At the QCA, our mission is to ensure that the UK’s growth companies have a seat at the table when policy is being shaped.
Throughout 2025, we were proud to spotlight the breadth and depth of our membership to MPs across the UK. By coordinating site visits for Members of Parliament, we highlighted the diversity of the UK’s small and mid-caps and the critical role they play in regional employment and national prosperity.
And every MP left our meetings with an understanding that simple changes could increase investment to these companies, drive down costs and boost growth.
From the North Sea to the Industrial Heartlands
In Aberdeen, Harriet Cross MP visited the team at Serica Energy. This engagement allowed a local politician to see first-hand the complexities of North Sea energy production and its foundational role in UK energy security. She was accompanied by Judith MacKenzie, a renowned small-cap investor at Downing Fund Managers and QCA director.
Further south in Burnley, Lancashire, we connected Oliver Ryan MP with Velocity Composites. Here, joined by Sheldon Brown, the QCA’s Head of Policy and Engagement, the discussion shifted to advanced manufacturing and the aerospace sector, illustrating how growth companies act as regional anchors by providing high-skilled employment in areas central to the UK’s industrial strategy.
Oliver Ryan MP praised the visit, saying:
“Velocity Composites is a shining example of British innovation and global ambition. Their growth in international markets is a testament to the strength of UK manufacturing and puts the North-West at the very heart of the nation’s aerospace sector. It was a pleasure to be accompanied by their membership organisation, the Quoted Companies Alliance, who advocate for high-growth companies such as Velocity Composites and the significant contribution they make to local economies.”
Rooting for the Midlands
We also facilitated a visit for Rosie Wrighting MP to Alumasc in Kettering, Northamptonshire. The company is a major local employer and roofing and drainage specialist – a prime example of why the QCA champions the small and mid-cap sector. The visit provided a platform to discuss how sustainable building regulations impact the companies building the infrastructure of the future – but also issues such as stock market liquidity and onerous corporate reporting requirements.
Innovation Across the South
In Cambridgeshire, we joined Charlotte Cane MP at Tristel, a global leader in infection prevention. Through its expertise with chlorine dioxide, Tristel’s products are used to manually decontaminate numerous diagnostic tools, including ultrasound probes and small endoscopes. Meanwhile, at AB Dynamics in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, Dr Brian Mathew MP saw the cutting-edge automotive testing systems that define global vehicle safety standards.
In the South, we arranged for Luke Murphy MP to visit Volex in Basingstoke, Hampshire, with James Ashton, the QCA’s Chief Executive. Jon Boaden, Group CFO at Volex, noted:
“As a global manufacturer with a strong UK presence, we value the opportunity to show how companies listed on London’s public markets contribute to innovation, skilled employment, and economic growth. Engaging directly with policymakers is essential to ensuring the UK remains an attractive place for quoted businesses to invest and grow.”
Finally, in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, Lincoln Jopp MP visited marketing analytics specialist Celebrus. Ash Mehta, CFO at Celebrus, said:
“As a UK-listed technology business, it’s important for us to share how companies like Celebrus are driving innovation and creating high-value jobs from a UK base. Our conversation covered simplifying reporting requirements and maintaining a competitive tax regime—factors vital to the long-term success of the UK’s tech sector.”
Connection Matters
The 2025 site visit programme illustrates the diversity of the QCA’s corporate community. By moving from energy hubs in Scotland to tech corridors in Hampshire, we ensure that MPs see the tangible impact of their decisions on:
- Regional Employment: Small and mid-cap companies are major regional employers, supporting over 2.1 million jobs nationwide.
- Sector Diversity: From aerospace to biotech, growth companies represent the full spectrum of the UK economy, closely aligned to the UK industrial strategy.
- Regulatory Impact: These visits allow CEOs to explain exactly how policy affects their ability to scale, invest, hire and compete globally.
The QCA remains committed to being the bridge between our members and Westminster. By bringing the power and further potential of the public markets directly to policymakers, we ensure growth companies remain at the heart of the national economic conversation.
We look forward to more site visits in 2026.
