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Foresight Group LLP (“Foresight”), a leading independent infrastructure and private equity investment manager, has won this high-profile award in recognition for its support for businesses in the East Midlands.

Foresight, which has offices in Nottingham, Milton Keynes and Leicester, was named Funder of the Year at Insider Magazine’s prestigious East Midlands Dealmakers awards – the largest corporate finance event in the region.

At the event at the Nottingham Belfry, which was hosted by media personality Gethin Jones, the Dealmakers judges said Foresight had shown a "strong appetite for exciting businesses", with standout deals including investments in Accrosoft, Alpkit and The Children's Furniture Company.

In the East Midlands, Foresight manages two regional funds aimed at supporting the growth of dynamic SMEs; the £39m Foresight Nottingham Fund (which is fully deployed) and the £37.5m Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF).

Mike Quinn, Director at Foresight’s Nottingham office said: “We are thrilled to receive this recognition for the work we are doing to support business growth in the East Midlands. During the 12 months under review we invested close to £26m and completed 17 qualifying deals, which is testament to a great team effort and our growing regional footprint.

The East Midlands is home to some fantastic small businesses and we look forward to continuing to work with the dynamic entrepreneurs driving the regional economy forward in the future.”

So far Foresight has backed 11 business through the MEIF, including: Navitas, Idle Man, Equus, Swoopos, Postworks, Footfalls, The Children’s Furniture Company, Firetree, YPP, Usheru and Ekkosense, with a number of further deals in the pipeline.