Overview​

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As a result of many years of research into investors' experiences, concerns and desires the UK Investment Agency has slightly but at the same time significantly adjusted the typical business model employed by the majority of unregulated brokers in our market. This doesn't attempt to "re-invent the wheel" in any way, but rather approaches a broking service in a fresh, unique way that specifically addresses every single common concern and issue raised by investors in this very specific market research.​

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Feedback has come from Professional Investors and experienced Sophisticated Investors who often experience very common frustrations but certain benefits are specifically beneficial to less experienced investors too. We aim to provide the best service to an investor that could possibly be expected or hoped for in a market which has many laws to govern activities, but a lack of a regulatory watchdog and because of its non-advisory status also means that brokers have no accountability for investment performance. We don't assume this accountability or an advisory position in any way, but have implemented steps which offer proven protections for investors as part of a "Best Practice" approach to our market.

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This model represents valuable Intellectual Property and therefore we don't publish details of specific processes but we can provide detailed information, examples and case studies to interested investors during our communication and engagement. Examples of some of the broad subjects that our model addresses are outlined below.

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Market​

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Market Realities​

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The reality in our market is that because of the unregulated status of the products themselves and of most brokers who are promoting them, investors often engage with brokers who only have basic training and are sales reps often with little actual market knowledge. Many brokers are short-lived businesses who disappear or stop trading and although actual fraud and mis-selling is very tightly policed, a lack of experience or professionalism often exists.

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Market Access

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The EIS market report produced by "IFA Magazine" in 2025 also reveals just how much of the EIS market is funded through IFAs who access the EIS market for investors via listed and unlisted funds which many companies with Advanced Assurance from HMRC decide to become part of in order to secure their funding. This highlights how rare, relatively, an EIS opportunity directly with a company is.

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Investor Habits or Pitfalls

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The number of active EIS funds means that EIS companies who raise funds independently themselves or via a broker are rare and are sought-after by investors who are familiar with the Scheme and even experienced investors often search for EIS opportunities and sometimes are eager to invest in an EIS company simply because of its status which can be a dangerous investment strategy.

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Investor Concerns​

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Alternative Investments in General (Growth)

• Lack of governance or regulation always arises​

• No verification of broker or agent statements

• Difficulties in assessing true value

• Brokers who disappear or stop trading

• General lack of sufficient information

• General lack of strong options

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Private Equity Specifically​

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• Irregular or non-existent progress reporting​​​

• Lack of access to deeper information during discovery

• Not enough market information in IMs/Offer documents

• Sales pitches from limited telesales agents

• No platform for investor voice

• Inability to contribute to or support the business

• No direct access to senior management

• "Propaganda" updates only reporting positives

• Updates which are very general and non-specific

• Lack of focus on investors including exits

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UK Investment Agency Market Position​

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The experience within our management team has provided a unique, advanced view of the market. Consulting and training over the years means we have a very comprehensive understanding of typical broker protocols and services and we are able to confidently assess our Model and compare it to the market and can guarantee its quality. Focussed on investor value, we are confident in our Model's real benefits and in its appeal to an investor that examines it. ​

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Business Solution​

 

Product Quality Control

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Before promoting an investment, even with EIS status, a very real examination of the business and the offer is undertaken in a screening process which aims to assess actual investor value. EIS companies which fall short in this screening process are rejected by us and these same companies often proceed to raise capital through other brokers who don't screen them in this way and don't have the experience to do so. We have multiple recent examples of investors who have lost money by investing into EIS companies which we have rejected but which have been promoted by other sales agents. We can provide real case studies which prove we have saved investors from losses by this process. This is especially valuable to less experienced investors who are attracted by EIS status alone. Our view is that the government benefits and incentives shouldn't be regarded as main USPs when reviewing an offer, but rather as add-ons which enhance an investment, which should be made based on business and market opportunity.​

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We also review companies for their genuine outlook and focus on exits and satisfy ourselves that an exit for investors is genuinely plausible and is a focus of the company and its management.

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THIS SCREENING PROCESS SHOULD IN NO WAY BE INTERPRETED BY INVESTORS AS PROOF THAT AN INVESTMENT WILL PERFORM, NOR SHOULD IT BE SEEN AS AN ADVISORY ROLE ON OUR BEHALF, BUT RATHER JUST AS A STEP WE TAKE WHICH MEANS WE AVOID CERTAIN RED FLAGS WHICH IN OUR OPINION ARE IMPORTANT IF THEY APPEAR WHEN WE INITIALLY ASSESS A COMPANY WHEN DECIDING WHETHER TO PROMOTE THEM OR NOT.  It is valuable but doesn't guarantee success. Instead it is simply part of our "Best Practice" approach to the market in which we attempt to focus on investor value when we provide a broking service.

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Investor Access to Information

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We open up very clear, senior, efficient and specific information channels between investors, senior UKIA management and company management, to provide Q&A and fact-finding solutions to investors who wish to research an investment further. This process is especially valued by Professional Investors who often wish to perform very efficient and thorough assessments of opportunities before making a decision on investing at all and on levels of investment.

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Investor Tools

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We produce online research tools which are constantly updated with any relevant market research, general updates from the company in question and also the questions and answers which are produced during a fundraise, resulting in an ever-expanding "Research Hub" which investors are given access to and who are notified when information is added or updated.

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Much More...

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There are many more details within our model which contribute to the overall investing experience both at initial decision-making stages but also for investors who have already committed funds and wish to be informed and learn more throughout the investment lifecycle. We address every concern raised in the market research undertaken as best as possible. Some examples include:

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• Investment participation either by our company or personally by senior management on occasion

• Code of conduct / best practices

• Internal compliance protocols which are uncommon in the market

• Senior brokers with in-depth company understanding making presentations

• Investor voice and contribution facilitated where possible

• Investor updates facilitated regularly and over long-term

• Use of AI internally to facilitate efficient time management for senior brokers to ensure more availability to investors

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Aims and Conclusion

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We aim to stand out in the market as a premier service provider and our structure is strongly intended to provide as much additional value as possible to a market participant and with a view to creating lifelong relationships. We strongly value our investors and wish to be as valued by them in return.