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catalyst
               Newsletter of the Yorkshire Association of Business Angels                                       Spring 2011




    From idea to investment:
    ResusPod
    A recent investment from business angels
    Paul Smith and Tim Ward has enabled
    ResusPod to fully launch their medical
    emergency kit to the dental market.


If you were at the YABA               Peter Thompson Award for
investment forum in September         Enterprise, which provided
2010, you may remember this           £5,000 to develop their idea.
company. ResusPod provides            The award led Kate to
an all in one package of              undertake a Yorkshire Enterprise                l-r Kate Taylor, Mal Jarmolowicz, Julie Burke
equipment and training to             Fellowship, a year long
dentists so they’re able to           programme of business training
                                                                          has been pivotal in moving the          “I didn’t think it would take this
handle potential medical              and mentoring. “The Fellowship
                                                                          company forward," says Julie.           long to get to this
emergencies effectively. The          was fantastic,” says Kate.                                                  point,” says
product package, along with the       “I learned such a lot about         Business angel Paul Smith and           Kate. “But I
fact that legislation has made it     business and met some               investment partner Tim Ward             think it’ll be all
mandatory for dentists to be          incredible people, many of          spotted the potential of                go from here
fully prepared for such               whom have been invaluable in        ResusPod straight away. “It’s a         on in!”
emergencies, made the                 our journey as a business.”         good proposition and both Tim
company a compelling                                                      and I have a lot of experience of
proposition.                          In 2010, Kate and Julie were        working in heavily regulated
                                      successful in obtaining Proof of    sectors,” says Paul, “so we felt
The launch of the product at the      Commercial Concept Funding          we could bring skills to the
Dentistry Show on 04 March            from Yorkshire Concept, which       company, as well as finance to
was the beginning of the next         enabled the pair to accelerate      help it get to the launch stage.”
chapter for the company, which        ResusPod’s development. “We
began its life at the University of   conducted a lot of market           Getting to launch is just the
Leeds in 2008. Company                research and tested the market      beginning for ResusPod and
founders, Kate Taylor and Julie       with the funding and it also        Kate says the company’s
Burke, were among the first           allowed us to take on business      already considering other
recipients of the University’s Sir    manager, Mal Jarmolowicz, who       markets for the product.


     In this issue:
     2     Continental Brands investment;           4/5    Exits: Making them work for you          7       Company updates: Gapwork
           Gripple Ltd profile                      6      Investment forum: Festival fringe                and Retrogenix
     3     Propalms success at Venturefest                                                          8       EIS Seminar
2               Newsletter of the Yorkshire Association of Business Angels                                   Spring 2011




      C O R P O R AT E M E M B E R P RO F I L E

      Gripple Ltd                       of vehicle steering locks. Alan
                                        spread his wings and spent
                                                                            Gripple’s hardware and
                                                                            business resources, the
                                        several enjoyable years             incubator’s residents are
      Formed in 1991, Gripple Ltd
                                        working in California, joining      being given every chance of
      produces an extensive range
                                        Gripple in 2007 on his return       success.”
      of wire joiners and tensioners    to the UK.
      from its base in Sheffield. The                                       Gripple Ltd joined YABA as a
      company’s products are used       Gripple’s latest venture, with      corporate member earlier this
      extensively in a number of        Alan at the helm, is Incub – an     year and Alan is anticipating
      areas, from the construction      ideas incubator aiming to help      exposure to new technologies
      site to the factory and from      budding entrepreneurs to            and investment opportunities.
      the farm to the supermarket.      fast-track their product            “YABA is a good fit for us as                 Alan Somerfield
      Originally invented as a          concepts to market. The             we’re both helping
      solution to joining fence wire,   recently-launched incubator’s       entrepreneurs,” he says. “I’m        business requiring planning,
      Gripple’s products continue       residents, or ‘cubs’ as they’re     always interested in meeting         strategy and dedication,” he
      evolving and expanding their      referred to, are given the          serious innovators and hope          says. “Incub’s state of the art
      uses.                             opportunity to develop a            to have the opportunity to do        ideas and innovations facility
                                        viable business within six to       so via YABA.”                        here in Sheffield is available to
      Alan Somerfield is the Ideas      twelve months, in return for                                             graduates, product designers
      and Innovation Director at        equity in their business. “It’s a   Alan also wants Incub to             or mature individuals who’ve
      Gripple Ltd. His background       collaborative approach – the        change people’s perception           spotted a gap in the market –
      is in product design and he       cubs’ ideas plus our                of inventors as eccentrics in        we’re open to all.”
      ran his own consultancy in the    expertise,” says Alan. “With        the garden shed. “The
      UK for 15 years, achieving        experienced mentoring on            challenge is to show people          www.gripple.com
      success by designing a range      hand, plus full access to           that innovation is a serious         www.incub.co.uk




      Continental Brands toasts new YABA investment
      Years of hard work in restaurants             Simon. “It was so frustrating; we had
      and pubs, working his way up                  orders on the books and enquiries from
      from pot washer to bar manager                potential customers, so everything
                                                    hinged on raising some money.”
      has paid off for entrepreneur
      Simon Jackson, whose import and               Simon decided to approach YABA and
      distribution business, Continental            an investment opportunity was circulated
      Brands, looks set for success                 to its members, which caught the eye of
      thanks to an investment by YABA               Kevin Wheelock. After a period of due
      member Kevin Wheelock.                        diligence, he decided to invest, with the
                                                    deal structured as a loan with the option
      Spotting a business opportunity in the        to convert to equity later this year.
                                                                                                            l-r Kevin Wheelock and Simon Jackson
      growing taste for continental beers, and
      using his knowledge of the catering           Says Kevin: “My background’s in
      industry, Simon and his wife Laura            manufacturing, so this isn’t the usual type     business experience – I know I can learn
      secured sole UK distribution rights for       of business I would consider investing in.      so much from him about growing the
      the Greek beers ALFA and Marathon.            I’m not even a lager drinker – I prefer a       company.”
      Further exclusive UK rights for               pint of bitter! But I was impressed by
      Portuguese, Italian and Far East bottled      Simon’s attitude, sales skills and              Simon’s original plans to sell directly to
      and draught beers soon followed.              entrepreneurial spark. He’s a real go-          125 restaurants – the equivalent of
                                                    getter, who’s spotted and grown a great         importing one container load of beer per
      “Sales were good but the costs of             opportunity in a tough industry. He’s           month – have already been dwarfed by
      importing and warehousing meant we            done a huge amount of legwork so far,           current sales. The investment helped
      needed some extra cashflow finance to         and has worked hard to make the right           secure his crucial first big deal and he’s
      finalise a big new customer, but kept         industry contacts.”                             now selling to wholesalers too. He’s
      getting turned down. We’d already                                                             currently importing between 40-50
      ploughed all our savings into the             Says Simon: “The investment is fantastic,       containers a week and with Kevin’s
      business, and sold off assets to keep us      just what we needed at exactly the right        support is also in negotiations with
      going through a tough 2010,” says             time. And just as important is Kevin’s          several large supermarkets.




