managing Partner, Palatine. The North is home to around 1.1 million businesses, more than 7.7 million jobs, and over 15 million people. Our economy is worth around £343 billion, 19% of the UK total, and if it were a standalone country, it would be the 27th largest in the world (and probably…

Becoming a technology-led, environmentally considerate tyre management business Direct Tyre Management (DTM) uses smart technology to predict and prevent potential roadside failures. It supports major fleet customers in reducing waste, increasing vehicle safety, and minimising costs while being considerate of the environment.  Backing an entrepreneurial business with innovation at its heart DTM (previously part of…

Matt Lee is the CTO at DTM, the largest independent tyre management provider in the UK. In our interview, Matt talks about overseeing the development of a Snowflake data warehouse and suite of Power BI dashboards for both internal users and customers, future plans for the business, and highlights from his career. Matt, as CTO,…

It certainly feels like chaos doesn’t it. International wars, political upheaval, polarisation and protest. It’s fair to say we’re living in a time of ‘permacrisis’, stumbling from one emergency to the next. This sense of existential dread, combined with persistent macroeconomic headwinds, rising financing costs and an uncertain growth outlook, has meant the focus of…

Ian, what motivated your choice to chair Impactful Companies instead of traditional growth-oriented companies that do not prioritise impact? With a degree in civil and environmental engineering, one could argue that I have always been involved in building things that contribute positively to society. I am also a pragmatist who recognises that growth can be…

Palatine has advanced its trailblazing approach to sustainability by setting ambitious Science-Based Targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in its own business and across its portfolio of fast-growing mid-market businesses.  Recently, Palatine further solidified its position as the sustainability pioneer within the mid-market, as the firm’s carbon reduction targets were successfully validated by the Science…

Becoming a market leading fleet solutions provider with a vast UK footprint – NRG Riverside is a specialist fleet solutions provider based in Skelmersdale. The business leases and maintains specialist vehicles, such as waste collection trucks, to local authorities and private companies. Backing an entrepreneurial business with innovation at its heart – NRG Riverside was…

On March 1st, waste management and recycling services specialist Roydon Recycling rebranded as Papilo. In our recent interview, Papilo CEO Paul Hodgkiss shares insights from the recent rebrand, its positive impact on the business, and highlights from his career.   Paul, it’s been over 13 years since you assumed the role of CEO. How would…

Following the launch in February of Palatine’s new Growth Credit Fund, Ryan Sorby, who has joined as Partner and Head of North, outlines how the fund will bring a fresh approach and a unique focus on sustainability to the debt funding market. The Growth Credit Fund has been raised to help super-charge growth in some…

Digitalising an independent financial advisory – Wren Sterling is an independent financial advisory business serving private and corporate clients across the UK.  Investing in a thriving business with buy and build potential – Wren Sterling was established in 2015 following our management buyout of Towergate Financial. Wren Sterling presented an excellent opportunity for Palatine to…

Addressing IT skills shortages with apprenticeships – Estio Training offers a range of IT and digital apprenticeship programmes, including data analyst, infrastructure technician and software developer roles. Partnering with a reputable IT training provider – Estio was formed in 2014 and offers high-quality technical training to people of all ages. Its programmes serve as a…

Adding scale and service capability to an IT-managed service provider – Acora provides IT support and cloud solutions to help mid-market organisations modernise infrastructure and operate in the digital economy. It offers a full-service suite, from service desk to cloud transformation and ongoing managed service of cloud applications and infrastructure. Backing best-in-class cloud transformation – Acora…

A look at our ever-evolving approach to sustainability since our B Corp accreditation in 2022 by Nikhita Mistry, Sustainability Manager at Palatine We believe that private equity can be a force for good and want to use our privileged position to generate returns in the right way, with a commitment to the environment and society.…

Blog by Stephanie Wall, Senior Sustainability Director at Palatine We are at a pivotal point where what happens in this decade will determine what happens for thousands of years to come. This relates not only to climate change and limiting global warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial times, but also to delivering the global Sustainable Development…

As Head of People at Cyberfort, you are responsible for Cyberfort’s people strategy. Can you outline your key priorities for the upcoming 12 months? As always, recruiting the best people and having them stay with us in a fiercely competitive market is our priority. For Cyberfort, 2024 will see us focussing on leadership development to…

