Downing LLP was honoured to be awarded Private Equity Investor of the Year at HealthInvestor UK Awards 2020. The HealthInvestor Awards welcomed over 250 submissions this year with the purpose of promoting excellence, recognising outstanding performance and offering an opportunity to showcase companies that display expertise and commitment to what is an increasingly important sector for the UK economy – now, in the times of a global pandemic, more than ever.  

The award is testament to Downing’s long-term commitment to healthcare investing. In 2019 alone, Downing deployed up to £100 million of capital across the healthcare spectrum using a range of venture capital, private equity and public equity funds. The range of investment activity includes areas such as elderly residential healthcare, specialist care, specialist education, retirement living, digital health services, medical devices, imaging and diagnostic services, biotechnology and health & wellbeing platforms. This award is a milestone in Downing’s healthcare expertise as they continue to look ahead and make meaningful impact in this market.  

Some of the most notable recent investments include in Open Bionics, award-winning designers, manufacturers and suppliers of smart ‘superhero’ prosthetics using 3D printing and advanced sensors and Magnus Care Group, a new elderly residential care home platform. After significant investment, the company now operates six individual sites that have undergone a combination of development, refurbishment operational improvement.  

Partner,  Mark Gross comments, 'Investing across the healthcare spectrum from biomedical to social care, the team remain highly active and look forward to another successful year supporting the growth and development of UK based healthcare businesses. The UK is a global hub of innovative healthcare and knowledge that we are proud to partner with.' 

The HealthInvestor Awards 2020 took place on the 15 October, with the awards ceremony hosted online as a fully immersive, and interactive digital experience complete with live-streamed content from the ‘main stage’, virtual bar, one-to-one networking opportunities and more.  

With more than 250 submissions entered, successful entries were shortlisted before being sent to an independent panel of high-profile judges. This year, the judges were looking for organisations and individuals that have made an outstanding contribution to healthcare in 2019 and represent the leading players in this diverse and burgeoning market.