Venture Capital Trusts

Help small companies grow, save income tax and receive tax-free dividends

A Venture Capital Trust (VCT) is a publicly listed company run by a fund manager. It aims to make money by investing in small, unquoted, entrepreneurial companies and helping them grow. 

When you as a private investor buy shares in a VCT, you get access to a portfolio of small companies. The government is keen for experienced investors to invest in this kind of company, because they create jobs and support economic growth. However, investing in small businesses is risky. To help compensate for this, the government offers generous tax benefits: 

  • Up to 30% tax relief – save up to £60,000 on your income tax bill when you invest in newly issued VCT shares 
  • Tax-free dividends – £294 million paid out in 2018/19 alone
  • Tax-free growth – no CGT on gains
  • No need to declare dividends on your tax return
  • Generous allowance – invest up to £200,000 per tax year

Remember, tax rules can change and tax benefits depend on circumstances. 

See all current offers below – you can read our review, download the offer documents and apply online. We also list VCT offers due to open this tax year – you can register your interest and we'll send you an alert as soon as the offer is live.  

Available VCT offers

Our featured offers. Our favourites among current offers, selected purely on investment merit. Find out more about how we choose.

Product Sort by value Type Sort by value Target dividend Initial charge Sort by value Initial saving via Wealth Club Sort by value Net initial charge Sort by value Annual rebate Sort by value Funds raised / sought Sort by value Deadline Sort by value Invest now
Our choice Baronsmead VCTs

The Baronsmead VCTs are amongst the longest-standing and most diverse of all VCTs. They give investors access to a portfolio of more than 150 companies spread across legacy MBO investments, AIM-quoted companies and newer early-stage growth investments, as well as three Gresham House equity funds, and money market funds. Target dividend of 7% – not guaranteed.

 Generalist 7% of NAV 4.5% 2% (2.25% for existing shareholders) 2.5% (2.25% for existing shareholder) 0.10% £21.8 million / £40 million 30 Oct 2020 for early bird saving  
Our choice Maven Income and Growth VCTs

Maven Capital Partners is a highly regarded fund manager, known for its strong regional presence. The Maven VCTs are now a blend of more mature management buyout investments, early-stage high-growth private companies, AIM-quoted companies, private equity investment trusts and cash or cash equivalents.

 Generalist – 5.5% 4.25% (4.5% existing shareholders) 1.25% (1% existing shareholders) 0.10% £40 million sought 29 Jan 2021 (noon) for early bird  
Our choice Octopus Titan VCT

The UK's largest VCT has always been focused on earlier stage growth-oriented companies. It has 80 companies across a wide range of sectors. The focus is on backing talented entrepreneurs. It has backed some notable winners in the past including Zoopla, SwiftKey and Graze.

 Generalist 5p 5.5% 3.5% (4.5% existing shareholders) 2% (1% existing shareholders) 0.25% £3.2 million / £80 million 20 Nov 2020 for 2p dividend  
Blackfinch Spring VCT

A new VCT to be managed by the Blackfinch Ventures team

 Generalist 5% from 2024 5.5% 4.5% (5.5% existing investors) 1% (0% existing investors) - £20 million sought 28 Jan 2021 for early bird  
Calculus VCT

The Calculus VCT invests alongside the long-established Calculus EIS fund, which launched in 1999, offering a lower entry point for investors seeking Calculus’ approach to building a broadly diversified portfolio.