Providing high quality, affordable treatment in an area lacking NHS funding – Veincentre is the UK’s leading clinic specialising in state-of-the-art treatment for varicose veins. Partnering with a visionary vein service – Veincentre was founded in 2003 by internationally renowned clinician Dr David West and his wife Deborah, who spotted a gap in the market…

Becoming a nationally leading force in materials testing services – Construction Testing Solutions (CTS) is a leading provider of on-site and laboratory testing, geo-environmental and structural assessment services to the UK Infrastructure and Construction industry. The business operates from a network of ten laboratories and six geo-technical and geo-environmental consulting offices, providing full UK coverage.…

Positively impacting career prospects in electrical training – Trade Skills 4U provides a range of electrical courses for individuals who have little or no electrical knowledge and want to become fully qualified electricians with a focus on the adult training market and attracts people looking to upskill or retrain in an environment that suits their…

Addressing the climate crisis by delivering strong, sustainable growth – Anthesis is a fast-growing, global sustainability specialist and a proud B Corp. They are an outstanding purpose-led business that seeks to significantly contribute to a more sustainable, resilient and productive world. A relationship built on deep cultural alignment – Anthesis was founded in 2013 on…

Congratulations, Beth, on becoming the first female to win the Insider Dealmaker of the Year award in 29 years. How do you feel about this achievement?  Being recognised with this award is a real honour, especially as the first woman to receive the award in 29 years, and I hope this opens the door for…

Consolidating the UK holiday park market – Verdant Leisure operates across the North East of England and Scotland, providing self-catering lodges, caravan holidays, and holiday home ownership. They allow families to be together in stunning places on the coast or the hills of northern Britain. Supporting a buy and build strategy with a seasoned team…

International and acquisitive expansion for healthcare group – Vernacare is the world’s largest producer of single-use toileting and cleansing products. Leading innovation – Vernacare can trace its roots back to 1961 when Vernon & Co. began to develop disposable hospital products in Bolton. As inventors of the single-use system for patient toileting and cleansing, the…

The Lucion Group has made four acquisitions in only twelve months. As COO, how has data management helped the company with this fast-paced growth? With the integration of any acquisition, we initially focus on two key areas: people and process. Naturally, as a people-focused business, the people element always comes first, so we get to…

We spoke with Andrew Noone, UK Managing Director at Anthesis to understand some of the trends that a global sustainability consultancy is seeing in the ESG space and get advice on how to lay solid governance foundations to underpin ESG activities. Over the last few years, ESG has increased in importance in many sectors, particularly…

We’ve come a long way since raising our first Impact Fund in 2016-17 to closing our second, larger fund earlier this year. Raising the first fund was ambitious– no other mid-market firm had done it before, and for many of our investors it was the first time they had invested in an impact platform. For…

Jenny, you joined NRG in 2021. One of your first projects was to create an apprenticeship framework for level 3 HGV Technicians. Can you tell us how you went about this? I saw the opportunity to add value through a proactive approach to people management. It was also an opportunity to support the business growth…

Will joined the Palatine team earlier this year to head the Palatine Growth Credit Fund. He is focused on finding new investment opportunities in fast-growing, scalable businesses across the regions throughout the UK. Having spent 17 years in Corporate and Investment Banking and Fund Management, Will has successfully launched three Growth Credit strategies into the…

Private equity backing can enhance the value of your business and ensure it flourishes long after the investment period. How? Danielle Garland shares her experiences across four key areas: strategic M&A, people, technology and sales and marketing within the financial and professional services space. Strategic Mergers and Acquisitions. A good bolt-on will add value in…

In a recent interview with BusinessCloud, Marc and Alison Schmid reflect on how our investment has transformed the mindset of Redmoor Health Redmoor Health had always been a fast-growing business even before the involvement of private equity house Palatine. Marc Schmid was in his mid 40s when he decided to launch a business in 2017 after…

Andy Strickland, Partner and Tech lead at Palatine looks at Customer Experience (CX) and Cyber Security – two of the biggest factors shaping the market in 2023. Tech services is a fast-paced and ever-changing sector. It is a market, constantly being disrupted by innovation or impacted by external factors. These can range from the introduction…

B Corp Q&A with Nikhita Mistry, Sustainability Executive and Steph Wall, Sustainability Director We’re facing a humanitarian and environmental crisis on planet earth. Businesses can’t just wait for government and policy change; they need to act now and act fast to ensure a sustainable future for the next generation. B Corporations lead the global movement…