    YABA information: 01423 810149 www.yaba.org.uk                                                               Follow us on
Spring 2011                         Newsletter of the Yorkshire Association of Business Angels                                       3




Enterprise Investment Scheme – 2011
Budget highlights from Sagars LLP
The enterprise investment scheme (EIS) is a tax incentive                      In his budget statement on 23 March 2011, the Chancellor also
that applies to qualifying investors subscribing for new                       announced an intention to increase the maximum EIS relief that could be
shares in certain types of trading companies.                                  claimed to £1m from April 2012 and to change the conditions so that
                                                                               more companies qualify for EIS investment.
The rules are being changed from 01 April 2012 to increase the size of
companies that can qualify for EIS. From then on, the new proposals will       This article combines information from our recent business and private
apply to companies meeting the following criteria:                             budget briefings. Please visit Sagars website to read their tax facts card
                                                                               and the briefings in full http://www.sagars.co.uk/news-&-
• 250 employees (up from 50)
                                                                               resources/5/resource-downloads/77/
• No more than £15m gross assets before investment (was £7m)
• £10m maximum EIS investment (was £2m)                                        Alternatively, hard copies are available by calling 0113 297 6767 or
• £1m individual annual limit (was £500k).                                     sending an email to v.goff@sagars.co.uk

In addition, tax relief available to individuals who invest in companies       Fergus Beadle and Kate Naylor will be giving an EIS seminar for current
which qualify under EIS will go up from 20% to 30% from 6 April 2011,          and prospective angel members at Sagars in Leeds on 17 May.
with a maximum possible investment of £500,000.

In view of the fact that the investment can also enable capital gains made
in the previous three years to be rolled over into the EIS, the maximum
relief on £500,000 could be as much as 58% (£30% income tax relief and
28% CGT relief).




    Propalms success
    at Venturefest
    This year, YABA took sole               York-based provider of IT
    responsibility for organising and       systems which was looking for
    running the Investment                  investment to assist in its
    Competition at Venturefest              expansion plans. Propalms,
    Yorkshire.                              which already has a network that
                                            extends to 50 companies
    Sponsored by Shepherd Group,            worldwide, develops software
    the Competition saw six Yorkshire       products to enable people to run
    entrepreneurs pitching against          applications both on their
    one another for the prize – a mix       desktop computers and on other
    of services, including                  devices. The runner-up in the
    accountancy, insurance and legal        competition was Frooly.com, an
    advice worth more than £33,000.         e-commerce marketplace with
    Businesses pitching in the              social media features aimed at
    Competition faced questions from        local and independent
    a panel of judges which included        businesses. All the companies
    YABA Chair Andrew Burton,               that presented had exhibition
                                                                                               l-r Noel Clancy, Shepherd FM; Owen Dukes, Propalms;
    YABA Director Peter Ball, serial        stands in the Innovation                           Andrew Burton, YABA
    entrepreneur and investor Garry         Showcase alongside 20+
    Diver and Noel Clancy, CEO of           innovative businesses, many of         space in which to network. Aside
    Shepherd FM. YABA members               which have been in negotiations        from this, one of the biggest
    also joined the finalists for a         with investors and we await news       draws of the day was the Big
    private lunch sponsored by              of deal completions.                   Debate, which primarily centred
    Redmayne Bentley LLP     .                                                     around the role of the Local
                                            Elsewhere at Venturefest, the          Economic Partnerships and the
    Announced at the Awards Dinner          static exhibition – once again         £1.4bn Regional Growth Fund.
    that evening was the Investment         filled by key Yorkshire
    Competition winner – Propalms, a        organisations – provided a great




Join us on                                                                             YABA information: 01423 810149 www.yaba.org.uk
4               Newsletter of the Yorkshire Association of Business Angels                                    Spring 2011




    Exits: making them
      COLIN GLASS
      Colin Glass is a long-standing                    important. A buyer will also want to see
      YABA member, serial investor                      that systems and controls are in place all
      and Senior Partner in Winburn                     through the business and for these to be
                                                        working well.”
      Glass Norfolk, the chartered
      accountancy practice he                           When the time comes to exit, there are
      co-founded in 1974. He is also                    various ways of starting the process as
      Non-Executive Director on the                     Colin explains. “For larger businesses,
      board of a number of companies                    specialist corporate finance companies
      that he has either advised                        will provide you with a list of possible
      professionally or invested in                     buyers. You may have your own contacts
      personally.                                       within your sector to approach, or it’s
                                                        possible that a large potential buyer will
                                                                                                                Colin Glass
      Colin’s expertise is in becoming involved         make the first move with a direct
      in early-stage companies, working with            proposition if it considers your business
      the management team to add value and              particularly attractive. We exited the first   continues: “Owners of one company I
      then exiting, whether via trade sale or by        company that I helped to found, Datong         worked with wanted to exit in order to
      flotation. “I always encourage the main           Electronics (now AIM-listed), after a          move abroad. They didn’t want to sell to a
      shareholders to have an exit strategy in          chance introduction through a trusted          larger competitor who would simply take
      mind when I start working with a new              business contact. The sale process             their contracts and close the business
      company,” he says.                                fortunately went smoothly as I was able to     down, and so spent some time looking for
                                                        negotiate and project-manage the deal          an alternative buyer to keep the company
      “The first thing to do, if it is not already in   with the help of a good commercial             going in its own right. However, if an exit
      place, is create a credible management            lawyer. The founders, including myself,        has to be made under pressure – either
      team. Usually this involves at least a Chief      stayed on during the earn-out period and       of time or money – it may be necessary
      Executive Officer, Finance Director and           left at the end of that term. The key factor   to accept a lower price and to sell to an
      Sales Director. A growth company should           was that we had good financial                 unpalatable buyer.
      have a Non-Executive Director who often           information and an excellent team from
      acts as Chairman. Any prospective buyer           the shop floor to the Board, which we had      When considering your exit, you need to
      will have to work with this team and rely         built up over a number of years.”              be realistic about what you can expect to
      on them - not just the entrepreneur - to                                                         receive for your business. An experienced
      run the business smoothly. Even a small           Negotiation is very important in achieving     advisor is invaluable and can help you
      company should ideally have these key             a successful exit – how much does a            achieve the best price for your business
      people in place – it may be difficult to          buyer want your business and how               and the smoothest exit for you.”
      achieve and may take a little time but it is      strongly do you want to sell? Colin




      Exit statistics                                                           • 35% generated between 1X and 5X the original
                                                                                  investment.
      A report published by the National Endowment for
      Science, Technology and the Arts, which was                               • 9% provided gains of 10X or more.
      supported by the British Business Angels
      Association in 2009 brought together data from a
                                                                                • This 9% produced 80% of cash returned.
      survey of 158 UK based private investors. In terms of                     • The average time taken from investment to exit was
      exits, it found:                                                            3.6 years.

