Capital for Colleagues

What Capital for Colleagues does

Capital for Colleagues plc (AQSE Growth Market, ticker: CFCP) is a UK quoted investment company specialising in the Employee Owned Business (EOB) sector. Founded in 2013 and listed on the Apex Segment of the AQSE Growth Market, it provides investment capital, business advisory and employee-ownership cultural advice to UK businesses that are or want to become employee owned, and educates the wider market on EOT and direct/hybrid ownership structures. Its revenue model is that of a closed-end investment vehicle: interest receivable on portfolio loans, dividends received from investee companies, and fees from portfolio businesses, rather than product or subscription pricing.

At the six months ended 28 February 2026 the company reported revenues of £0.424m (six months to 28 February 2025: £0.404m), profit before tax of £2.130m, and net assets of £15.702m, against an investment portfolio valuation of £15.199m spread across 16 unquoted EOBs whose aggregate turnover is estimated at ~£92.8m and which support ~478 jobs. NAV per share stood at 85.50p (28 February 2025: 74.27p), reflecting both operating income and revaluation gains across the portfolio. The core "operating asset" is therefore the portfolio itself rather than a software/product platform.

The investment portfolio is deliberately diversified across EOB sectors: space technology (Craft Prospect, >40% of NAV; Bright Ascension's HELIX space software), case management software (Computer Application Services/Workpro), pipes/valves/fittings distribution (TPS Investment Holdings), construction and oak framing (Carpenter Oak; Civils Store), leisure and outdoor experiences (South Cerney Outdoor; The Real Outdoor Xperience; Rapid Retail), industrial transport and logistics (Emerald Specialist Logistics; Hire and Supplies), electric commercial vehicles (Morris Commercial), and consumer/self-build advisory (NSBRC). Capital for Colleagues typically leads or co-leads funding rounds (e.g., Morris Commercial £1.5m rounds in 2023 and 2026; Bright Ascension rounds in 2023 and 2025; Rapid Retail £1.5m in 2023), often via convertible loan structures, while also providing ongoing governance and EOT-transition support that distinguishes it from a passive minority investor.

Name

Capital for Colleagues

Legal name

Capital for Colleagues plc

Website

https://capitalforcolleagues.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Capital for Colleagues plc is a UK quoted investment company (AQSE: CFCP) that provides capital, advisory and employee-ownership transition support exclusively to UK Employee Owned Businesses, holding a 16-company unquoted EOB portfolio valued at ~£15.2m.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Venture Capital and Private Equity (Employee Ownership Focus)

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Other Financial Vehicles (52599)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Equity Capital Advisory (Private Equity Placements, Growth Capital) (BPAHAOAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Capital Raising Advisory (Debt/Equity/Private Capital) (BPAHADAG), Corporate Finance & Capital Advisory (BPAHADAB)

Keywords

• Employee owned businesses
• Investment advisory
• Portfolio investment
• Employee ownership schemes
• Growth capital

Headquarters

HQ city

Warminster

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Capital for Colleagues plc is a quoted investment company that provides equity capital, convertible loan funding, and ongoing advisory support to UK businesses that are or want to become employee owned. The company invests in unquoted EOBs across sectors including technology, industrials, construction, leisure, and support services, while assisting businesses in transitioning to and operating within employee ownership structures. Revenue is generated via interest receivable, dividends, and fees from portfolio companies.

Product overview

Capital for Colleagues operates as a single unified investment advisory service rather than a platform with discrete modules. The company provides investment services focused exclusively on the Employee Owned Business (EOB) sector in the UK. Its offering encompasses advisory services for companies seeking to adopt employee ownership structures, investment capital deployment into EOBs, and ongoing portfolio company support including business advice and growth assistance. The company maintains a diversified portfolio of unquoted EOB investments across multiple sectors including technology (space software, case management software), industrials (construction materials, engineering, retail), leisure and travel, and media. Notable portfolio companies include Bright Ascension Limited (space software/HELIX suite), Computer Application Services Limited (Workpro case management software), Morris Commercial Limited (electric commercial vehicles), and Craft Prospect Limited (quantum and AI-based satellite products).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Capital for Colleagues EOB Investment and Advisory Service

Quantifiable outcome

• Portfolio companies generate estimated total turnover of approximately £92.8 million per annum
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• YFM Equity Partners: UK-focused PE firm providing growth capital to smaller UK SMEs across a range of sectors, with regionally-managed funds. Directly comparable to Capital for Colleagues as a specialist smaller-UK-company equity investor; differs in being a private manager rather than a listed vehicle.
• Maven Capital Partners: UK SME investor managing listed VCTs and an regional private equity fund focused on growth capital for smaller UK businesses. Comparable to C4C in target deal size, sector-agnostic smaller-UK-company focus, and use of VCT-style structures.
• Midven (Foresight): UK SME growth capital investor (originally Midven, now part of Foresight Group). Invests equity and mezzanine into UK smaller companies, comparable to C4C in deal-size profile and UK regional focus.

Broad incumbents

• Octopus Aim VCT: Listed VCT focused on smaller UK companies (often AIM-listed). Comparable to C4C as a UK-listed investment vehicle targeting smaller UK growth businesses, but broader mandate and much larger AUM; serves as a benchmark for retail-investor appetite in this segment.
• Calculus Capital: UK VCT and EIS manager investing growth capital into smaller UK unquoted companies. Comparable to C4C in target-company size and growth-capital mandate; differs in being a multi-fund VCT/EIS manager rather than a single sector specialist.
• Foresight VCT / Foresight Group: UK VCT and PE manager with listed smaller-company funds. Comparable to C4C in deploying growth capital into UK SMEs and operating listed investment vehicles, but with a broader sector mandate and significantly larger scale.

Regional players

• ICA Group: US-based employee ownership-focused investment firm that provides capital and advisory to companies transitioning to employee ownership. Closest international analogue to C4C's EOB specialism, but US-focused and privately held.

Others

• The Employee Ownership Trust (EOT): UK not-for-profit body promoting and supporting the employee ownership model. Not an investor but the central ecosystem player that funnels transitioning companies toward specialist capital providers including C4C; relevant as a referral pipeline and policy advocate.
• Resonance: UK impact investment manager running funds that deploy growth capital into mission-led SMEs. Comparable to C4C's growth-capital deployment model and impact orientation, but thematic (homelessness, health, etc.) rather than EOB-specific.
• NCEO (National Center for Employee Ownership): US non-profit research and advisory body promoting employee ownership. Not a capital provider; comparable to EOT in the UK as the equivalent ecosystem/policy/reference body for EOB deals, particularly relevant as a thought-leadership and best-practice counterparty.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/capital-for-colleagues

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments4 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Capital for Colleagues