What was the inspiration behind Inclusive Employers? Inclusive Employers was established nearly 12 years ago. The inspiration stemmed from a belief that inclusive workplaces are better for business; people thrive, innovate, and achieve a balance in their lives, making them happy and committed to working hard on shared goals. Cultures like this are attractive to…

Forming a resilient, digitally-focused and customer-centric road safety provider – TTC is a leading provider of road user education and compliance services in the UK. Enhancing road safety with a talented and highly experienced management team – TTC was founded in 1993 after being involved in the original pilot scheme in England for what later…

Becoming a market leader in home emergency assistance – CET supports home emergency policies for one in eight UK households, providing specialist property services to the insurance sector. They are a leading provider of home emergency, drainage and subsidence investigation services nationwide.  A shared belief in growth potential  – CET was founded in Castle Donnington…

We’ve been reporting our carbon footprint for the last four years and continuously strive to reduce the carbon impact of our business and portfolio. Last year we invited our Buyout Investors to the first face-to-face meeting since the Covid-19 pandemic in 2019. We were keen to keep the event’s carbon footprint as low as the…

“There is a climate emergency, and we have a small window where we can make a change. We need to make big changes and make them quickly to reverse some of the terrible things we’re seeing at the moment.” Beth Houghton, Palatine As the UK moves towards a low-carbon future, all businesses, small and large,…

Dialling up sales for telecoms provider – XLN is a supplier of fixed-line, mobile and broadband services to customers in the SME sector. Market leader for SMEs – The company was co-founded by Christian Nellemann in 2002 after spotting an opportunity to better serve the SME telecoms market. Deregulation of the retail telecoms market meant XLN could leverage buying power…

Buy & Build strategy leads to 80 acquisitions under Palatine’s ownership – Private medical and group risk insurance brokers focusing on the SME and private individual sectors. The Company was founded by Kevin Amphlett in 2002 and had started consolidating the PMI broker sector before Palatine’s investment, undertaking ten acquisitions of smaller brokers. The business…

Developing firm foundations through organic growth for leading housebuilders – Westleigh is a leading housebuilder that delivers affordable homes to Registered Providers (RPs) across the Midlands and South Yorkshire. Regional strength and expansion ambitions – The company was founded in 1985 by husband and wife team, Chris and Judy Beighton. Chris and the team had…

Palatine recently announced its significant investment in rapidly growing digital healthcare services partner, Redmoor Health. Being the final portfolio company to join Palatine’s first Impact Fund, it underlines the firm’s commitment to impact investing by commercially-driven businesses with a mission to positively impact on society or the environment. Here, Marc Schmid, CEO of Redmoor Health…

In 2021, we were the first private equity house to put our entire portfolio through accredited Carbon Literacy training. Delegates leave with an understanding of the science behind climate change, the effect of climate change on business and our personal lives, an insight into the unequal global impacts of climate change and most importantly, it…

This summer, we welcomed Sam Addison and Jeremy Ricketts-Hagan to our team as part of the 1,0000 Black Interns Initiative. The initiative aims to transform the prospects of young black people in the UK by offering paid work experience across a wide range of industries. Greg Holmes, Investment Manager at Palatine and Member of the…

A university education aids social mobility, increases employability and increases lifetime earnings. We believe access to a university education should be available to all, regardless of background or identity; this is why we chose to become a Manchester Access Programme (MAP) Scholarship donor. ‘I finished the first year of my degree, having achieved a first-class…

Q&A with Jono Adams, Anthesis’ Climate and Net-Zero lead Anthesis announced a bold and ambitious goal when Palatine invested in 2021 to support its clients to avoid, reduce, and remove at least 3GT of carbon dioxide emissions by 2030. Can you tell me about it? Anthesis is determined to play an ambitious role in tackling…

Senior Investment Director Andy Strickland looks at value enhancement opportunities in the IT managed services sector. The pandemic dramatically accelerated the pace of change in how and where people work in nearly every organisation around the world. The first lockdown in March 2020 forced us all into a sudden and rapid shift to home working,…

Greg Holmes, Investment Manager As we approach a year since the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report which warned of ‘code red for humanity’, the last 12 months have seen an added focus on sustainable and impact investment across the mid-market landscape. While for many investors ESG has moved centre stage, Palatine’s commitment to…

We have been reporting our carbon footprint for the last four years and are continuously striving to reduce the carbon impact of our business and our portfolio. The Covid-19 pandemic had a huge impact on business travel, resulting in the carbon footprints of our 2020 and 2021 AGMs being much lower than in previous years.…

