Coverage of the Insider UK Dealmakers Awards 2026

The incredible organisations and individuals who power the UK’s dealmaking landscape have been celebrated at Insider’s UK Dealmakers Awards. The black-tie awards dinner was held last night at The ICC, Birmingham and compered by Fred MacAulay. The headline sponsor was Rathbones Investment Management with further sponsors including Interpath, PIB Insurance Brokers, Quilter Cheviot, Shawbrook and Ultimate Finance. Hall Brown Family Law, Dow Schofield Watts and Freeths sponsored the networking booklet, drinks reception and photobooth respectively.

Corporate Finance Team of the Year (Mid-Market) 
Sponsored by Ultimate Finance
Winner: (Wales) – Gambit Corporate Finance
Judges were impressed by the the firm’s work as lead adviser on Inflexion Private Equity’s acquisition of a majority stake in Nodor International. Gambit Corporate Finance completed 17 transactions worth £400m its best year in a tough market.   

Highly commended: (South East) – Gerald Edelman
Shortlisted:
(East Midlands) – Bishopsgate Corporate Finance
(South Yorkshire) – Castle Square Corporate Finance
(Midlands) – Springboard Corporate Finance
(Midlands) – BSN
(North East) – UNW
(South Coast) – FRP Corporate Finance
(North West) – Dow Schofield Watts
(Central and East of England) – Price Bailey LLP
(Yorkshire) – Translink Corporate Finance

Corporate Finance Team of the Year (Large)
Winner: (North West) KPMG
The judges said it was KPMG’s strongest year ever with young partners, delivering good fees and demonstrating commitment to the regional market with 16 of its  21 deals in the North West. 
Shortlisted:
(Northern Ireland) – Grant Thornton NI 
(South West) – EY
(Midlands) – Clearwater
(Thames Valley) – BDO M&A Team
(Scotland) – EY

Corporate Law Firm of the Year 
Sponsored by Interpath
Winner: (Scotland) Addleshaw Goddard 
Addleshaws had a great quantity, quality and variety of deals in a competitive Scottish market. 
Shortlisted:
(South East) – Stevens & Bolton
(Northern Ireland) – Carson McDowell LLP
(East Midlands) – Austin Moore & Partners
(South Yorkshire) – Shakespeare Martineau
(South West) – Freeths
(Midlands) – Gateley Legal
(North East) – Muckle LLP
(South Coast) – Moore Barlow
(Wales) – Browne Jacobson
(North West) – Brabners
(North West) – JMW Solicitors
(Central and East of England) – Freeths LLP
(Thames Valley) – Osborne Clarke LLP
(Yorkshire) – Squire Patton Boggs

Transaction Services Team of the Year 
Sponsored by PIB Insurance Brokers
Winner: (East Midlands) BDO 
The East Midlands entry punched above its weight and showed the team’s culture and ethos with a passion for local deals. 
Shortlisted:
(South East) – Kreston Reeves
(Northern Ireland) – EY
(Midlands) – Grant Thornton
(North East) – PwC
(South Coast) – BDO Southampton Transaction Services Team
(North West) – Deloitte
(Central and East of England) – RSM UK Corporate Finance LLP
(Scotland) – PwC
(Thames Valley) – BDO UK Reading
(Yorkshire) – Deloitte

Equity Funder of the Year
Winner: (North West) Inflexion 
Inflexion was outstanding all round with new investments, supporting its portfolio and high value exits. 
Shortlisted:
(Northern Ireland) – Whiterock
(East Midlands) – LDC
(South West) – LDC
Midlands – Beech Tree Private Equity
(North East) – LDC
(Wales) – BGF
(Scotland) – Par Equity
(Thames Valley) – YFM Equity Partners
(Yorkshire) – Endless LLP

