Established in 2006, Aspire Technology Solutions (Aspire) provides end-to-end IT managed services and cyber security solutions to over 2,000 organisations, supporting more than 30,000 end users. Its comprehensive service portfolio spans managed IT, cyber security, modern workplace, cloud, connectivity and unified communications. 

With a robust portfolio of services and a dedicated team of over 300 technology specialists, Aspire is committed to delivering innovative solutions to help organisations innovate, become more efficient and grow quicker.

LDC first backed the management team in 2022, with a significant minority investment in a transaction that valued the business at £85m.

J&J Global Fulfilment (J&J) is Europe’s largest independent eCommerce fulfilment provider, serving more than 350 high growth mid-sized brands and online retailers.

Powered by its proprietary real-time, cloud-based software platform, the business provides customers with an end-to-end fulfilment solution specifically designed for online orders, enabling clients to increase order volumes, manage order flows, improve inventory management and enhance customer experience.

Extending its reach

LDC backed J&J’s management team, led by Founder James Hyde, in March 2020 with an £11m investment to fund operational expansion and wider future growth initiatives.

J&J has driven significant growth through both UK and overseas expansion alongside investment in its market-leading proprietary eCommerce software platform: CommandPort, the world’s first Warehouse Management System designed specifically for eCommerce, and ControlPort, which enables clients to manage and view orders across multiple channels and locations via a ‘single pane of glass’.

With LDC’s support, J&J invested in a new purpose-built 200k ft² facility in Northampton and established new operational capabilities in Holland, USA, Australia, Canada and Poland – bringing its total number of sites across the UK, Europe, Australia and North America to seven. It also invested in its first US-based sales team and international sales now represent more than 30% of orders, up from 8% at the outset of its partnership with LDC.

Sustainable growth

In addition, J&J continued to enhance its award-winning company culture. The business is certified as a Disability Confident workplace and has been named Employer of the Year at the Northamptonshire Business Excellence Awards. It has also been recognised by several prestigious UK awards programmes, including the Elite Business 100 (EB100) Awards.

Over the course of its partnership with LDC, the business grew revenues by 415% to £74m. It has also invested heavily in its workforce, growing global headcount by 350 to 470 over the same period, and increasing its annual orders fulfilled from 2.1 million to 8.5 million, fulfilling over 35 million global orders.

In November 2025, LDC exited the business to QLS, a Netherlands-based eCommerce fulfilment specialist. CEO Emma Dempsey, alongside the rest of J&J’s management team, will continue to lead the business as part of the QLS Group, which is backed by private equity investor Waterland. The transaction generated a 4.9x money multiple return and IRR of 34% for LDC.

Shaken Udder is the UK’s number one premium and fastest growing milkshake brand, blending milk with real ingredients to create a range of high-quality products that have ‘shaken up’ the UK’s milkshake market by offering a superior tasting product and a broader range of flavours.

Founded in 2004 by husband-and-wife Jodie and Andrew Howie, Shaken Udder is headquartered in Tiptree, Essex. With the Co-Founders originally selling their products from trailers at festivals including Glastonbury and Bestival, they now supply independent retailers and supermarkets up and down the UK, including Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose, Morrisons, ASDA, Co-op and Boots.

Cream of the crop

In 2021, LDC backed Shaken Udder’s management team with a minority investment to help further expand the company’s customer base, enter new channels and develop new products.

With the support of LDC, the business scaled significantly – expanding into the convenience channel with a range of ambient products, growing retailer distribution points by 14,500 (80%) and launching a new line of award-winning protein milkshakes.

Over the course of the investment, LDC’s Value Creation Partners (VCP) team provided supply chain transition expertise to help Shaken Udder diversify its supply chain, marketing expertise to help refine targeting and positioning, pricing analysis, cyber security and data protection support to improve business continuity, and helped the business to improve its ESG credentials.

Driving growth

During its partnership with LDC, Shaken Udder increased revenue by 91%, increased headcount by 66% and outgrew the market with a 23.5% CAGR.

