Enterprise originated in 1992 concentrating on corporate finance for unquoted companies, a neglected niche of the small cap sector. This core activity has extended over the years, partly through the deployment of the EIS and partly by expanding into other areas of activity.
The firm enjoys a solid reputation for getting on with the job in hand, competitive fees and is lucky enough to derive its business almost exclusively by referral.
A distinctive feature of the firm is its extensive network of experienced business people and it will almost always import additional skills, talent, individuals and effect commercial introductions in order to add value to the corporate growth of the client business.
Susan founded Enterprise Corporate Finance in 1992, a corporate finance boutique specialising in development capital for the small company market. Frustrated by the equity gap and the lack of funding available for small companies, she extended her operation to include fund-raising, which she has successfully undertaken for many years.
Susan has become an acknowledged expert in the EIS (Enterprise investment Scheme) and is Director General of the EIS Association, the official trade body of the EIS industry, which works closely with HM Treasury and HMRC. She spearheads the lobbying activities as a key member of the Tax & Technical Committee and oversees the membership and events activities as well as driving a fivefold growth in membership during her tenure.
Susan’s sector skills are broadly based and include in depth experience in financial services, media, leisure, retail, environmental and technology. She is passionate about the small cap sector and campaigns vociferously for greater access to capital for SME’s and entrepreneurs.
Head of Investment Promotion and Product Development
Location: West End office
Christian trained at PwC and qualified as a chartered accountant in 1999, before moving to Morgan Stanley (2000-2002) as Associate in Investment Banking and Financial Control.
He was appointed Director of Finance, Teather & Greenwood Investment Management in 2002 and moved with the Tax Efficient Solutions team to Smith & Williamson in 2004, becoming Deputy head of the department. He left to join Enterprise at the start of 2011.
Over the last eight years, Christian has been responsible for developing a number of tax efficient products, particularly Enterprise Investment Schemes. He is able to lead on tax efficient product development from inception through to completion, because of his financial and tax background and commercial experience.
Christian is competent across a broad range of sectors including financial services, media, leisure, property and renewable energy.
He and his team are now responsible for Enterprise’s range of tax efficient and other products.
Martin has many years experience of small company fundraising and in particular the tax-efficient investment market, dating back to the 1980s. He was founder and head of Tax Efficient Solutions, first at Teather & Greenwood (1997-2004) and subsequently at Smith & Williamson (2004-2010), which he left to join Enterprise.
He has been closely involved in both Venture Capital Trusts and Enterprise Investment Schemes since their inception, is a founder and director of the EIS Association and sits on the board of a number of EIS companies.
Martin works very closely with Enterprise’s range of Investee companies and other funds. As well as promoting the EISA to exisiting and new members.
Through Exodus Ventures Ltd. Nick provides a full investment service for Business Angels, offering a range of services including: commercial due diligence; deal structuring; deal negotiation; and a fully managed Business Angel Investment Club. This ‘Club’ provides High Net Worth investors the opportunity to develop a diversified and actively managed portfolio of EIS investments.
Nick has sat as board director or observer on behalf of Investors at 12 early stage businesses and managed a number of different early phase investment portfolios.
Nick’s background as: Investment Director at the Creative Capital Fund; Director of Investments at Liberty Global; and strategy roles at O2, BBC Worldwide and PA consulting group have provided direct experience of managing numerous transactions as principal, and ensure a professional and efficient transaction and management service is provided to clients of Exodus and Enterprise.
Nick’s sector expertise is fairly broad but with a focus on Technology, Media and Telephony (TMT) and the wider area of digitally enabled growth businesses. Nick also sits on the Investment Committee of the Northwest Fund 4 Digital & Media.
Mary applies her versatile skills to all aspects of Enterprise’s businesses overseeing finance, administration, operations and the smooth running of the EIS Association, the official trade body for the Enterprise Investment Scheme.
Mary studied languages at Galway University, subsequently taking a Post Graduate Certificate in Education. She developed her administrative, organisational and financial skills throughout her career in senior administrative positions with various healthcare and educational establishments, and latterly the financial and enterprise sector. Mary has been with Enterprise since early in 1999, originally as Office Manager with overall responsibility for office management and administration but has subsequently assumed increasing responsibilities, one of which is the management of the membership, events, financial controls and internal procedures for this expanding group.
John is a consultant and business advisor in the leisure and media sectors. He has moved from the City, where he was a leading investment analyst for 10 years, latterly for NatWest, through electronic media strategy and business development consultancy with Hydra Associates, to working independently through his own vehicle JFWS Ltd.
At JFWS John is focussed on entrepreneur support with business model development and planning, strategy, fundraising and developing his experience as non-executive director and chairman. He has sat on over 50 boards, ranging from start-ups to quoted companies. Currently these include the leading library music publisher Audio Network and the leading radio and digital independent Somethin Else, responsible for 606 and Gardeners' Question Time. John is also a director of Whetstone Group, a consultancy specialising in concept development,feasibility studies and developing entrepreneurship in the museums, galleries and visitor attractions market, with clients including the V&A at Dundee, Dartington and the Cumbrian Museums Partnership.
Luke Davis
Sales Director
Location: City office
Luke has many years experience of small company fundraising and in particular the tax-efficient investment market.
He was a partner in a small investment bank who were one of the first brokerages to offer private equity to retail clients. Luke has personally raised tens of millions for Private companies since 2003.
