Official 2025 ETA Awards shortlist revealed

Gerald Edelman is pleased to announce the shortlist for the annual Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) Awards. The awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of searchers and entrepreneurs who have completed notable acquisitions over the past year. 

The 2025 ETA Awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday, 5 November 2025, at Landing Forty-Two, London. 

Following a rigorous judging process by our panel of industry experts – Bramley Johnson, Search Fund Investor; Alex Glasner, search CEO who acquired Workpays in 2021; and Lisa Conmy, Partner at JMW – we are delighted to reveal this year’s finalists. 

This year marks a significant milestone for the ETA Awards, as applications were opened to international entrants for the first time, welcoming searchers and entrepreneurs from beyond the UK. The record number of entries received reflects the continued growth and global reach of the ETA community. 

In addition to the core award categories, this year’s ceremony will also see the return of the ‘Intern of The Year’award and the introduction of a new category – the ‘Serial Acquirer Award’, recognising individuals who have achieved multiple successful acquisitions. 

A special ‘Community Contribution Award’ will also be presented this year, honouring an individual who has made an exceptional impact on the ETA ecosystem. This award will be presented by our host and Founder of the awards, Carl Lundberg. 

THE SHORTLIST 

Deal of The Year (Self-Funded)

Sponsored by Marriott Harrison.

1. Acquisition of Peterson Europe – Westmore Capital 
2. Acquisition of Tollco AB – Black Fox Invest 
3. Acquisition of Ann Savva Group – FB Investment Group 

Deal of The Year Traditional

Sponsored by Irwin Mitchell.

1. Acquisition of Active-PCB Solutions – Agile Circuit Technology Group  
2. Acquisition of Alfavet Group – Wreeko Mittelstandspartner GmbH 
3. Acquisition of ProviSport – Aqua Capital Partners 

Serial Acquirer of The Year

Sponsored by Quastels.

1. SK4 Holdings 
2. Invincible Software Holdings 
3. Kinetico Health 

ESG Excellence  

1. Birch Faraday Capital  
2. M&L Holdings 
3. Northfield Under 5’s Ltd t/a Nurtured Childcare 

Intern of The Year 

Sponsored by BizCrunch.

1. Brian Wachira 
2. Daniel Ewart 
3. Adam Hutchinson 

Lender of The Year 

Sponsored by JMW.

1. Allica Bank  
2. Triple Point

Carl Lundberg, CEO of Gerald Edelman and Founder of The ETA Awards, commented: “It’s an honour to be leading an event that shines a spotlight on such an ambitious and collaborative community. The ETA Awards celebrate not only individual success stories but also the collective spirit driving this growing movement forward. This year’s finalists showcase the breadth of talent, innovation, and dedication that define the ETA landscape – both in the UK and internationally.” 

Tickets for the awards ceremony are now available. For more information and to secure your place, please click here.

We extend our gratitude to our sponsors, including Marriott Harrison, BizCrunch, JMW, Irwin Mitchell, Quastels, Shoosmiths, Ashtons Legal, Altenburg Advisory, Shawbrook, Search Fund News, and The Found & Funded Podcast. Join us in congratulating the finalists and celebrating the future of ETA.