      • 44% of exits provided substantial rewards leading                       Please contact YABA for a copy of the full report
        to an average multiple of 2.2 on the original sum                       “Siding with the Angels Research Report 2009”
        invested.




    YABA information: 01423 810149 www.yaba.org.uk                                                                Follow us on
Spring 2011                     Newsletter of the Yorkshire Association of Business Angels                                    5




work for you
   GARRY DIVER
   Serial entrepreneur and YABA                    bigger one presents a unique set of
   member, Garry Diver, is Chief                   challenges. Due diligence can be a
   Executive at Ultimedia Ltd, a                   lengthy process – taking up to nine
                                                   months to complete. This removes staff
   software house specialising in
                                                   from their daily duties, possibly to the
   e-learning, HR, web design and                  detriment of the business itself,” he says.
   e-commerce.                                     Illustrating the potential pitfalls, he
                                                   continues. “A deal to acquire one of my
   Garry started his first company in 1984,
                                                   businesses had been signed off with a
   after 15 years in the corporate world,
                                                   major multinational, and the sale date
   and since then has started, taken over
                                                   agreed. The acquisition was also
   and sold a number of technology
                                                   announced at a global corporate event
   businesses to high-profile buyers. Garry        where I was a keynote speaker. After an
   also works with venture capital firms,          unexpected change of personnel at
   turning around ailing companies in the          senior level immediately after this, the
   UK and USA.                                     company pulled out of the deal at the
                                                   last minute. Despite having a withdrawal
   “Growing a business and guiding it to           penalty in place, it was a major setback
   fulfil its potential is certainly exciting,”    for me and my business partners.
   says Garry. “And, for me as an investor, a      However, we picked up the pieces and
   successful exit is affirmation that I’ve got                                                            Garry Diver
                                                   sold the company 18 months later.”
   it right – the investment decision,
   developing the company, reading the             Garry’s advice to angel investors thinking     chance of a good sale. Prospective
   market and the timing of the whole              about an exit is simple – trust your           buyers are investing in what they think
   process.” Along with his successes,             instincts. “Start the exit process when        your business will be doing next year or
   Garry also has a cautionary tale to tell.       sales and income are heading up, not           the year after – not what it did last year.”
   “Selling your small company to a much           when they start to flatten – there’s more




Exit strategies – the YABA Master Class
February saw Mazars LLP running a                 necessitates having an understanding of          Oliver and Rob also discussed the ways
seminar for business angels about                 what prospective buyers are looking for and      they approach finding buyers. “We can
                                                  where the value of the business lies. By this    carry out some targeted research to identify
exit strategies. The event was full of
                                                  I mean that if you’re looking to exit a          potential buyers,” says Rob. “Also, more
useful information, tips and case                 business you must ensure the value is in         subtly, some careful PR and/or profile-
studies.                                          the business and not in the owners,” he          raising about succession planning at trade
                                                  stressed. “Because if all the relationships      shows can be useful.”
Oliver Hoffman and Rob Burton, both part          and knowledge are with the owners, and
of Mazars’ Corporate Finance Team,                there aren’t others within the business who
presented and discussed a range of issues                                                          For angel (usually minority) investors, Oliver
                                                  can take it forward just as well, the
– from preparing for sale through to what                                                          stressed the importance of ensuring that
                                                  business is much less valuable.”
buyers would be looking for.                                                                       their plans are in line with those of the
                                                                                                   majority business owners/managers. “This
                                                  Discussions followed about grooming
“One of the major factors in a successful         businesses for exit to ensure they reached       should form part of your very early
exit is understanding the buyer’s position,”      their maximum value in any negotiations.         discussions and be wrapped up in your
said Oliver. “The more they need your             This is important for a number of reasons,       legal documentation. Be upfront, otherwise
business, the more they will be prepared to       from achieving the best price, through to        as an investor you could be left in a weak
pay for it. But even before you’re talking to     providing potential buyers with what they        position with little control over future
prospective buyers, it’s crucial that you’re      want and ensuring no nasty surprises             direction and exit plans.”
prepared. This preparation often                  during the due diligence phase.




Join us on                                                                        YABA information: 01423 810149 www.yaba.org.uk
6                    Newsletter of the Yorkshire Association of Business Angels                                                                   Spring 2011



        I N V E S T M E N T F O RU M


    Festival fringe
    As a fringe event to the Global                                                                                                      Pro Bio Healthcare Ltd,
    Manufacturing Festival, the March                                                                                                    Daresbury
    investment forum was held at the AMP                                                                                                 Pro Bio Healthcare produces premium
    Technology Centre in Rotherham.                                                                                                      health supplements for IBS and other
    Supported by Sheffield Hallam University                                                                                             conditions. The company seeks £150,000 in
    and the University of Sheffield, it offered a                                                                                        exchange for equity, principally to assist
    packed schedule. As well as nine                                                                                                     deeper penetration with current high street
    presenting companies, a student from each                                                                                            retailers and boosting internet and
    of the universities presented a pitch for                                                                                            overseas sales.
    sponsorship for their entries to the Institute                                                                                       www.probiohealthcare.com
    of Mechanical Engineers’ Formula Student
                                                                                                                                         –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
    Competition.
                                                                                                                                         Gel Doctor Ltd, Harrogate
    Presenting companies:                                                                                                                Gel Doctor is a proven business, whose
                                                                                                                                         main product is a liquid gel-filled insole
    Colour Mobile VMS,                                                                                                                   providing comfort and support in all types
    Derbyshire                                                                                                                           of footwear. £100,000 investment would
                                                                                                                                         enable the company to implement a sales
    Currently the only company in the UK
                                                                                                                                         and marketing strategy to rapidly
    providing solar-powered 5 colour portable
                                                                                                                                         accelerate its growth.
    matrix signs, Colour Mobile VMS require
                                                                                                                                         www.geldoctor.com
    investment of £100,000 to expand their
    wider market.
    www.colourmobilevms.com                                                      Shapemaster


                                                                        Carrypeak Ltd t/as
                                                                        Shapemaster, Huddersfield
                                                                        Shapemaster’s fitness equipment is already
                                                                        a hit with care homes in the US. With a
                                                                        large target audience at which to aim its
                                                                        products, Carrypeak Ltd requires up to
                                                                        £250,000 to increase its rate of growth.
                                                                        www.shapemaster.co.uk                                                       Gel Doctor

