Supporting Growth in Wales: Our Role in the Advantiv Investment

The recent £3.5 million investment into Advantiv, backed by Foresight Group through the Investment Fund for Wales, marks a significant milestone—not only for the business itself, but for the wider Welsh investment landscape.

As the largest single deal completed by the fund to date, the transaction reflects the growing momentum behind high-quality, scalable businesses across Wales. It also highlights the importance of pairing investment with the right leadership to unlock the next phase of growth.

We were proud to support this process by appointing Steve Henning as Non-Executive Chairman.

Strengthening Leadership for the Next Phase

With fresh capital secured and ambitious expansion plans in place, Advantiv required a Chair who could bring both strategic oversight and hands-on experience in scaling complex, operationally intensive businesses.

Steve Henning’s appointment brings exactly that.

A highly experienced Chair and CEO, Steve has a strong track record working with private equity-backed and privately held businesses across industrial, engineering, manufacturing and consumer sectors. His experience spans:

• Driving revenue and profit growth across international markets

• Delivering operational improvements and margin expansion

• Leading transformation programmes and organisational development

• Supporting M&A activity and long-term value creation

• Strengthening governance frameworks in PE-backed environments

  
  

His career includes senior leadership roles at organisations such as Goodridge, Scottish Leather Group, Kinetic Solutions Group, Flofuel and Mountune—each providing relevant experience for Advantiv’s growth journey.

Aligning Investment with Execution

The investment into Advantiv is designed to support:

• Expansion into new UK locations

• Recruitment of high-calibre talent across sales, commercial and operational functions

• Investment in systems, processes and automation

• Continued strengthening of its “one-stop shop” industrial services offering

  
  

However, capital alone does not deliver growth. Execution is critical—and this is where leadership plays a defining role.

By appointing a Chair with deep operational and strategic expertise, Foresight Group has ensured that Advantiv is well positioned to translate investment into sustainable performance.

A Broader Milestone for Welsh Businesses

This transaction also represents an important moment for the British Business Bank and its £130 million Investment Fund for Wales.

Since its launch, the fund has:

• Invested over £11 million into Welsh businesses

• Completed multiple deals across a range of sectors

• Played a key role in driving regional economic growth

  
  

The Advantiv investment underscores the fund’s ability to support established, profitable businesses with strong growth potential—particularly where succession planning and shareholder liquidity are also part of the equation.

Our Role

Executive leadership is often the difference between a good investment and a great outcome.

In this case, we worked closely with Foresight Group to identify and appoint a Non-Executive Chairman who could:

• Complement the existing management team

• Bring credibility with investors and stakeholders

• Provide strategic challenge and support

• Help guide the business through its next stage of expansion

  
  

We are delighted to have played a role in this landmark transaction and to see Advantiv embark on an exciting new chapter.

Looking Ahead

With strong backing, a clear growth strategy, and experienced leadership in place, Advantiv is well positioned to expand its footprint across the UK and continue delivering high-quality industrial services to its customers.

We look forward to following their progress—and to continuing to support investors and businesses in building leadership teams that drive long-term value.