In partnership with the British Business Bank, the STC proudly presented a relaxed, informative, no-pitching-allowed event, created specifically for those few who had perhaps already toyed with the idea of becoming angel investors, but not quite yet taken the plunge. 

At the Vulcan Works in Northampton, we heard from the British Business Bank, the UK British Angels Association, hcr hewitsons, Central Arc Angels and the people who’ve already been through the process to discover the advantages, opportunities and potential pitfalls of ‘being an angel’.

We learned some essential best practice and top tips from our carefully curated collection of experts, who included:

• Lewis Stringer — Senior Manager, East and South-East Midlands, UK Network Team at British Business Bank

With twenty-five years experience in economic development from a local, sub-national and national perspective, Lewis is perfectly positioned to lead discussions on angel investing.

Lewis has worked in a variety of complex political, administrative and multi-agency environments, and is a proven project manager. Lewis’ well developed leadership skills and strong track record of partnership working have contributed heavily to his having successfully delivered significant business growth and investment projects and programmes, supported by a policy background.

• Roderick Beer — Managing Director, UK Business Angels Association (UKBAA)

Roderick’s career spans over 17 years of managing, founding and growing angel groups and investment platforms that have collectively deployed over £100m of equity investment in more than 500 startup and scaleup businesses. He started at Beer & Partners, the first and largest angel group in the UK which later sold to Risk Capital Partners, he later helped form and grow a successful corporate finance firm, as their COO.

He is now the Managing Director of the UK Business Angels Association, the trade body for angel and early-stage investing, representing 220 organisations including over 100 Angel Groups that collectively deploy over £2bn p.a. in innovative, high-growth businesses.

• Inger Anson — Partner at hcr hewitsons

Awarded Legal 500’s Leading Individual 2024, Inger has been Head of hcr hewitson’s Cambridge Office since 2018. A helpful, highly experienced and innovative Start-Up Lawyer who is described by one of her clients — an entrepreneur and angel investor — as ‘responsive, knowledgeable, good value, trustworthy and a problem solver.’ As a new investor, Inger is your go-to legal expert.

• Rob Purdie — Co-Founder Central Arc Angels

A 30-year corporate career including senior Marketing roles at Granada, Bedford and Pirelli Retail, Luton, culminated in Rob’s becoming joint UK MD of a large US Marketing Agency and subsequently Commercial Director of a European Media group.

Since that time, Rob has been working with SMEs often as an Investing Director who has also developed and launched several start-ups himself. He continues to work in this area as an angel and Advisor. In parallel he’s also served as a NED on Local enterprise Partnerships and has extensive knowledge and experience of Public Service grant funding as a grant panel assessor.

In early 2020 Rob helped co-found Central Arc Angels to fill a gap in the local funding ecosystem. Their main purpose is to help Founders, particularly first timers, to engage professionally with Investors so that they can build a business and remain in the area to help drive our local economies.

• Aaron Phethean — Founder of Matatika

Before Matatika, Aaron spent more than a decade creating ground-breaking FinTech products for the world’s largest core banking software technology company. Founding the first global FinTech Marketplace and growing that entrepreneur business from 0 to more than 100 technology partners within 2 years. When he’s not making the technology leap from idea to execution, you’ll find this proud Kiwi playing rugby and riding mountain bikes in extreme conditions – often at eye-watering speeds.

• Jamie Roberts — Partner & Head of Investments South at YFM Equity Partners

Jamie leads the Investment team in the South across both of YFM’s London and Reading offices. He is a voting member of YFM’s Investment Committee and sits on the YFM Management board.

Jamie is passionate about social inclusion and recently led YFM’s partnership with the charity UpReach. Jamie joined YFM in 2012 and has invested in 50+ business across both growth capital and buyout transactions, as well as sitting on numerous boards.

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