Pinsent Masons advises on new £40 million Clean Growth Fund for energy start ups

The Clean Growth Fund was founded with investment from the Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and CCLA (one of the UK's largest charity fund managers) and provides the UK's most promising early stage clean growth start-ups the opportunity to secure venture capital investment.

The fund aims to give investment to those companies that are pioneering carbon emission reductions in power and energy, building, transport, industry and waste. It seeks to accelerate the development and commercialisation of clean growth technologies, create new and skilled jobs across the country and contribute to the UK's efforts to deliver net zero by 2050.

The fund will be managed by Clean Growth Investment Management LLP (CGIM).

Investing £20M each, BEIS and the CCLA are the cornerstone investors but the Fund has ambitions to grow to £100M and CGIM is now seeking wider private sector investment from others.

Commenting on the fund, Ian Warner, lead partner at Pinsent Masons said:

"It has been a pleasure to help a new fund manager launch an innovative fund that has been established at a time where there is a strong market need for new funding to support clean growth companies at the early stage of their development. It partners public funds with private capital and will ensure that many clean energy start-ups can continue to develop carbon reducing technologies. It is hoped that this fund will continue to grow to bring even more capital to companies tackling the climate crisis."

Managing partner of CGIM, Beverley Gower-Jones said:

“It was fantastic to work with Ian and his team on the establishment of the Clean Growth Fund. They went to great lengths to ensure the successful establishment of this fund, The fund is a significant boost to the country’s low carbon sector and is a clear signal from the UK Government that new and innovative technologies will be crucial to deliver Net Zero and the clean growth agenda. We want to hear from the very best clean technology businesses from across the UK.”

The Pinsent Masons team working on the fund included Lead Partner Ian Warner assisted by Ben Boss and Oliver Crowley with specialist regulatory advice provided by Alice Bell.

Business Secretary, Alok Sharma, said:

“The need for innovative and ambitious ideas across green industries has never been greater. I am pleased that with the help of this fund, promising clean growth start-ups will be able to step up to accelerate the UK’s recovery, while supporting our path to Net Zero by 2050.

“This pioneering new fund will enable innovative low-carbon solutions to be scaled up at speed, helping to drive a green and resilient economic recovery”.