UK Private Capital Podcast

UK Private Capital’s latest podcast explores the role of private capital in supporting the UK's defence efforts.

Recent geopolitical uncertainty has underlined the importance of national defence, and many countries (including the UK) have committed to raising the percentage of GDP they spend on in this area.

The British private capital industry already plays an important role in supporting businesses operating in the defence industry, investing £620m in 2025 to back innovative small and medium-sized businesses which are pioneering technologies central to the modern battlefield.

On our latest podcast, Michael Moore, Chief Executive of UK Private Capital, was joined by Catherine Fredette, Economic Strategy Manager at UK Private Capital and Dr Linus Terhorst, Research Fellow of Defence Industries at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), to discuss the current geopolitical landscape, what this means for government investment in defence and the role private capital can play in achieving its goals.

Key topics include defence, AI, innovative technology and businesses and modernising procurement.

The latest episode of the UK Private Capital (formerly BVCA) podcast explores the important issue of pensions investment in private capital and how recent changes in the UK pensions system – including the Mansion House Agreements and Pensions Schemes Act - could deliver more investment into businesses across the UK.

Karim Palant, Director of External Affairs at UK Private Capital, is joined by Sarah Adams, Director of Policy, for a conversation exploring the pensions investment agenda, its current progress and the potential for increased investment by pension funds into private equity and venture capital.

Topics discussed by Karim and Sarah include closing the scale-up funding gap, overcoming regulatory barriers and recent Government drives to consolidate the pensions landscape.

The latest episode of the UK Private Capital (formerly BVCA) podcast explores what the Prime Minister’s Andy Burnham Government could mean for private capital, investment and economic growth across the UK.

Hosted by Karim Palant, Director of External Affairs at UK Private Capital, the episode features Michael Moore, Chief Executive, and Sarah Adams, Co-Director of Policy. Together, they discuss the new Prime Minister and Chancellor’s early signals of their Government’s priorities and examine how private capital can support their ambition to deliver "growth in every postcode".

The episode also looks ahead to the Government's first Budget, and reflects on how private capital can work alongside government to help it achieve its goals.

Key topics include taxation, pension investment, scale-up funding, defence, AI, regional growth and the policies needed to help businesses start, scale and succeed in the UK.

The podcast also features a discussion between Karim, Senior Research Manager Martin Senk and Beth Houghton, Managing Partner at Palatine, where they explore how mid-market private equity firms support regional economies and what more can be done to unlock investment beyond London and the South East.

To mark Pride Month 2025, the BVCA has produced a new podcast, Building Inclusive Workplaces: LGBTQ+ within the Private Capital Industry.

The podcast is hosted by Natalie Whiley, Head of Industry Development, and Lucas Morais, Senior Membership Engagement Executive at the BVCA, and they are joined by Addison Barnett, Principal Consultant at Inclusive Employers, the UK’s leading membership organisation focused on promoting inclusion in the workplace.

The episode examines how firms can support individuals in being their authentic selves and foster organisational cultures where all employees feel included and able to succeed. Addison offers insights into the current challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community in the workplace alongside the difficulties firms encounter when developing and implementing effective Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) strategies.

Key topics include representation, unconscious bias, and allyship, with practical guidance for senior leaders on fostering inclusive environments where everyone can thrive. The conversation also highlights the positive impact that an effective DE&I approach can have across an organisation.

To coincide with Pride Month, the BVCA has produced a new podcast, LGBTQ+ Within The Private Capital Industry.

Hosted by Natalie Whiley, Head of Industry Development and Jordan Crossfield, Industry Development Manager at the BVCA, with guests Simon Blakey, Chair of the Investment Committee at Playfair Capital, and Morten Siggaard, Principal at Cinven, the podcast explores how firms can build inclusive cultures and support individuals to be their authentic selves. 

The BVCA podcast emphasises the significance of DE&I in the private capital sector, with a spotlight on LGBTQ+ representation. Guests share their perspectives on current efforts, challenges, and effective practices for building inclusive workplaces and the positive effects of supporting diversity within portfolio companies.