                                                                        –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––                –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
                                                                        Ethicalcommunity.com, Leeds                                      Adjuvantix Ltd, Sheffield
                                                                        A portal for small ethical sellers to market                     Seeking £100,000 funding to further
                                                                        their goods, Ethicalcommunity.com is                             develop its range of cancer vaccines,
                                                                        looking for £200,000 investment to increase                      Adjuvantix wants to take one of its vaccines
                                                                        its development team and refine the                              through patient clinical trials and then on to
                                                                        shopping and selling experience, as well as                      a trade sale.
                                                                        market the service internationally.                              www.adjuvantix.co.uk
             Colour Mobile VMS
                                                                        www.ethicalcommunity.com                                         –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
    –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––                   –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––                Trailer-Lift, Stokesley
    Swellaway Ltd, Sheffield                                            Vidbo.co.uk, Derbyshire                                          This revolutionary product combines a
    Swellaway’s product is an electronic                                Creating video marketing incorporating                           vehicle trailer with a built-in scissor lift,
    software device in the form of a flexible                           social networking for small local businesses                     allowing access to the underside of a
    wrap which replaces the need for traditional                        seeking to build their online presence,                          vehicle for those without access to a
    methods of compression treatments for                               £100,000 will enable Vidbo to recruit a                          workshop lifting bay. The product has
    sprain and strain injuries. £100,000 is                             direct sales team and expand its concept                         global appeal and the company requires
    required.                                                           across the UK.                                                   £500,000 to produce further units for sale.
    www.swellaway.com                                                   www.vidbo.co.uk                                                  www.trailer-lift.com

       Disclaimer: Investment in new business carries high risks as well as the possibility of high    investments of this kind. Yorkshire Association of Business Angels (“YABA”) cannot advise on
       rewards and potential investors should be aware that no established market exists for the       the merits or risks of investment and is not authorised to arrange transactions or circulate
       trading of shares in private companies. Before investing in a project about which information   offer documents under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. YABA is an exempt
       is given, potential investors are strongly advised to take advice from a person, authorised     body for the purposes of arranging deals in investments under statutory instrument 1201 of
       under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (“FSMA”), who specialises in advising on      2001 as a non-profit making organisation.




    YABA information: 01423 810149 www.yaba.org.uk                                                                                                     Follow us on
Spring 2011                        Newsletter of the Yorkshire Association of Business Angels                                           7




    C O M PA N Y U P DAT E S
   Gapwork
   Spreading the word…
   It was one of the earliest business angel investments,
   made back in 2000 when YABA was in its infancy, and
   more than a decade on Leeds-based Gapwork is
   continuing to thrive.

   Gapwork was formed in 1999 as an information portal for those
   considering a gap year – covering everything from where to go and
   what to do, to insurance and visas. The website attracts around                            l-r Rebecca Jordan and Kirsty Collinson
   50,000 visitors a month and is firmly established as the ‘go-to’ site
   for gap year information. Large companies such as Raleigh                 offering a pay-as-you-go service for all teachers,” says Rebecca.
   International and BUNAC advertise their services and products on          “This will put us in direct competition with large publishers but
   the site, knowing that a large audience is guaranteed.                    we’re confident that our material is easy to use, accessible and of
                                                                             a very high quality.”
   Since buying out their angel investors in 2004, Gapwork directors
   Rebecca Jordan and Kirsty Collinson have expanded their                   Their third website, Free Teaching Resources, contains exactly that:
   business into three strands through an umbrella company, PDC              resources written by charities, museums and other organisations
   Education Ltd.                                                            that are free to download for teachers to use across the curriculum.
                                                                             PDC Education Ltd now employs 13 staff at its head office in Leeds
   As well as Gapwork, two more websites have been added to the              and also commissions teachers to write the resource material.
   portfolio. Teaching Resources UK is the leading publisher of              “Teaching Resources UK has passed the 0.5 million download
   resources for the personal development curriculum in the UK.              mark,” says Rebecca. “With a new payment process in place via
   Subscribing schools can access fully-prepared lesson plans and            Paypal, we’re ready to expand the service to overseas schools.”
   resources, including PowerPoint slides and video clips, to aid
   delivery of citizenship, work-related learning and personal social        www.pdceducation.co.uk
   and health education (PSHE). “We’re operating in a niche market at        www.teaching-resources-uk.com
   the moment but the plan is to branch out into other subject areas,        www.gapwork.com




   Retrogenix
                                                    the time and expertise provided by Neil
                                                    and Mark has been invaluable. “Of
                                                    course the investment was needed, but
                                                    what’s been particularly valuable are the
   Flexibility pays off…                            skills and experience Mark and Neil have
                                                    brought to the company. Jo and I are
   Having secured angel investment in               scientists and it’s been great to have a
   the summer of 2009, Retrogenix                   wider range of skills, knowledge and
   has developed its cell microarray                experience to draw on.”
   technology and is working with its
                                                    The Retrogenix business model has
   first customers.                                 changed somewhat over the past 18
                                                    months, from targeting solely companies
   Three angel investors, including Mark            producing small molecule drugs to those
   Woodward and Neil Ewin, invested                 involved in antibody drug production.                       l-r Mark Woodward, Jim Freeth, Phil Whaley
   £150,000 in the company after initially          Says Neil: “There was a significant                         (Grant Thornton), Jo Soden, Neil Ewin
   seeing a presentation about its                  appetite for the technology in the
   technology at Venturefest. The technology        antibody drug market. We set off in one            on collaborative projects, which are pilot,
   provides drug companies with a means             direction but after we’d done some in-             or proof of concept, projects. “Once
   to quickly and comprehensively                   depth market research, realised that we            these projects are complete and we have
   determine the full range of activities of        needed to alter that direction, which              successful data, these companies have
   drug molecules, saving time and money            meant adapting both the business plan              indicated they’d like to enter into a longer
   in the lengthy drug development process.         and how the technology was being                   term arrangement,” says Jim. “They will
                                                    developed.”                                        also provide us with data which we can
   Directors Dr Jim Freeth and Jo Soden are                                                            use for marketing to a number of other
   behind the development of the                    This flexibility has paid off. Retrogenix is       companies, so this really is a pivotal time
   technology at Retrogenix. Jim says that          currently working with three companies             for the business.”




Join us on                                                                            YABA information: 01423 810149 www.yaba.org.uk
8                Newsletter of the Yorkshire Association of Business Angels                            Spring 2011




       Diary dates                                                     New faces
       YABA runs a full and varied events
                                                                       The YABA associate membership continues to
       calendar each year – if you’re interested
       in attending any of these events, please
                                                                       grow – our most recent recruits are:
       contact us on 01423 810149, or email
       our Communications and Events                                                        Grant Thornton
       Manager, Charlotte Atkinson at                                                       www.grant-thornton.co.uk
       charlotte@yaba.org.uk
                                                                                            Withers & Rogers
                                                                                            www.withersrogers.com
       10 May                    21 June
       Investment forum          Angel members’
       Location: York            social lunch                                               Irwin Mitchell
                                                                                            www.irwinmitchell.com
       Time: 5.00pm              Location: tbc
       Hosted by The             Time: tbc
       Company of Merchant                                                                  Atkinsons Consulting
       Adventurers of the        12 July                                                    www.finance-mix.com
       City of York              Investment forum
                                 Location: Leeds                                            University of Hull
       17 May                    Time: 5.45pm                                               Woodend Creative Workspace
       Angel seminar             Hosted by Shine                                            www.hull.ac.uk/cel
       Location: Leeds           Business Centre,
       Time: 10.30am             Harehills                                                  Sagars
       Hosted by Sagars LLP                                                                 www.sagars.co.uk
                                 Master classes will
       14 June                   resume in the autumn                                       The Royal Bank of Scotland
       Investment forum          in South Yorkshire.                                        www.rbs.co.uk
       Location: Leeds
       Time: 5.45pm              We regularly update                                        Yorkshire Bank
       Hosted by Grant           our events online.                                         www.ybonline.co.uk
       Thornton                  Go to www.yaba.org.uk
                                 to find out more.


