Business & Technology
British Business Bank backs Antler UK fund with GBP £25m
KAREN JOY BACUDO
Finance Editor
British Business Bank has made a GBP £25 million cornerstone commitment to Antler’s UK Fund II, marking its first investment in the firm.
The fund will back UK founders from the earliest stage of company formation, with initial commitments of up to GBP £500,000 for new start-ups. Antler described the UK strategy as its largest single-location fund to date.
Founded in 2017, Antler invests in technology start-ups from inception and works with founders before their companies launch. In the UK, it has operated since 2020 through a residency programme for entrepreneurs at the start of the company-building process.
The new fund will be led by partners Adam French, Hannah Leach and Jed Rose. Antler may also continue backing stronger portfolio companies in later funding rounds through its later-stage investment vehicle, Elevate.
The commitment brings British Business Bank into a syndicate made up mainly of UK limited partners, including Lloyds Banking Group. The participation of domestic institutional investors is notable at a time when policymakers and investors are focused on strengthening the UK’s ability to finance young technology companies at home.
Through its fund investments, British Business Bank aims to expand access to finance for smaller businesses and deepen the UK venture capital market. Antler’s focus on company creation and earliest-stage investing aligns with that goal by helping build a larger pipeline of new, investable businesses.
Early-stage focus
Unlike many venture capital firms that invest after a business has launched and shown early traction, Antler focuses on backing founders at inception. Its model combines early funding with support to help founders develop ideas, build teams and begin operations.
That matters in a UK market where access to pre-seed finance remains uneven, particularly outside established networks. Investors and policymakers have long argued that stronger support at the very start of the founder’s journey is needed for more ideas to become companies capable of attracting later funding.
“The UK consistently produces exceptional founders and world-leading IP, and we need to give entrepreneurs the tools to take the leap and start building the companies of the future. This fund is dedicated to creating UK companies and will help turn more high-potential ideas into scalable businesses,” Christine Hockley, Managing Director and Co-head of Funds at British Business Bank, said.
Michael Laycock, Investment Director at British Business Bank, added, “Antler has an established model to support aspiring entrepreneurs from the very start of their journey. We are pleased to support Antler to scale and grow its UK activities. This commitment helps increase the availability of both early-stage capital and support for ambitious UK entrepreneurs as they start their founder journey.”
UK expansion
For Antler, the fund adds to a global platform active in 27 cities across Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. The firm says it has backed more than 1,500 start-ups worldwide, reflecting a model built on high volumes of very early-stage investments.
The UK has become a more important part of that network since Antler entered the market in 2020. Launching its largest single-location fund in Britain suggests the firm sees a deep enough pipeline of founders to justify concentrating more capital in one geography.
“Our new fund is designed to support outlier founders in a new era when speed is everything. Most funds wait for traction, we back with conviction from inception and then create the conditions for founders to move faster than they could anywhere else. This fund is here to back the world-class founder talent in the UK. Founders can achieve more and move faster than ever before, thanks to AI. There has never been a better time to become a founder in the UK, and we have created a fund that will help exceptional founders realise their full potential,” said Adam French, Partner at Antler.
The Bank’s involvement also reflects its broader role in improving the supply of capital to smaller businesses across the UK. Its core programmes support GBP £23 billion of finance for almost 64,000 smaller businesses, according to figures it cited.
For Antler, the backing provides a high-profile domestic anchor investor as it expands in Britain’s crowded venture market. For the British Business Bank, the commitment is another attempt to direct more capital towards founders at a time when many businesses are still little more than an idea.
Business & Technology
Rosa’s Thai is giving away 4000 free Pad Thais to students
Celebrating both GCSE and A-Level Results Days, the chain will offer the popular dish to students who buy one of its bubble teas.
The free offer is available at all 42 Rosa’s Thai restaurants across England and Wales.
To avail of the free noodles, students need to register on Rosa’s Thai website for a unique code, which they should present at the restaurant together with a copy of their results.
Rosa’s Thai has a new range of bubble tea flavours, including Ube-Taro, Matcha-Coconut, Mango Sticky Rice, and Milo Chocolate Milk, as well as favourites like Home-brewed Thai Tea with Tapioca, and Lychee Mango with mango boba.
Students can sign up for their free Pad Thai at rosasthai.com/result-day-free-pad-thai and find their nearest restaurant at rosasthai.com/locations.
Business & Technology
Historic coin company enters administration after 20 years
The London Mint Office, which distributes commemorative coins and medals, appointed administrators on July 31 after 20 years in business.
