Why Invest in the UK and Post-Brexit Britain?
The United Kingdom was in a political and economical crisis from June 23, 2016, until December 31, 2020. This was due to the UK’s vote to exit the EU, which forced the prime minister to resign and ushered in a period of instability to the country. Due to the uncertainty over the UK’s future, major worldwide exports had closed their doors and withdrawn from the UK market.
As a result, the media has been relentless in its criticism of the economic calamity that the Brexit vote would precipitate. Unfortunately the installation of new border rules and red tape has caused some trade interruption.
However, the aftermath of Brexit has not been the disaster that many expected. In fact, London is now home to over 60 unicorns and is a vibrant hub for the tech industry. People can profit from investment opportunities in the UK, and in this article, I will describe some of the primary reasons why investing into UK startups is not such a scary thought.
Why Invest in the UK?
The United Kingdom is a Hotbed for Innovation
In 2019, the UK was classified as one of the top five most innovative countries in the world, owing to the fact that we have four of the top ten universities in the world with R&D resources that assist startups in turning their ideas into viable businesses.
Some of the world’s largest firms, like Google and Amazon, already have European headquarters in the UK. Furthermore, because of the government’s support for innovators through the Innovate UK agency, the United Kingdom is also an appealing destination for investment opportunities in small and medium-sized firms. Innovate UK, according to the Gov.UK website, helps businesses with:
- Accessing funding
- Connecting with researchers and collaborators
- Finding potential customers
You can find out more about the UK’s impressive startup scene in our previous blog ‘The UK: why it’s the perfect place for your startup and 7 ways to find funding’.
UK Tax and Incentives
Through the R&D expenditure tax credit scheme, the UK government not only supports inventors, but it also supports investors wishing to fund UK projects in investment opportunities. Companies that invest in R&D initiatives in the UK can claim a 13% tax credit on their R&D expenses. This has contributed to the UK’s attractiveness as a destination to invest and start a business.
The government’s corporation tax rate is currently 19%, the lowest among all G20 countries, and it’s accompanied with a well-respected and equitable tax structure. There is also no withholding tax on dividends received by international shareholders from their UK investments.
The Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) are two government schemes that attract investment through tax relief for those who buy shares in your company. SEIS helps small startups get their business operational with up to £150,000 in funding, while EIS helps businesses connect with investors looking to spend a bit more capital with a maximum EIS investment of £12 million over a businesses lifetime.
You can find out more about these schemes in our previous blog ‘What are SEIS and EIS for my startup?’
UK Market Being Undervalued
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With Brexit dominating the news for four years, it was difficult for investors to look past the obvious danger of investing in the UK. However, this actually made the UK a fantastic place to invest because it resulted in a valuation discount on some fantastic investment opportunities.
The price-earnings ratio calculates the price-to-expected-earnings ratio you’ll get from UK businesses. In the United Kingdom, that multiple is 14. This is very appealing to investors as it suggests they’ll receive greater rates of predicted earnings for the amount they pay. Moreover, this is how the UK compares to the world’s largest markets:
The UK market’s ability to recover from an exceptionally challenging year as a result of COVID should not be underestimated. This demonstrates that the market is stable enough to rebound from such a turbulent year. As a result, the Bank of England’s forecast is now in its quickest era of expansion since World War II.
Conclusion
As a startup investor considering the UK market, there are numerous advantages to consider when investing here. Additionally, there are also vast investment opportunities that may provide significant profits. Through our data-driven due diligence reports, 7startup can help you connect with the brightest upcoming businesses to strengthen your portfolio.
Amit Khanna, 7startup Founder
Amit has 18 years of experience in the industry and an MBA. He supports entrepreneurs with every aspect of their business including concept and product development, investor presentations, and fundraising. Amit & 7startup assist startups in the pre due-diligence process and help connect them to our vast network of investors. Reach out to us today and see if we’re a fit!
