Manchester firm behind graduate hiring platform secures £250k investment

Tech company GradTouch Limited has landed a six-figure investment.

The business will use the £250k boost, secured through NPIF – Maven Equity Finance, to double the headcount at its Manchester office.

NPIF – Maven Equity Finance is part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund and managed by private equity firm Maven Capital Partners.

GradTouch’s digital platform connects graduates and employers. Geared towards SMEs, it aims to help businesses make time and efficiency savings by serving as a complete end-to-end solution for the assessment and hiring process.

The company was founded by Zac Williams and Joe Twigg. Zac heads up GradTouch’s strategic direction while Joe runs the sales side of the business.

Leadership at GradTouch also includes head of development Theo Chung, investor Nick Bate and entrepreneur Tony Bolland, who supports the company as an advisor.

GradTouch MD Zac Williams said: “We’re excited to be bringing Maven on-board as I know they will be a real value add investor.

“Their wealth of experience in helping businesses grow is something that really attracted us to working with them and applying for to the NPIF fund. Looking forwards into the rest of 2018, I know that Maven’s input, coupled with our current team of employees and investors will lead to a great year for GradTouch.”

Maven investment director David Furlong commented: “We are delighted to support GradTouch’s innovative technology platform.

“With a dedicated team that knows the market and understands its customer, we believe the business will continue to develop and prosper.”

He added: “NPIF investments continue to support pioneering businesses like GradTouch where there is a funding gap for companies who need help to fulfil their growth potential.”

The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund is operated by the British Business Bank.

The bank’s senior relationship manager, Sue Barnard, said: “NPIF continues to offer routes to funding for scale up businesses across the North and is making real differences to companies across the region.

“We are pleased that Maven has delivered this latest round of funding thanks to the introduction from the Co-Angel team, part of the Growth Company, and reaffirm our commitment to supporting job creation in Manchester’s growing technology sector.”