In May 2013, we met with Vince Cable MP, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, to highlight the important role that equity markets play in helping small and mid-size companies to grow.
With members of our board in attendance, we discussed:
- The importance of defining small and mid-size quoted companies in order to create proportionate rules, optimise liquidity and stimulate growth
- Shifting companies’ reliance on debt to equity – more permanent, patient capital
- Corporate Governance and its role in helping companies to deliver growth; and
- Stimulating investment in small and mid-size quoted companies through the Business Growth Fund, which currently only invests in private companies.
The meeting was very productive and subsequently we agreed to get involved with the development of the Government's Business Bank, while the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills is going to follow up on the Business Growth Fund and potential investment in quoted companies.