                                                                   EIS Seminar                             Sagars LLP, Leeds
                                                                   Following the Chancellor’s budget
                                                                                                           10.30am – 1.30pm
                                                                   announcements, YABA will be
                                                                   holding a seminar to discuss the    members only and will be held
                                                                   recent changes to the Enterprise    at Sagars LLP in Leeds on 17
                                                                   Investment Scheme and how           May. For further details please
                                                                   these will affect business angel    contact Charlotte Atkinson on
                                                                   investors. The event is open to     01423 810149 or email
                                                                   current and prospective angel       charlotte@yaba.org.uk




                                                                                          www.twitter.com/yaba1995

                                                                                                                 Copy: Campus PR
      Contact us             Yorkshire Association   Barbara Greaves,                                            www.campuspr.co.uk
      If you want to know    of Business Angels      Charlotte Atkinson                                          Tel: 0113 258 9880
      more about YABA        1 Hornbeam House        or Jordana Beattie                      Members of:         Design: Spiral
                                                                                                                 www.spiralcom.co.uk
      or come to an          Hornbeam Park           T: 01423 810149                                             Tel: 0113 205 1400
      investment forum,      Hookstone Road          E: admin@yaba.org.uk                                        Photos: Simon x2 Photography
      please get in touch.   Harrogate HG2 8QT       W: www.yaba.org.uk                                          www.simonandsimonphoto.co.uk
                                                                                                                 Tel: 01937 844442




    YABA information: 01423 810149 www.yaba.org.uk

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YABA Catalyst Newletter Spring 2011