Bank of the Year
Winner: (Northern Ireland) Danske Bank
All round commercial performance with strong ESG commitment. Local integration and educational support was strong and the bank worked with some household names in Ireland. 
Highly commended: (Midlands) – HSBC UK
Shortlisted:
(South East) – OakNorth
(East Midlands) – HSBC UK
(South Yorkshire) – Virgin Money 
(South West) – Lloyds Banking Group
(South Coast) – HSBC UK
(Wales) – HSBC(North West) – Lloyds(
Central and East of England) – Shawbrook Bank
(Scotland) – Royal Bank of Scotland (Yorkshire) – HSBC UK

Alternative Funder of the Year 
Winner: (South West) The FSE Group 
The FSE Group is very active in the smaller end of the market, filling the gap between angels and VCs, alongside good diversity on the team and strong ESG focus.
Shortlisted:
(South East) – Praetura Commercial Finance
(East Midlands) – ThinCats
(Midlands) – Secure Trust Bank Commercial Finance
(North East) – NEL Fund Managers
(North West) – IGF
(Central and East of England) – Praetura Commercial Finance
(Thames Valley) – Triple Point

International Deal of the Year
Winner: (Midlands) – FOSROC £812m sale to Saint-Gobain (Shoosmiths, Freshfields, Integritas Advisory, BDO)
Judges were impressed by a large, complex and cross border deal which showcases regional markets transacting large international deals. 
Shortlisted:
(South Yorkshire) – Acquisition of Advanced Manufacturing (AML) Sheffield by Walsin Lihwa Corporation (Hart Shaw, Freeths)
(Wales) – Funding for Burbank Software (GS Verde Group – An AAB Group Company, Mouro Capital, Anthemis, Foxe Capital, Portfolio Ventures)
(North West) – Cavu Group Limited’s acquisition of Netherlands based Parkos B.V (KPMG, Squire Patton Boggs, Crosslake, Chestnut, Ingen Housz)
(Central and East of England) – Acquisition of Dawsongroup by KKR (Freeths LLP; PwC; Corporate Finance; Simpson, Thatcher and Barlett LLP; Herbert Smith Freehills; Rimon Law)
(Scotland) – Stronvar Aerospace and acquisition of Electro Methods Inc (Pinsent Masons LLP, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, Latham & Watkins LLP, STB, KPMG, PwC, CSP Associates, Ramboll)
(Yorkshire) – Acquisition of Ecobat Battery Division by Endless (Walker Morris, KPMG, PwC, Argon & Co, Panamoure Consulting, Rothschild & Co, White & Case LLP)

Deal of the Year (Small) 
Winner: (South Yorkshire) IPO of One Health Group on AIM and capital fundraise (Shakespeare Martineau, BHP, Panmure Liberum, Crowe UK, Charles Russell Speechlys)
The judges said it had been a very thin IPO market and so this was an impressive float.  
Shortlisted:
(South East) – Semmco Group founder exit (Polestar LLP, Altitude Accounting, GBH Law, PwC – Sweden, Vinge Legals Sweden)
(Northern Ireland) – Investment in Vikela Armour 
(Northern Ireland) – Investment in Woodland Kitchens NI by BGF 
(East Midlands) – Sale of Replay Group to YFM (Freeths, Heligan Group, Bishopsgate Corporate Finance, Actons, Browne Jacobson, YFM, Claritas Tax)
(South West) – MBO of Devon Contractors (Isca Ventures, Bright Solicitors, White Jackman) 
(South Yorkshire) –  £2m investment in FinLegal by NPIF II – Mercia Equity Finance (Mercia Asset Management)
(Midlands) – Sale of Pet Treat Wholesale to The Nutriment Company (Evolve Corporate Finance, Freeths, Claritas Tax, Grant Thornton, Travers Smith)
(North East) – Investment in Kani Payments by Maven Capital Partners (Weightmans LLP; Crowell & Moring UK LLP; FT Partners; Atom Financial; Waterstons; Whitecap Consulting)
(South Coast) – Acquisition of Auditel by TMA Group  (Meridian Corporate Finance, Shoosmiths, Mazars and Paris Smith)
(Wales) – Investment in Transcend Packaging (Innovation Investment Capital, Cardiff Capital Region, Browne Jacobson, PwC, Capricorn Fund Managers, RWK Goodman)
(North West) – Praetura investment in Exa Robotic Systems (Eversheds Sutherland, Praetura, Irwin Mitchell, Brabners, TLT, Addleshaw Goddard)
(Central and East of England) -Sale of Norfolk Broads Direct to Broads Ventures (Natwest Bank; Howes Percival LLP; Larking Gowen LLP; Ashtons Legal LLP; Mills & Reeve LLP)
(Scotland) – Dxcover £5m equity raise (Eos Advisory, Scottish Enterprise, SIS Ventures, University of Strathclyde, Norcliffe Capital, Maven Capital Partners, Macmillan Cancer Support)
(Thames Valley) – BGF invests in Proventeq  (Trowers & Hamlin Legal Advisers, Field Seymour Parkes Legal Advisers, RSM Financial, Claritas, Confidas People, SBR Consulting,  BGF, Equiteq CF)(Yorkshire) – Acquisition of DDH Services by Hollybank Trust (Azets; Weightmans; Womble Bond Dickinson; Lloyds Bank)