Running order:

• 00:00 – Intro
• 01:52 – The changing landscape within the private capital industry, the speakers' perspectives
• 07:33 – Awareness, representation and support from your firm, and top tips for firms to increase this support to staff
• 10:13 – Senior buy-in within firms – guidance and best practice 
• 13:48 – The importance of networks and senior allies and working with portfolio companies to build inclusive cultures
• 16:37 – The importance of data and KPI metrics for LGBTQ+ representation across firms and portfolio companies and how this is developing
• 22:37 – Personal perspectives and the strength found from facing adversity in personal and professional lives
• 25:29 – Guidance on where to start building an inclusive culture

This episode of the BVCA podcast is hosted by Natalie Whiley, Head of Industry Development and Jordan Crossfield, Industry Development Manager at the BVCA. 

Their guests for episode 7 are: 

• Simon Blakey, Chair of the Investment Committee at Playfair Capital
• Morten Siggaard, Principal at Cinven

To coincide with this year's Mental Health Awareness Week, between 13-19 May 2024, the BVCA has produced a new podcast, The Mindful VC. Hosted by Chris Elphick, Head of Venture Capital at the BVCA, with guests including Daniel Waterhouse, Partner at Balderton, Hayley Hand, Investment Director at Better Society Capital and Henrik Wetter Sanchez, General Partner at Playfair Capital, the podcast explores approaches to mental health for founders and investors.

The guests discuss the practical steps that VCs can take in supporting founders, how LPs consider mental health in the funds they invest in, and the impact of tech on mental health more broadly.

Running order:

• 00:00 – Intro
• 02:20 – Balderton’s approach to support mental wellbeing
• 05:07 - How Playfair supports founders and encourages founders to be open and honest about their mental health
• 08:03 – The impact of the tougher fundraising environment
• 11:38 – Coaching founders and optimising performance
• 15:03 – The role of board governance in supporting founders
• 18:55 – Better Society Capital’s approach to founder mental health
• 23:27 – The LP perspective on how VCs can support founders and management teams
• 28:27 – The main qualities of founders and investors and what they need to succeed
• 31:55 – Tech’s role in poorer mental health and how it can be part of the solution
• 36:21 – Wellbeing hacks that can help with mental health

This episode of the BVCA podcast is hosted by Chris Elphick, Head of Venture Capital at the BVCA.

Chris’s guest for episode 6:

• Daniel Waterhouse, Partner at Balderton
• Hayley Hand, Investment Director at Better Society Capital
• Henrik Wetter Sanchez, General Partner at Playfair Capital

The BVCA Reflections series marks the 40th anniversary since the BVCA was established as the trade association for the UK private equity and venture capital industry. During this series, we will be talking to industry leaders from today and previous decades as we reflect on how the industry and the BVCA have evolved.

In episode 5 of the BVCA’s 40th anniversary podcast series, the BVCA’s Senior VC Manager, Chris Elphick, talks to Christoph Ruedig, Partner at Albion VC, Kerry Baldwin, Managing Partner at IQ Capital, and Stephen Nundy, Partner & CTO at Lakestar, about the outlook for venture capital and the broader tech ecosystem in 2024.

Covering off the shocks and difficult market conditions seen in 2023, the guests consider how the market will play out going forward, with tips for founders and investors looking to raise in a difficult market, the central importance of board governance, the increasing role of government, and the potential impact of BVCA initiatives such as the Investment Compact.

Running order:

• 00:00 – Intro
• 02:01 – Key developments from 2023
• 09:18 – 2023 was the year of AI, what sectors will take off in 2024?
• 12:40 – How to support founders going through a down/flat round
• 18:49 – The outlook for venture – green shoots or more pain?
• 21:09 – Addressing the scale up gap
• 23:50 – Where will exits come from?
• 28:20 – How to exit at speed in a tough market?
• 33:40 – Will fundraising be easier in 2024?
• 36:43 – Advice for emerging managers
• 39:16 – The policy landscape in 2024
• 43:00 – The impact of the Investment Compact
• 46:54 – Closing remarks

This episode of the BVCA podcast is hosted by Chris Elphick, Senior VC Manager at the BVCA.

Chris’s guest for episode 5:

• Christoph Ruedig, Partner at Albion VC
• Kerry Baldwin, Managing Partner at IQ Capital
• Stephen Nundy, Partner & CTO at Lakestar

The BVCA Reflections series marks the 40th anniversary since the BVCA was established as the trade association for the UK private equity and venture capital industry. During this series, we will be talking to industry leaders from today and previous decades as we reflect on how the industry and the BVCA have evolved.