  • 1. www.yaba.org.uk catalyst Newsletter of the Yorkshire Association of Business Angels Spring 2011 From idea to investment: ResusPod A recent investment from business angels Paul Smith and Tim Ward has enabled ResusPod to fully launch their medical emergency kit to the dental market. If you were at the YABA Peter Thompson Award for investment forum in September Enterprise, which provided 2010, you may remember this £5,000 to develop their idea. company. ResusPod provides The award led Kate to an all in one package of undertake a Yorkshire Enterprise l-r Kate Taylor, Mal Jarmolowicz, Julie Burke equipment and training to Fellowship, a year long dentists so they’re able to programme of business training has been pivotal in moving the “I didn’t think it would take this handle potential medical and mentoring. “The Fellowship company forward," says Julie. long to get to this emergencies effectively. The was fantastic,” says Kate. point,” says product package, along with the “I learned such a lot about Business angel Paul Smith and Kate. “But I fact that legislation has made it business and met some investment partner Tim Ward think it’ll be all mandatory for dentists to be incredible people, many of spotted the potential of go from here fully prepared for such whom have been invaluable in ResusPod straight away. “It’s a on in!” emergencies, made the our journey as a business.” good proposition and both Tim company a compelling and I have a lot of experience of proposition. In 2010, Kate and Julie were working in heavily regulated successful in obtaining Proof of sectors,” says Paul, “so we felt The launch of the product at the Commercial Concept Funding we could bring skills to the Dentistry Show on 04 March from Yorkshire Concept, which company, as well as finance to was the beginning of the next enabled the pair to accelerate help it get to the launch stage.” chapter for the company, which ResusPod’s development. “We began its life at the University of conducted a lot of market Getting to launch is just the Leeds in 2008. Company research and tested the market beginning for ResusPod and founders, Kate Taylor and Julie with the funding and it also Kate says the company’s Burke, were among the first allowed us to take on business already considering other recipients of the University’s Sir manager, Mal Jarmolowicz, who markets for the product. In this issue: 2 Continental Brands investment; 4/5 Exits: Making them work for you 7 Company updates: Gapwork Gripple Ltd profile 6 Investment forum: Festival fringe and Retrogenix 3 Propalms success at Venturefest 8 EIS Seminar
  • 2. 2 Newsletter of the Yorkshire Association of Business Angels Spring 2011 C O R P O R AT E M E M B E R P RO F I L E Gripple Ltd of vehicle steering locks. Alan spread his wings and spent Gripple’s hardware and business resources, the several enjoyable years incubator’s residents are Formed in 1991, Gripple Ltd working in California, joining being given every chance of produces an extensive range Gripple in 2007 on his return success.” of wire joiners and tensioners to the UK. from its base in Sheffield. The Gripple Ltd joined YABA as a company’s products are used Gripple’s latest venture, with corporate member earlier this extensively in a number of Alan at the helm, is Incub – an year and Alan is anticipating areas, from the construction ideas incubator aiming to help exposure to new technologies site to the factory and from budding entrepreneurs to and investment opportunities. the farm to the supermarket. fast-track their product “YABA is a good fit for us as Alan Somerfield Originally invented as a concepts to market. The we’re both helping solution to joining fence wire, recently-launched incubator’s entrepreneurs,” he says. “I’m business requiring planning, Gripple’s products continue residents, or ‘cubs’ as they’re always interested in meeting strategy and dedication,” he evolving and expanding their referred to, are given the serious innovators and hope says. “Incub’s state of the art uses. opportunity to develop a to have the opportunity to do ideas and innovations facility viable business within six to so via YABA.” here in Sheffield is available to Alan Somerfield is the Ideas twelve months, in return for graduates, product designers and Innovation Director at equity in their business. “It’s a Alan also wants Incub to or mature individuals who’ve Gripple Ltd. His background collaborative approach – the change people’s perception spotted a gap in the market – is in product design and he cubs’ ideas plus our of inventors as eccentrics in we’re open to all.” ran his own consultancy in the expertise,” says Alan. “With the garden shed. “The UK for 15 years, achieving experienced mentoring on challenge is to show people www.gripple.com success by designing a range hand, plus full access to that innovation is a serious www.incub.co.uk Continental Brands toasts new YABA investment Years of hard work in restaurants Simon. “It was so frustrating; we had and pubs, working his way up orders on the books and enquiries from from pot washer to bar manager potential customers, so everything hinged on raising some money.” has paid off for entrepreneur Simon Jackson, whose import and Simon decided to approach YABA and distribution business, Continental an investment opportunity was circulated Brands, looks set for success to its members, which caught the eye of thanks to an investment by YABA Kevin Wheelock. After a period of due member Kevin Wheelock. diligence, he decided to invest, with the deal structured as a loan with the option Spotting a business opportunity in the to convert to equity later this year. l-r Kevin Wheelock and Simon Jackson growing taste for continental beers, and using his knowledge of the catering Says Kevin: “My background’s in industry, Simon and his wife Laura manufacturing, so this isn’t the usual type business experience – I know I can learn secured sole UK distribution rights for of business I would consider investing in. so much from him about growing the the Greek beers ALFA and Marathon. I’m not even a lager drinker – I prefer a company.” Further exclusive UK rights for pint of bitter! But I was impressed by Portuguese, Italian and Far East bottled Simon’s attitude, sales skills and Simon’s original plans to sell directly to and draught beers soon followed. entrepreneurial spark. He’s a real go- 125 restaurants – the equivalent of getter, who’s spotted and grown a great importing one container load of beer per “Sales were good but the costs of opportunity in a tough industry. He’s month – have already been dwarfed by importing and warehousing meant we done a huge amount of legwork so far, current sales. The investment helped needed some extra cashflow finance to and has worked hard to make the right secure his crucial first big deal and he’s finalise a big new customer, but kept industry contacts.” now selling to wholesalers too. He’s getting turned down. We’d already currently importing between 40-50 ploughed all our savings into the Says Simon: “The investment is fantastic, containers a week and with Kevin’s business, and sold off assets to keep us just what we needed at exactly the right support is also in negotiations with going through a tough 2010,” says time. And just as important is Kevin’s several large supermarkets. YABA information: 01423 810149 www.yaba.org.uk Follow us on
  • 3. Spring 2011 Newsletter of the Yorkshire Association of Business Angels 3 Enterprise Investment Scheme – 2011 Budget highlights from Sagars LLP The enterprise investment scheme (EIS) is a tax incentive In his budget statement on 23 March 2011, the Chancellor also that applies to qualifying investors subscribing for new announced an intention to increase the maximum EIS relief that could be shares in certain types of trading companies. claimed to £1m from April 2012 and to change the conditions so that more companies qualify for EIS investment. The rules are being changed from 01 April 2012 to increase the size of companies that can qualify for EIS. From then on, the new proposals will This article combines information from our recent business and private apply to companies meeting the following criteria: budget briefings. Please visit Sagars website to read their tax facts card and the briefings in full http://www.sagars.co.uk/news-&- • 250 employees (up from 50) resources/5/resource-downloads/77/ • No more than £15m gross assets before investment (was £7m) • £10m maximum EIS investment (was £2m) Alternatively, hard copies are available by calling 0113 297 6767 or • £1m individual annual limit (was £500k). sending an email to v.goff@sagars.co.uk In addition, tax relief available to individuals who invest in companies Fergus Beadle and Kate Naylor will be giving an EIS seminar for current which qualify under EIS will go up from 20% to 30% from 6 April 2011, and prospective angel members at Sagars in Leeds on 17 May. with a maximum possible investment of £500,000. In view of the fact that the investment can also enable capital gains made in the previous three years to be rolled over into the EIS, the maximum relief on £500,000 could be as much as 58% (£30% income tax relief and 28% CGT relief). Propalms success at Venturefest This year, YABA took sole York-based provider of IT responsibility for organising and systems which was looking for running the Investment investment to assist in its Competition at Venturefest expansion plans. Propalms, Yorkshire. which already has a network that extends to 50 companies Sponsored by Shepherd Group, worldwide, develops software the Competition saw six Yorkshire products to enable people to run entrepreneurs pitching against applications both on their one another for the prize – a mix desktop computers and on other of services, including devices. The runner-up in the accountancy, insurance and legal competition was Frooly.com, an advice worth more than £33,000. e-commerce marketplace with Businesses pitching in the social media features aimed at Competition faced questions from local and independent a panel of judges which included businesses. All the companies YABA Chair Andrew Burton, that presented had exhibition l-r Noel Clancy, Shepherd FM; Owen Dukes, Propalms; YABA Director Peter Ball, serial stands in the Innovation Andrew Burton, YABA entrepreneur and investor Garry Showcase alongside 20+ Diver and Noel Clancy, CEO of innovative businesses, many of space in which to network. Aside Shepherd FM. YABA members which have been in negotiations from this, one of the biggest also joined the finalists for a with investors and we await news draws of the day was the Big private lunch sponsored by of deal completions. Debate, which primarily centred Redmayne Bentley LLP . around the role of the Local Elsewhere at Venturefest, the Economic Partnerships and the Announced at the Awards Dinner static exhibition – once again £1.4bn Regional Growth Fund. that evening was the Investment filled by key Yorkshire Competition winner – Propalms, a organisations – provided a great Join us on YABA information: 01423 810149 www.yaba.org.uk