Sustainable investing and Impact investing are often confused as two sides of the same coin but there are some clear and important differences, explains Beth Houghton, head of Palatine’s Impact Fund. Sustainability, responsible investing, Impact, ESG… the terminology involved in describing and evaluating the relationship between business and the environment/society has multiplied in recent years,…

After a successful four years, we recently exited our investment in TTC Group, the leading driver risk management and road safety training provider, with the sale of the business to management backed by Pricoa Private Capital. As he prepares to lead the business into the next stage of its growth journey, TTC Group CEO Jim…

‘We’re making progress, but we’re not there yet’, is Dr Flic Gabbay’s assessment of how attitudes to diversity and inclusion have changed over her distinguished career as a pharmaceutical physician and business leader. To say the passionate and dynamic co-founder and Managing Partner of tranScrip Partners, (the specialist pharmaceutical services consultancy which received investment from…

Thoughts from Rupert Brown, Investment Director and Financial Services Specialist. Buy and build is a key growth strategy for the vast majority of Palatine’s portfolio companies. Around 80% have completed at least one acquisition during the investment period, totalling more than 170 across the last decade. It’s a smart approach which can prove effective in…

Palatine recently acquired a significant minority shareholding in fast growing, global sustainability specialist, Anthesis Group, a deal which underlined its long-held commitment and passion for impact investing and the broader ESG agenda. Here, Stuart McLachlan, co-founder and CEO of Anthesis, talks about the company’s growth journey, what’s next for the business, and the wider corporate…

Richard Thomas, Senior Investment Director and Head of Palatine’s Midlands office and Tom Hustler, Investment Manager. In any market, significant disruption creates a fertile breeding ground for consolidation. And few disruptions are as deep and far-reaching as the COVID-19 pandemic has been. Over the last 12 months, business resilience and ingenuity were placed under intense…

To coincide with Earth Day 2021, we spoke to Brad Blundell, UK Managing Director of Palatine portfolio business Anthesis, about how Carbon Literacy training is arming the wider Palatine portfolio with new insights and tools to operate more sustainably. Palatine has become the first UK private equity house to put its entire portfolio through Carbon…

Anthesis Group – a leading global sustainability consultancy, and certified B Corp, have taken a unique approach to their Carbon Literacy training, to further cascade climate action. As one of our portfolio business, they have been using their network to increase awareness, and offer CL training to other organisations, in order to help them begin…

The increasing prevalence of buy and build strategies in private equity was clear before COVID-19 struck. Rising competition for larger businesses, especially in white-hot growth industries, has steadily pushed up valuations over the last decade. But if fierce bidding for more-established companies sparked the trend, the immense capacity for value creation in mid-sized businesses with…

In October Palatine completed the sixth investment from its Impact fund, which backs profitable businesses that have a clear, positive impact on society or the environment. There’s been an undeniable growth in ethical or impact-focused investment over recent years. Palatine has placed a focus on ESG (environmental, social, and governance) strategy and evaluation across our…

PALATINE Private Equity’s Impact Fund has taken a stake in fast-growing skills, training and apprenticeships provider Back2Work Group. Luke Muscat, co-founder and Managing Director, describes building the business and what he hopes to achieve in partnership with Palatine. After graduating, I thought about a career in finance, but decided instead to launch the business with…

Veincentre receives feedback from patients each year on how the treatment has affected their lives and sense of wellbeing. Many of these focus on how the treatment has enabled them to re-connect with active leisure pursuits and the effect this has had on their health and happiness through better mobility and subsequent weight loss. As…

Travis – Level 3 Infrastructure Technician – introduced to the education sector by Estio and helped to rebuild his confidence after a false start to his career. Choosing an apprenticeship wasn’t just about getting a job for Travis, it was about regaining his self-esteem: “I was never interested in school or college; it never got the…

Connecting our management teams to download knowledge, share stories, exchange resources and tools is critical to our value creation approach and helps accelerate processes, alleviating time and reducing costs for these businesses. Read on to view some of the collaboration examples. Operational Efficiencies – Midlands based businesses CET and TTC have collaborated on operational efficiencies by…

Investing in people from the boardroom to the shop floor is the key to achieving maximum value and excellent returns. People are at the heart of our investment philosophy. We believe that great people are the key to success for all businesses. The teams we work with are the reason why we invest in a…