In episode 4, the BVCA’s Head of Sustainability, Harriet Assem, is joined by Maria Carradice, Managing Director, Specialist – Environmental, Social and Governance at Mayfair Equity Partners, Eimear Palmer, Global Head of ESG at Pantheon, and Maggie Loo, Partner at Bridges Fund Management, to discuss how private capital is well placed to help SMEs to decarbonise, invest in technological solutions to combat the climate crisis and plug the investment gap needed to help the UK meet its Net Zero ambitions.

Mindful of the upcoming COP28 Conference, speakers also outline their policy wish lists to unlock capital and investment opportunities in the Net Zero space, whilst also creating financial returns for investors.

Running order:

• 00:00 – Intro
• 02:36 – Net Zero, does it represent the growth opportunity of the 21st century?
• 08:06 – Access to capital and why Net Zero is so relevant to private capital
• 13:44 - How will net zero affect standard businesses
• 16:21 – How is private capital helping the businesses it invests in to decarbonize and invest in the technological solutions of tomorrow
• 20:20 – The development of ESG scorecards
• 26:08 – Practical guidance and initiatives emerging to help private capital firms (including ICi)
• 28:30 – What the policy and investment landscape needs to look like to unlock opportunities for private capital

This episode of the BVCA podcast is hosted by Harriet Assem, Head of Sustainability at the BVCA.

Harriet’s guest for episode 4:

• Maria Carradice, Managing Director, Specialist – Environmental, Social and Governance, Mayfair Equity Partners
• Eimear Palmer, Global Head of ESG, Pantheon
• Maggie Loo, Partner, Bridges Fund Management

The BVCA Reflections series marks the 40th anniversary since the BVCA was established as the trade association for the UK private equity and venture capital industry. During this series, we will be talking to industry leaders from today and previous decades as we reflect on how the industry and the BVCA have evolved.  

In episode 3, BVCA Chief Executive Michael Moore is joined by BVCA’s Director of External Affairs, Karim Palant and Head of Research, Suzi Gillespie to discuss the launch of the BVCA’s latest Report on 2022 Investment Activity; Private Capital: rising to the challenges of turbulent times.

Running order: 

• 00:00 – Intro 
• 00:41 – Background on the report, BVCA’s output and the significance to the industry 
• 02:09 – Economic turbulence in 2022 
• 03:20 – 2022 Private capital headline figures and data 
• 04:27 – Regional and national spread of investments outside of London and the Southeast
• 06:30– Investment focus on technology 
• 08:02 – Private capital’s focus on climate change solutions 
• 09:58 – Building the economy of tomorrow
• 14:30 – Follow-on investments to build successful businesses
• 17:25 – Dry powder: Committed but not yet invested capital

This episode of the BVCA podcast is hosted by Michael Moore, Chief Executive of the BVCA.

Michael’s guest for episode 3:

• Karim Palant, Director of External Affairs, BVCA
• Suzi Gillespie, Head of Research, BVCA

The BVCA Reflections series marks the 40th anniversary since the BVCA was established as the trade association for the UK private equity and venture capital industry. During this series, we will be talking to industry leaders from today and previous decades as we reflect on how the industry and the BVCA have evolved.  

In episode 2, BVCA Chief Executive, Michael Moore talks to Garry Wilson, new BVCA Chair for 2023-24 and Managing Partner of Endless, to discuss his priorities for the year, reflections on how the industry has been developing and what we want to do next.

Running order:

• 00:00 – Intro
• 00:50 – Background on Endless and how Garry got started
• 00:00 – Reasons for becoming BVCA Chair and priorities for the year
• 04:01 – Reflections on how the industry has changed over the past 40 years
• 05:31 – Championing the industry story and the importance of proactive engagement with media and politicians
• 09:44 – How the industry is rapidly changing
• 11:39 – Private capital outside London
• 13:07 – Looking ahead to the next 10 years

This episode of the BVCA podcast is hosted by Michael Moore, Chief Executive of the BVCA.

Michael’s guest for episode 2:

Garry Wilson, Managing Partner of Endless, and BVCA Chair 2023-24