 Generalist 4.5% of NAV 5% 2.5% 2.5% (2% for existing shareholder) 0.10% £10 million sought 31 Jan 2021 for early bird saving  
Downing ONE VCT

A blend of AIM companies, earlier-stage growth opportunities and asset-backed investments

 Generalist 4% of NAV 4.5% 3.25% (3.75% for existing shareholders) 1.25% (0.75% existing shareholders) 0.10% £1 million / £15 million 11 Dec 2020 (3pm) for early bird  
Foresight Williams Technology Shares

A new share class of Foresight Solar & Technology VCT, part of the collaboration between Foresight Group and Williams Advanced Engineering, seeking to invest in early-stage high-growth technology businesses

 Generalist 5% from 2024 5.5% 3% (3.5% for existing shareholders) 2.5% (2% existing shareholders) 0.10% £3.5 million / £20 million 18 Dec 2020 for 2020/21 allotment  
Hargreave Hale AIM VCT

An established offer from a well regarded fund management house. This VCT invests in both AIM and unquoted companies, differentiating it from other AIM VCTs in our view. Read more…

 AIM 5% of NAV 3.5% 2.0% 1.5% 0.10% £5.1 million / £20 million 30 Oct 2020 for early bird saving  
Octopus AIM VCTs

Octopus AIM VCT and Octopus AIM VCT 2 (together the Octopus AIM VCTs) offer exposure to a well established portfolio of largely profitable AIM companies plus earlier-stage businesses from newer investments.

 AIM 5% 5.5% 2.5% 3% (2% for existing shareholders) 0.10% £13.5 million / £20 million 5 Apr 2021 (noon) for allotment in 2020/21  
Octopus Apollo VCT

With assets of more than £140 million, Octopus Apollo is one of the largest VCTs available. Investors get exposure to a portfolio of new growth-capital investments as well as legacy MBO and energy investments.

 Generalist 5% of NAV 5.5% 4.5% (5.5% for existing shareholders) 1% (0% for existing shareholders) 0.10% £2.8 million / £25 million 14 Dec 2020 for early bird saving  
Pembroke VCT

Pembroke's manager, formerly Oakley Capital, is a long-established name in venture capital investing. This VCT has a distinctive investment strategy. Investments are focused on scalable consumer brands; ones which investors can walk down the high street and see.

 Generalist 3p per share 5.5% 3.5% 2.0% 0.15% £2.1 million / £20 million 30 Oct 2020 for early bird saving  
ProVen VCTs

An established VCT offering new investors a diverse portfolio of maturing companies alongside new investments. Beringea has a solid track record of investing in companies with growth potential and supporting them until a profitable exit can be achieved.

 Generalist - - - - - - Coming soon  
Puma Alpha VCT

This is Puma’s fourteenth VCT, the first with an evergreen focus. It aims to invest in scale-up opportunities among established, income-yielding growth capital companies.

 Generalist 5p from Apr 2023 3% 3% 0% 0.10% £20 million sought 18 Dec 2020 for early bird saving  
Puma VCT 13

Launched in 2018, the thirteenth VCT managed by Puma Investments is now moving to an evergreen structure.

 Generalist 4p-6p 3% 2% (3% existing investors) 1% (0% existing investors) 0.10% £7.5 million sought 18 Dec 2020 for early bird saving  
Seneca Growth Capital VCT

A growth-focused VCT share class from Seneca Partners investing in a mix of unquoted and AIM quoted companies

 Generalist 3p 5.5% 4.5% (5.5% existing investors) 1% (0% existing investors) 0.20% £10 million sought 30 Nov 2020 for early bird  
Triple Point VCT 2011

Generalist, growth-oriented Venture Share class for Triple Point 2011 VCT

 Generalist 3p per share 5.5% 4% (5% for existing shareholders) 1.5% (0.5% for existing shareholders) 0.10% £10 million sought 31 Dec 2020 for early bird saving  
Amati AIM VCT

Amati is a highly regarded fund manager with a track record of investing in smaller listed businesses. For investors willing to tolerate potential volatility of AIM, this could be an offer to consider.

 AIM - - - - - £42.4 million / £45 million CLOSED    

More about Venture Capital Trusts

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News about Venture Capital Trusts. Read all

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Our portfolio companies are planning for all likely scenariosWe have been working closely with all of our portfolio companies to better understand the immediate and medium-term impacts of Covid-19 on their businesses, and to understand what ...