In November 2025, LDC exited its investment in Shaken Udder, to Idilia, the leading chocolate business in Spain.

ARC Building Solutions (ARC) is a market-leading manufacturer of passive fire protection and thermal solutions for the built environment.

Based in Leeds, ARC manufactures certified and tested cavity barriers, offering up to four hours of fire integrity, alongside thermal insulation products that support fire safety and energy efficiency. Its technical systems help residential and commercial developers to create safer, more sustainable spaces to live and work.

Increased production capacity

In November 2025, LDC backed ARC’s management team, led by CEO Neil Weeks, to support growth. Its strategy is underpinned by investment in increased production capacity, enhanced systems and sales and support teams to continue to deliver a market leading service.

Shoptimised is a performance marketing agency that helps retailers to increase online sales. 

Based in Tyneside, Shoptimised supports more than 1,000 customers in the UK and Europe, including a number of well-known fashion brands.

Its proprietary software-as-a-service platform has multi-lingual and enterprise level functionality, as well as enhanced reporting, to help retailers, and the marketing businesses that support them, optimise the performance of their eCommerce marketplaces.

Differentiated product offering

In October 2025, LDC backed Shoptimised’s management team, led by Nick McQue, Brad Hall, Scott Hollande, Alex Sinden, Scott Walters and Co-Founder John Cave, to help accelerate organic growth. Shoptimised’s strategy is underpinned by excellent customer service and a differentiated product offering which enables retailers to optimise their online advertising.

UniHomes is a market-leading student accommodation advertising platform.

Based in Sheffield and operating in more than 60 locations nationwide, it helps students to find their perfect university ‘home from home’, by connecting them with thousands of student properties offering all-inclusive living.

Letting agents can integrate the UniHomes platform with their own back-office systems and generate enquiries to fill their student accommodation portfolios.

Delivering national growth

LDC supported the business with a minority investment in July 2023.

The partnership is helping co-founders Phil Greaves, Bradley Cox and Luca Mori to accelerate UniHomes’ growth ambitions and further develop the platform and service provision for both its student and letting agent customers.

Aquavista is the UK’s leading marina owner and operator with 32 marinas and over 5,300 marina berths UK-wide, at both inland and coastal locations. They offer residential and leisure berths, boat sales, floating homes and marine services.

Transforming through scale

LDC invested in Aquavista in 2018 to support the development of the existing marina estate, continue to improve its customer experience, broaden its range of leisure services and add new locations.

With the support of LDC, the business scaled significantly – adding 14 new sites through organic growth and a series of strategic acquisitions.

Supported by significant follow-on funding from LDC, Aquavista completed the strategic acquisition of Castle Marinas in 2021, which expanded Aquavista’s portfolio and made it the UK’s largest site operator. The additional marina locations include Crick Marina, home of the world-famous Crick Boat Show, and the picturesque Birdham Pool Marina at Chichester Harbour.

In 2025, the business acquired three marinas in the North West of England, including Fettlers Wharf Marina near Ormskirk, and Furness Vale Marina and Marple Marina near Stockport.

Significant growth

Over the course of its partnership with LDC, Aquavista nearly tripled revenue and doubled the size of its marina portfolio.

In September 2025, LDC exited its investment in Aquavista to Antin Infrastructure Partners.

Bespoke Kitchen Foods (Bespoke) is a leading provider of innovative vegetarian and vegan products for the pub and casual dining market.

Based in Coalville, Leicestershire, Bespoke supplies premium products to the UK’s leading branded pub and restaurant chains and food wholesalers supplying the foodservice channels. Its products are developed specifically to meet customer requirements and include sweet and savoury baked and formed products.

Segment expansion

In August 2025, LDC backed Bespoke’s existing management team, including its CEO Sam Tidball, to support its organic and acquisitive growth strategy, which is underpinned by expansion into new segments, including high street casual dining chains.