  • 4. 4 Newsletter of the Yorkshire Association of Business Angels Spring 2011 Exits: making them COLIN GLASS Colin Glass is a long-standing important. A buyer will also want to see YABA member, serial investor that systems and controls are in place all and Senior Partner in Winburn through the business and for these to be working well.” Glass Norfolk, the chartered accountancy practice he When the time comes to exit, there are co-founded in 1974. He is also various ways of starting the process as Non-Executive Director on the Colin explains. “For larger businesses, board of a number of companies specialist corporate finance companies that he has either advised will provide you with a list of possible professionally or invested in buyers. You may have your own contacts personally. within your sector to approach, or it’s possible that a large potential buyer will Colin Glass Colin’s expertise is in becoming involved make the first move with a direct in early-stage companies, working with proposition if it considers your business the management team to add value and particularly attractive. We exited the first continues: “Owners of one company I then exiting, whether via trade sale or by company that I helped to found, Datong worked with wanted to exit in order to flotation. “I always encourage the main Electronics (now AIM-listed), after a move abroad. They didn’t want to sell to a shareholders to have an exit strategy in chance introduction through a trusted larger competitor who would simply take mind when I start working with a new business contact. The sale process their contracts and close the business company,” he says. fortunately went smoothly as I was able to down, and so spent some time looking for negotiate and project-manage the deal an alternative buyer to keep the company “The first thing to do, if it is not already in with the help of a good commercial going in its own right. However, if an exit place, is create a credible management lawyer. The founders, including myself, has to be made under pressure – either team. Usually this involves at least a Chief stayed on during the earn-out period and of time or money – it may be necessary Executive Officer, Finance Director and left at the end of that term. The key factor to accept a lower price and to sell to an Sales Director. A growth company should was that we had good financial unpalatable buyer. have a Non-Executive Director who often information and an excellent team from acts as Chairman. Any prospective buyer the shop floor to the Board, which we had When considering your exit, you need to will have to work with this team and rely built up over a number of years.” be realistic about what you can expect to on them - not just the entrepreneur - to receive for your business. An experienced run the business smoothly. Even a small Negotiation is very important in achieving advisor is invaluable and can help you company should ideally have these key a successful exit – how much does a achieve the best price for your business people in place – it may be difficult to buyer want your business and how and the smoothest exit for you.” achieve and may take a little time but it is strongly do you want to sell? Colin Exit statistics • 35% generated between 1X and 5X the original investment. A report published by the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts, which was • 9% provided gains of 10X or more. supported by the British Business Angels Association in 2009 brought together data from a • This 9% produced 80% of cash returned. survey of 158 UK based private investors. In terms of • The average time taken from investment to exit was exits, it found: 3.6 years. • 44% of exits provided substantial rewards leading Please contact YABA for a copy of the full report to an average multiple of 2.2 on the original sum “Siding with the Angels Research Report 2009” invested. YABA information: 01423 810149 www.yaba.org.uk Follow us on
  • 5. Spring 2011 Newsletter of the Yorkshire Association of Business Angels 5 work for you GARRY DIVER Serial entrepreneur and YABA bigger one presents a unique set of member, Garry Diver, is Chief challenges. Due diligence can be a Executive at Ultimedia Ltd, a lengthy process – taking up to nine months to complete. This removes staff software house specialising in from their daily duties, possibly to the e-learning, HR, web design and detriment of the business itself,” he says. e-commerce. Illustrating the potential pitfalls, he continues. “A deal to acquire one of my Garry started his first company in 1984, businesses had been signed off with a after 15 years in the corporate world, major multinational, and the sale date and since then has started, taken over agreed. The acquisition was also and sold a number of technology announced at a global corporate event businesses to high-profile buyers. Garry where I was a keynote speaker. After an also works with venture capital firms, unexpected change of personnel at turning around ailing companies in the senior level immediately after this, the UK and USA. company pulled out of the deal at the last minute. Despite having a withdrawal “Growing a business and guiding it to penalty in place, it was a major setback fulfil its potential is certainly exciting,” for me and my business partners. says Garry. “And, for me as an investor, a However, we picked up the pieces and successful exit is affirmation that I’ve got Garry Diver sold the company 18 months later.” it right – the investment decision, developing the company, reading the Garry’s advice to angel investors thinking chance of a good sale. Prospective market and the timing of the whole about an exit is simple – trust your buyers are investing in what they think process.” Along with his successes, instincts. “Start the exit process when your business will be doing next year or Garry also has a cautionary tale to tell. sales and income are heading up, not the year after – not what it did last year.” “Selling your small company to a much when they start to flatten – there’s more Exit strategies – the YABA Master Class February saw Mazars LLP running a necessitates having an understanding of Oliver and Rob also discussed the ways seminar for business angels about what prospective buyers are looking for and they approach finding buyers. “We can where the value of the business lies. By this carry out some targeted research to identify exit strategies. The event was full of I mean that if you’re looking to exit a potential buyers,” says Rob. “Also, more useful information, tips and case business you must ensure the value is in subtly, some careful PR and/or profile- studies. the business and not in the owners,” he raising about succession planning at trade stressed. “Because if all the relationships shows can be useful.” Oliver Hoffman and Rob Burton, both part and knowledge are with the owners, and of Mazars’ Corporate Finance Team, there aren’t others within the business who presented and discussed a range of issues For angel (usually minority) investors, Oliver can take it forward just as well, the – from preparing for sale through to what stressed the importance of ensuring that business is much less valuable.” buyers would be looking for. their plans are in line with those of the majority business owners/managers. “This Discussions followed about grooming “One of the major factors in a successful businesses for exit to ensure they reached should form part of your very early exit is understanding the buyer’s position,” their maximum value in any negotiations. discussions and be wrapped up in your said Oliver. “The more they need your This is important for a number of reasons, legal documentation. Be upfront, otherwise business, the more they will be prepared to from achieving the best price, through to as an investor you could be left in a weak pay for it. But even before you’re talking to providing potential buyers with what they position with little control over future prospective buyers, it’s crucial that you’re want and ensuring no nasty surprises direction and exit plans.” prepared. This preparation often during the due diligence phase. Join us on YABA information: 01423 810149 www.yaba.org.uk
