Help small companies grow, save income tax and receive tax-free dividends
A Venture Capital Trust (VCT) is a publicly listed investment 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 exposure 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 – no need to declare VCT dividends on your tax return
Tax-free growth – no CGT on gains
Generous allowance – invest up to £200,000 per tax year
Remember, tax rules can change and tax benefits depend on circumstances.
See all current VCT offers below – you can read our reviews, download the documents and apply online. We also list VCT offers coming soon – you can register your interest for free VCT alerts as soon as offers go live.
Managed by Octopus Ventures, Octopus Apollo is among the largest VCTs. Investors get exposure to a portfolio of largely revenue-generating fast-growing companies, with a bias towards technology.
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. Click the link above to read our full review.
Calculus VCT invests alongside the long-established Calculus EIS fund, offering a lower entry point for investors seeking Calculus’s approach to building a broadly diversified portfolio. Click the link above to read our full review.
A newly created share class within Downing FOUR VCT that will seek to invest in a portfolio of 15–20 AIM-quoted companies. Click the link above to read our full review.
Downing FOUR Healthcare Shares, one of the three active share classes in Downing FOUR VCT, seeks to invest in early and mid‐stage healthcare companies. Click the link above to read our full review.
Downing FOUR Ventures Shares (previously known as Generalist) is one of the three active share classes in Downing FOUR VCT. It seeks to invest in a portfolio of small, ambitious technology businesses. Click the link above to read our full review.
Foresight Enterprise VCT (formerly Foresight 4 VCT) has a weighting towards technology, media and telecoms. Click the link above to read our full review.
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. Click the link above to read our full review.
A growth-focused VCT share class managed by Seneca Partners, investing in a mix of unquoted and AIM quoted companies. Click the link above to read our full review.
Generalist, growth-oriented Venture Share class for Triple Point 2011 VCT, investing primarily in B2B companies. Click the link above to read our full review.
Albion Capital is one of the longest established VCT managers. Together, the six VCTs give investors exposure to a well diversified portfolio of 73 companies, a combination of predominantly growth capital investments and a somewhat smaller legacy portfolio of income-generating, asset-based and renewable energy investments, as well as cash.
The Amati AIM VCT invests predominantly in AIM stocks and offers a mixed portfolio of mature, revenue-generating companies as well as earlier-stage businesses with the potential for significant growth.
The Baronsmead VCTs are amongst the longest-standing and most diverse of all VCTs. They give investors access to a portfolio of more than 100 companies. Click the link above to read our full review.
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…
Maven 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. Click the link above to read our full review.
The four Mobeus VCTs are stalwarts of the VCT industry. All have the same investment remit and will generally invest in the same companies, albeit usually in different proportions.
The former Elderstreet VCT invests in early-stage digital technology businesses, often alongside FTSE 250 listed Molten Ventures plc (previously Draper Esprit plc), which acquired the VCT management company in 2019.
The three Northern VCTs are among the longest-running and have built up a strong investor following over the years. Since December 2019 the management has been under the ownership of Mercia Asset Management plc.
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.
Pembroke's manager, formerly Oakley Capital, is a long-established name in venture capital investing, with £4 billion under management. Pembroke VCT is focused on growth investing, typically backing consumer brands with premium pricing potential. Click the link above to read our full review.
Launched in 2018, the thirteenth VCT managed by Puma Investments is now moving to an evergreen structure. Click the link above to read our full review.
Unicorn is a specialist smaller company fund manager. The manager looks for companies with strong cash flows and potential to pay and grow dividends over time. This is a large, well diversified VCT. Click the link above to read our full review.
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