Deal of the Year (Medium) 
Winner: (North East) CloudCoCo sale to Aspire Technology Solutions (LDC, Muckle LLP; DAC Beachcroft; CMS) 
A strong regional story, complex deal, with added regulatory consideratory considerations. The judges said the transaction was well executed.
Highly commended: (Central and East of England) – Acquisition of Aliom Holdings by Group 1 (Howes Percival; BMW Financial Services; KPMG; Hill Dickinson; Charterhouse; Shieldpay)
Shortlisted:
(South East) – Tribeca Technology Holdings’ sale of its entire issued share capital to Abacus Group (Thomson Snell & Passmore, Castle Corporate Finance, Kreston Reeves, Kreston CAC Hong Kong, Blank Rome LLP (Los Angeles, US), Tax BMS Group, W&I Insurance, Freeths, RSM, Lowenstein Sandler LLP) 
(South West) – Sale of Chipside to Unity 5 (EY, Thrings, Pearson May, PwC, Osborne Clarke, Momentum, CIL) 
(Midlands) – LDC’s investment in Deltron Group now The Pace Group (LDC, Higgs, Gateley Legal, Clearwater, Claritas Tax, BDO)
(South Coast) – Sale of L&S Waste to Biffa (Azets, Blake Morgan, BDO Southampton, Pinsent Mason)
(Wales) – Acquisition of a majority stake in Nodor International by Inflexion Private Equity (Gambit Corporate Finance, KPMG, Osborne Clarke)
(North West) – Fulfilmentcrowd exit by BGF and investment by Palatine (Palatine, BGF, Clearwater, Roland Berger, RSM, Hill Dickinson, Crosslake, Alvarez & Marsal, Gateley, ThinCats, Squire Patton Boggs)
(Scotland) – The sale of Johnston Carmichael Wealth to Partners Wealth Management LLP, a 7IM Group company ( Johnston Carmichael Corporate Finance, Morton Fraser MacRoberts LLP, RSM, MacFarlanes)
(Thames Valley) – MBO of Stacatruc, backed by YFM Equity Partners  (Interpath, James Cowper Kreston, Trowers & Hamlins LLP, Stevens & Bolton, Shoosmiths, Bishop Fleming, Fairgrove)(Yorkshire) – £15m investment in Castings Technology by Zachary Asset Holdings (Castle Square Corporate Finance; Wake Smith; BHP)

