UK Investors Seen Growing More Confident Ahead of Brexit

New research shows investors in the UK said they are entering the new financial year with a greater risk appetite and seeking fresh investment angles.

IW Capital found that investors are embracing the full potential of investment opportunities that lie ahead as a consequence of Brexit.

The study uncovered that the equivalent of 2.21 million investors in the UK said they are entering the new financial year with a greater risk appetite and seeking fresh investment angles.

Furthermore, despite concerns that investors would be more risk averse as a consequence of Brexit, the research found that 44% of investors see Brexit as having a positive impact on their financial strategy in the year ahead, with a further 22% foreseeing no notable effects.

With the Bank of England recently upgrading its 2017 growth forecasts for the British economy from 1.4% to 2%, investors have recognised the investment potential on offer in the country’s private sector.

The research found that 13% of investors – equivalent to 3.19 million Britons – feel the biggest investment opportunity this year is private equity investment into UK businesses. This number rises to 17% for millennials and 23% for Londoners.

When considering the industries supporting productivity and growth, IW Capital’s research revealed that 27% of investors (over 6 million people) consider innovation and technological advancements to be the two greatest strengths propelling the UK economy forward.

The role of private investment in supporting the nation’s digital economy is vital; a report by Tech Nation found that the UK secured £6.8 billion in venture capital and private equity digital tech investment in 2016 – over 50% more than any other European country.

Worth an estimated £100 billion, the digital economy is one of many industries British investors are confident in supporting in the new financial year.

IW Capital’s study also revealed that investors are gravitating towards tax-efficient investment schemes – initiatives that offer tax breaks in return for investment into the private sector.

The research found 1.47 million investors will be using tax-efficient investment schemes such as the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) in 2017/18. However, one in four investors hope more will be done to support investor interest by way of programmes such as EIS.

This number rises to 33% for investors aged 55 and over.

“The performance of the UK economy since the EU referendum has been extremely impressive, driven in no small part by our country’s diverse collection of SMEs that account for 99.9% of all private companies,” says Luke Davis, CEO of IW Capital.

Davis notes that with investors increasingly looking to tax-efficient investment schemes as a means of investing into the private sector in the new tax year, it is important the Government considers new reforms to ensure these schemes are both accessible to investors and targeting scaling businesses most in need of growth capital.

“Importantly, Brexit frees the UK from European state aid regulations, and the Government should use this as an opportunity to expand initiatives such as EIS that has previously been limited by EU policies,” says Davis.

Highlights:

2.21 million investors in the UK said they are entering the new financial year with a greater risk appetite and seeking fresh investment angles

Nearly half (44%) of British investors feel Brexit will have a positive impact on their investment strategy, with 22% not expecting any effects over the coming 12 months

3.19 million investors feel the biggest investment opportunity in 2017 lies in private equity investment into the UK’s thriving private sector
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wo in five Londoners consider private equity investment as the leading investment opportunity in 2017

17% of millennials are looking to private equity investment over the coming 12 months

One in four investors believe innovation and technology are the UK economy’s two greatest strengths in promoting economic growth

1.47 million investors will be using tax-efficient investment schemes such as the EIS in 2017

However, one in four investors hope more will be done to support investor interest by way of tax efficient investment schemes and income tax policy