  • 6. 6 Newsletter of the Yorkshire Association of Business Angels Spring 2011 I N V E S T M E N T F O RU M Festival fringe As a fringe event to the Global Pro Bio Healthcare Ltd, Manufacturing Festival, the March Daresbury investment forum was held at the AMP Pro Bio Healthcare produces premium Technology Centre in Rotherham. health supplements for IBS and other Supported by Sheffield Hallam University conditions. The company seeks £150,000 in and the University of Sheffield, it offered a exchange for equity, principally to assist packed schedule. As well as nine deeper penetration with current high street presenting companies, a student from each retailers and boosting internet and of the universities presented a pitch for overseas sales. sponsorship for their entries to the Institute www.probiohealthcare.com of Mechanical Engineers’ Formula Student ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Competition. Gel Doctor Ltd, Harrogate Presenting companies: Gel Doctor is a proven business, whose main product is a liquid gel-filled insole Colour Mobile VMS, providing comfort and support in all types Derbyshire of footwear. £100,000 investment would enable the company to implement a sales Currently the only company in the UK and marketing strategy to rapidly providing solar-powered 5 colour portable accelerate its growth. matrix signs, Colour Mobile VMS require www.geldoctor.com investment of £100,000 to expand their wider market. www.colourmobilevms.com Shapemaster Carrypeak Ltd t/as Shapemaster, Huddersfield Shapemaster’s fitness equipment is already a hit with care homes in the US. With a large target audience at which to aim its products, Carrypeak Ltd requires up to £250,000 to increase its rate of growth. www.shapemaster.co.uk Gel Doctor ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Ethicalcommunity.com, Leeds Adjuvantix Ltd, Sheffield A portal for small ethical sellers to market Seeking £100,000 funding to further their goods, Ethicalcommunity.com is develop its range of cancer vaccines, looking for £200,000 investment to increase Adjuvantix wants to take one of its vaccines its development team and refine the through patient clinical trials and then on to shopping and selling experience, as well as a trade sale. market the service internationally. www.adjuvantix.co.uk Colour Mobile VMS www.ethicalcommunity.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Trailer-Lift, Stokesley Swellaway Ltd, Sheffield Vidbo.co.uk, Derbyshire This revolutionary product combines a Swellaway’s product is an electronic Creating video marketing incorporating vehicle trailer with a built-in scissor lift, software device in the form of a flexible social networking for small local businesses allowing access to the underside of a wrap which replaces the need for traditional seeking to build their online presence, vehicle for those without access to a methods of compression treatments for £100,000 will enable Vidbo to recruit a workshop lifting bay. The product has sprain and strain injuries. £100,000 is direct sales team and expand its concept global appeal and the company requires required. across the UK. £500,000 to produce further units for sale. www.swellaway.com www.vidbo.co.uk www.trailer-lift.com Disclaimer: Investment in new business carries high risks as well as the possibility of high investments of this kind. Yorkshire Association of Business Angels (“YABA”) cannot advise on rewards and potential investors should be aware that no established market exists for the the merits or risks of investment and is not authorised to arrange transactions or circulate trading of shares in private companies. Before investing in a project about which information offer documents under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. YABA is an exempt is given, potential investors are strongly advised to take advice from a person, authorised body for the purposes of arranging deals in investments under statutory instrument 1201 of under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (“FSMA”), who specialises in advising on 2001 as a non-profit making organisation. YABA information: 01423 810149 www.yaba.org.uk Follow us on
  • 7. Spring 2011 Newsletter of the Yorkshire Association of Business Angels 7 C O M PA N Y U P DAT E S Gapwork Spreading the word… It was one of the earliest business angel investments, made back in 2000 when YABA was in its infancy, and more than a decade on Leeds-based Gapwork is continuing to thrive. Gapwork was formed in 1999 as an information portal for those considering a gap year – covering everything from where to go and what to do, to insurance and visas. The website attracts around l-r Rebecca Jordan and Kirsty Collinson 50,000 visitors a month and is firmly established as the ‘go-to’ site for gap year information. Large companies such as Raleigh offering a pay-as-you-go service for all teachers,” says Rebecca. International and BUNAC advertise their services and products on “This will put us in direct competition with large publishers but the site, knowing that a large audience is guaranteed. we’re confident that our material is easy to use, accessible and of a very high quality.” Since buying out their angel investors in 2004, Gapwork directors Rebecca Jordan and Kirsty Collinson have expanded their Their third website, Free Teaching Resources, contains exactly that: business into three strands through an umbrella company, PDC resources written by charities, museums and other organisations Education Ltd. that are free to download for teachers to use across the curriculum. PDC Education Ltd now employs 13 staff at its head office in Leeds As well as Gapwork, two more websites have been added to the and also commissions teachers to write the resource material. portfolio. Teaching Resources UK is the leading publisher of “Teaching Resources UK has passed the 0.5 million download resources for the personal development curriculum in the UK. mark,” says Rebecca. “With a new payment process in place via Subscribing schools can access fully-prepared lesson plans and Paypal, we’re ready to expand the service to overseas schools.” resources, including PowerPoint slides and video clips, to aid delivery of citizenship, work-related learning and personal social www.pdceducation.co.uk and health education (PSHE). “We’re operating in a niche market at www.teaching-resources-uk.com the moment but the plan is to branch out into other subject areas, www.gapwork.com Retrogenix the time and expertise provided by Neil and Mark has been invaluable. “Of course the investment was needed, but what’s been particularly valuable are the Flexibility pays off… skills and experience Mark and Neil have brought to the company. Jo and I are Having secured angel investment in scientists and it’s been great to have a the summer of 2009, Retrogenix wider range of skills, knowledge and has developed its cell microarray experience to draw on.” technology and is working with its The Retrogenix business model has first customers. changed somewhat over the past 18 months, from targeting solely companies Three angel investors, including Mark producing small molecule drugs to those Woodward and Neil Ewin, invested involved in antibody drug production. l-r Mark Woodward, Jim Freeth, Phil Whaley £150,000 in the company after initially Says Neil: “There was a significant (Grant Thornton), Jo Soden, Neil Ewin seeing a presentation about its appetite for the technology in the technology at Venturefest. The technology antibody drug market. We set off in one on collaborative projects, which are pilot, provides drug companies with a means direction but after we’d done some in- or proof of concept, projects. “Once to quickly and comprehensively depth market research, realised that we these projects are complete and we have determine the full range of activities of needed to alter that direction, which successful data, these companies have drug molecules, saving time and money meant adapting both the business plan indicated they’d like to enter into a longer in the lengthy drug development process. and how the technology was being term arrangement,” says Jim. “They will developed.” also provide us with data which we can Directors Dr Jim Freeth and Jo Soden are use for marketing to a number of other behind the development of the This flexibility has paid off. Retrogenix is companies, so this really is a pivotal time technology at Retrogenix. Jim says that currently working with three companies for the business.” Join us on YABA information: 01423 810149 www.yaba.org.uk
  • 8. 8 Newsletter of the Yorkshire Association of Business Angels Spring 2011 Diary dates New faces YABA runs a full and varied events The YABA associate membership continues to calendar each year – if you’re interested in attending any of these events, please grow – our most recent recruits are: contact us on 01423 810149, or email our Communications and Events Grant Thornton Manager, Charlotte Atkinson at www.grant-thornton.co.uk charlotte@yaba.org.uk Withers & Rogers www.withersrogers.com 10 May 21 June Investment forum Angel members’ Location: York social lunch Irwin Mitchell www.irwinmitchell.com Time: 5.00pm Location: tbc Hosted by The Time: tbc Company of Merchant Atkinsons Consulting Adventurers of the 12 July www.finance-mix.com City of York Investment forum Location: Leeds University of Hull 17 May Time: 5.45pm Woodend Creative Workspace Angel seminar Hosted by Shine www.hull.ac.uk/cel Location: Leeds Business Centre, Time: 10.30am Harehills Sagars Hosted by Sagars LLP www.sagars.co.uk Master classes will 14 June resume in the autumn The Royal Bank of Scotland Investment forum in South Yorkshire. www.rbs.co.uk Location: Leeds Time: 5.45pm We regularly update Yorkshire Bank Hosted by Grant our events online. www.ybonline.co.uk Thornton Go to www.yaba.org.uk to find out more. EIS Seminar Sagars LLP, Leeds Following the Chancellor’s budget 10.30am – 1.30pm announcements, YABA will be holding a seminar to discuss the members only and will be held recent changes to the Enterprise at Sagars LLP in Leeds on 17 Investment Scheme and how May. For further details please these will affect business angel contact Charlotte Atkinson on investors. The event is open to 01423 810149 or email current and prospective angel charlotte@yaba.org.uk www.twitter.com/yaba1995 Copy: Campus PR Contact us Yorkshire Association Barbara Greaves, www.campuspr.co.uk If you want to know of Business Angels Charlotte Atkinson Tel: 0113 258 9880 more about YABA 1 Hornbeam House or Jordana Beattie Members of: Design: Spiral www.spiralcom.co.uk or come to an Hornbeam Park T: 01423 810149 Tel: 0113 205 1400 investment forum, Hookstone Road E: admin@yaba.org.uk Photos: Simon x2 Photography please get in touch. Harrogate HG2 8QT W: www.yaba.org.uk www.simonandsimonphoto.co.uk Tel: 01937 844442 YABA information: 01423 810149 www.yaba.org.uk