Deal of the Year (Large) 
Sponsored by Quilter Cheviot
Winner: (South East) Sale of Medical Imaging Systems to H2 Equity Partners (Gerald Edelman, Fladgate)
The sale of Medical Imaging Systems took the win with judges impressed by this family owned business with a diverse range of shareholders, and innovation in the deal structure.
Shortlisted:
(Northern Ireland) – First Derivatives sale to EPAM 
(East Midlands) – Sale of CCS Media to Advania (Clearwater, Browne Jacobson, BDO, Deloitte, White & Case, Bain & Co) 
(South Yorkshire) – Acquisition of Senior Architectural Systems by Assa Abloy Group (Shakespeare Martineau, Clearwater, Eversheds Sutherland, KPMG, Grant Thornton) 
(South West) – Sale of Hydrock Holdings Limited to Stantec (KPMG, Freeths, Grant Thornton, Stantec, DLA Piper, EY, BGF) 
(Midlands) – Lee Equity Partners’ acquisition of Cooper Parry (HSBC UK, DLA Piper, Houlihan Lokey. Herbert Smith Freehills, Addleshaw Goddard, KPMG, Deloitte, Oliver Wyman, Liberty, Proskauer Rose, PwC)
(North East) – Merger of Connect Health and Healthshare (LDC; BGF; Grant Thornton; KPMG; Womble Bond Dickinson; Muckle LLP; PSMI)
(South Coast) – Acquisition of Hampshire Sport & Leisure Holdings Limited by GMR Global Pte Ltd (Shoosmiths LLP)
(North West) – TDR Capital’s acquisition of CorpAcq (Deloitte, Paul Weiss, PwC)
(Central and East of England)- Acquisition of Dawsongroup by KKR 
(Scotland) – Sale of the Port of Nigg to Mitsui & MOL (Hutcheon Mearns, EY, Stronachs LLP, KPMG, Pinsent Masons)
(Thames Valley) – CBPE investment in Tetra Consulting (BDO Reading, KPMG, PwC, Stevens & Bolton LLP, CMS Cameron McKenna, Nabarro Olswang LLP, Addleshaw Goddard, BDO Reading)
(Yorkshire) – Acquisition of BJSS by CGI Group (Addleshaw Goddard, KPMG, RPC)

Emerging Dealmaker of the Year 
Sponsored by Shawbrook
Winner: (Midlands) Henry Baker, Headpoint Advisors 
The judges noted he was referenced very strongly in quality of client experience which gave him the win.
Highly commended: (North East) – Emma Borrie, LDC and (Yorkshire) – Sophie Andran, KPMG
Shortlisted:
(South East) – Harry Phipps, Crowe UK
(Northern Ireland) – Sarah Dugdale, A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland LLP
(East Midlands) – Sam Reynolds, Bishopsgate Corporate Finance
(South Yorkshire) – Harry Bushell, Hentons Corporate Finance
(South West) – Hannah Nonas, EY
(South Coast) – Jack Courtney – Moore Barlow
(Wales) – Jade Burgess, FRP Corporate Finance
(North West) – Patrick Molyneux, KPMG
(Central and East of England) – Hollie Tompkins, EMW Law LLP
(Scotland) –  – Samantha O’Neill, KPMG
(Thames Valley) – Jack Griggs – James Cowper Kreston Corporate Finance

Dealmaker of the Year 
Sponsored by Rathbones
Winner: (Midlands) Sarah Taylor, Clearwater 
Universally respected, and it’s not just what she does,  it’s how she does it. She looks after her team with strong leadership and nurtures the next generation of dealmakers. 
Shortlisted:
(South East) – Nick Wallis, Gerald Edelman
(Northern Ireland) – Charlie Kerlin, Grant Thornton NI LLP
(East Midlands) – Morgan Atherton, Bishopsgate Corporate Finance
(South Yorkshire) – Matt Ainsworth, Shakespeare Martineau
(South West) – John Levis, KPMG
(North East) – Phil Williams, FRP Corporate Finance
(South Coast) – Helen O’Kane – BDO
(Wales) – Sam Forman, Gambit Corporate Finance
(North West) – Paul Jones, Clearwater
(Central and East of England) – Patrick Faughnan, TC Group
(Scotland) – Adam Maitland, Hutcheon Mearns
(Thames Valley) – Duncan Wade – BGF
(Yorkshire) – Richard Goldsack, Clearwater