Panthera Biopartners (Panthera) is the UK’s largest Site Management Organisation (SMO) for commercial clinical trials.

Based in Preston, Lancashire, Panthera specialises in the recruitment of patients and running of Phase II and Phase III clinical trials across a broad spectrum of therapeutic areas including vaccines, cardiovascular medicine, diabetes, neurology, respiratory medicine, dermatology, rheumatology and early dementia trials. Its service offering spans trial planning, data collection and patient retention. It operates six UK sites and provides clinical trials for many of the largest pharmaceutical companies and clinical research organisations (CROs) globally.

Scaling and expanding

In August 2025, LDC backed Panthera’s existing management team, led by CEO Stuart Young, CCO Chris Dodd, CFO Rory Lloyd, CMO Dr. Mahadev Ramjee and CIO Andy Broomhead, to support an ambitious growth strategy underpinned by further expanding its operations in the UK and Europe, increasing its number of clinical sites, investing in technology, and scaling its trial delivery capabilities.

In April 2026, Panthera announced the acquisition of Óbudai Egészségügyi Centrum Kft (OEC), Hungary’s leading clinical research organisation.

Harper James is a full-service commercial law firm that specialises in supporting growing businesses to succeed.

Since 2014 Harper James has supported more than 6,500 SMEs across the UK, delivering scalable legal support through an innovative and cost-effective subscription-based model.

Headquartered in Birmingham, the firm is a people-first business with a strong focus on work-life balance, an established culture and core value. Its team of more than 140 people based are fully remotely right across the UK, including its experienced lawyers.

Investing for growth

In June 2025, LDC backed Harper James’ existing management team, led by founder and CEO Toby Harper, to support its growth strategy.

Blis is an innovative provider of powerful and privacy-centric advertising solutions with advanced omnichannel targeting capabilities to connect brands with audiences.

Founded by Greg Isbister in 2004 with a grant from the King’s Trust, Blis’ advertising platform remains at the forefront of innovation, delivering future-proof technology that drives measurable performance and helps advertisers reach and engage audiences across all screens.

Accelerating international growth

LDC invested in Blis in June 2022, backing the management team led by Founder and CEO Greg Isbister and including CFO Parm Dhami, CTO Aaron McKee, CPO Amy Fox, Global Commercial Officer Dave King and President of Blis US Alex Boras.

At the time the business turned over around £60m and employed 240 people.

With LDC’s support, Blis invested heavily in its technology platform, people and expanded its client relationships.

As a result, Blis’ turnover increased by 75% during its partnership with LDC and its headcount grew to more than 320 on the back of significant expansion across Europe, the USA and Asia.

LDC exited its investment in Blis to T-Mobile in March 2025 in a transaction that valued the business at $175million.

Talos360 is an award-winning HR technology company and one of the UK’s fastest growing providers of Talent Management solutions.

Founded in 2009, Talos360 has grown into a trusted partner for more than 800 businesses. Its Talent Management solutions help organisations attract, hire, manage and retain the best talent more effectively.

Talos360 has become a market leader in SaaS talent solutions through the quality of its product and the service its team provides. It has also built a reputation as a people-first business through its commitment to supporting employees, collecting many Workplace awards.

A partnership to support organic and acquisitive growth

LDC backed Talos360’s management team, led by CEO Janette Martin, in October 2022 to support their organic growth strategy and explore complementary acquisitions.
During the first year of our partnership, the business grew 87%.

With LDC’s support, Janette and the team will be able to further invest in product development, including advanced AI capabilities, to continue to evolve its proposition for the benefit of new and existing customers.

Social Value Report

Talos360 is recognised as one of the ‘Best Places to Work’ in both the UK and Europe and continues to demonstrate how people‑first technology can deliver meaningful social value. It launched its Social Value Report in 2026, which highlights the business’s commitment to creating fairer, more inclusive and more sustainable workplaces, both for its customers and its own people-first culture.