The company’s website now displays a message confirming the appointment of Michael Magnay and Jonny Marston of Alvarez & Marsal Europe LLP as joint administrators.
A spokesman for Alvarez and Marsal said: “On July 31 2026, Michael Magnay and Jonny Marston of Alvarez & Marsal Europe LLP were appointed as Joint Administrators of The London Mint Office Limited in administration (the “Company”).
“Regrettably, the Company’s liquidity challenges have led to a number of immediate redundancies. We are supporting the affected employees through the redundancy process.
What Happens When a Company Goes Into Administration?
“The affairs, business and property of the Company are being managed by the Joint Administrators who act as agents of the Company and without personal liability.”
The announcement confirms that it is no longer possible to purchase coins or medals through the company’s website.
The London Mint Office operates a distribution centre in Tonypandy, Rhondda Cynon Taf, where it employs a significant number of people.
Administration is a formal insolvency process triggered when a business cannot meet its financial obligations.
An insolvency practitioner is appointed to manage the company’s affairs and may attempt to restructure the business or sell off assets to repay creditors.
What happens when a company goes into Liquidation?
Founded in 2006, The London Mint Office describes itself as “one of the UK’s most trusted suppliers of historic, commemorative, and collector coins.”
It is part of Samlerhuset AS, a Norwegian company based near Oslo and one of Europe’s largest distributors of commemorative coins and medals.
Samlerhuset’s website states that it offers “provide a wide range of coins from ancient to modern, originating from virtually every country in the world.”
The London Mint Office has advised anyone with an interest in the company’s assets to contact the administrators at INS_THLMOL@alvarezandmarsal.com.
Business & Technology
Warning of new rules for Aldi and Lidl after watchdog review
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has provisionally decided that both discounters should be added to the Groceries Market Investigation (Controlled Land) Order 2010, which currently applies to Asda, Co-op, Marks and Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and Waitrose.
This order is designed to prevent large grocery retailers from using land agreements to block competitors from opening nearby stores, often through restrictive covenants or exclusivity terms.
Juliette Enser, executive director of competition enforcement and markets at the CMA, said: “We want everyone to have the best choice of supermarket and range of prices when buying their groceries.
“To ensure this happens, we put rules in place to prevent big supermarket chains blocking rival stores from opening nearby – and now we propose applying those rules to Aldi and Lidl too.
“This is about allowing shoppers to choose where they spend their money and levelling the playing field for all major supermarkets.
“Today’s proposals are provisional and we welcome views before deciding the best way forward.”
The CMA’s review found that Aldi, Lidl GB, and Lidl NI now meet the criteria of ‘Large Grocery Retailers’ (LGRs) due to their store footprint, nationwide presence, procurement model, and the breadth of their grocery range.
Aldi and Lidl were originally excluded from the 2010 order as ‘limited assortment discounters’, offering a smaller selection of products compared to traditional supermarkets.
However, the CMA’s provisional findings indicate that this is no longer the case.
All three now operate large grocery stores, each with more than 1,000 square metres of shop floor space, and offer a full range of products, though with less category choice than some competitors.
They also purchase goods directly from suppliers through integrated wholesaling.
With the UK grocery market estimated to be worth £215 billion, Aldi and Lidl are now ranked among the top five retailers by market share.
The CMA is seeking feedback from stakeholders before reaching a final decision.
Aldi and Lidl could join the other supermarket chains later this year.
The CMA is inviting views until 5pm on Monday, September 7, 2026, and will issue its final decision in the autumn after reviewing responses.
If the discounters are included under the order, they will be prevented from using land agreements to limit competition from other supermarket chains.
The CMA aims to ensure competition across the grocery sector to give shoppers more choice and competitive pricing by removing obstacles to new store openings.
-
Business & Technology3 weeks agoHSBC UK & Visa test AI shopping with live payments
-
Business & Technology3 weeks agoValarian lands USD $50 million backing for sovereign AI
-
Oxford Events4 weeks agoHenley Festival 2026 highlights: Five nights of unforgettable performances and festival moments
-
Oxford united FC3 weeks agoOxford United three players who be kept after transfer ban
-
Business & Technology2 weeks agoSlice golf bar swings to new heights after successful launch
-
Business & Technology3 weeks agoUK AI firms raise record GBP £4.56bn in Q2 funding
-
Oxford News3 weeks agoMan jailed for ‘sickening’ sexual assault of three girls in Cotswolds
-
Business & Technology4 weeks agoSchneider backs AI-era condition-based maintenance
