3i expands Bristol business

Targeting the growing number of investment opportunities in the UK’s southern region, 3i is strengthening its business capabilities, with the opening of its new offices in Temple Quay, a new business development park in Bristol. Combined with 3i’s Reading office, the team in Bristol covers the whole of the southern region, which also includes South Wales.

Following the merger of the Cardiff office with its Bristol base last year, the number of professionals on 3i’s team has increased from 15 to 23, enabling the firm to significantly increase the level of specialised sector expertise.

There are three teams working out of the Bristol office, where the company has been based for over 35 years SMI (Small and Medium Investments), the technology team and the investment team focusing on later stage and MBOs.

3i currently has 15 offices in the UK in Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Reading and Watford.

Paul Oldham, 3i director for Bristol, said: “The expansion of our Bristol team demonstrates 3i’s commitment to this region, which is rapidly becoming one of the key business hubs in the South of England. Our aim is to continue to invest in the best private companies in the South West and South Wales and to achieve significant further growth in the next 12 months.”

In line with the firm’s expansion, 3i Bristol has also announced the appointment of a new investment director, Graham Miller, who joins from Avon Rubber plc, a global auto and industrial components supplier. Miller previously spent 10 years with Murray Johnstone Private Equity, including four years as director responsible for the Scottish investment team.