The Cardiff Capital Region's £50 million Innovation Investment Capital (IIC) fund has invested in Coaches' Voice, a football education and digital coaching platform, as part of a series of equity deals across Welsh businesses.
Coaches' Voice Secures Investment for Grassroots Football Growth
Coaches' Voice, co-founded by David Sciama and Peter Kenyon and based in Cardiff, supports over 4,000 football organisations worldwide, delivering more than one million learning hours each year. The platform works with coaches, clubs, leagues, and governing bodies globally, offering expert-led insight, digital learning tools, and specialist education for coaches at all levels, from grassroots to international.
The investment aims to expand the company's presence in South East Wales and strengthen community-level coaching. Chief executive Mr Sciama said: "As the world enjoys a summer of football, this investment allows us to expand our presence in South East Wales and support the grassroots coaches who underpin the game. Visibility at the top level always inspires participation, and with great coaching available, that is what sustains the interest in communities across Wales."
A key driver of Coaches' Voice's impact in Wales is its partnership with the Football Association of Wales (FAW) through Coach Cymru, providing ongoing professional development for FAW-qualified coaches. Mr Sciama added: "With 4,500 coaches already active in Wales, we expect this figure to grow significantly over the next 18 months. It is through our close relationship with FAW that gives Coaches' Voice a meaningful and growing role in the continued development of Welsh football."
Rob Franklin, FAW's head of coach education, said: "Supporting coaches is essential to sustaining growth at every level. Through our work with Coaches' Voice via Coach Cymru, we're expanding access to high-quality, digital coaching content that supports learning anytime, anywhere. This allows us to connect coaches across Wales with the latest insights, techniques and best practice from the global game. By using accessible, modern learning tools, we're helping to raise standards, strengthen the coaching pathway and ultimately support the development of coaches and players across the country."
The Cardiff Capital Region's IIC fund is managed by Capricorn Fund Managers. Chief executive of the Cardiff Capital Region, Kellie Beirne, said: "There is now a real opportunity to capture national attention and support greater coach participation across every level of the game. Football has the unique power of connecting communities and Coaches' Voice is helping ensure that coaches across South East Wales have access to the best learning and support they need to nurture that enthusiasm. This investment is about creating lasting value, strengthening communities and helping this and future generations benefit from better coaching, stronger support and wider access to football education."
Lynda Stoelker, Capricorn Fund Managers' chief operating officer and chair of the IIC investment committee, added: "Coaches' Voice is a strong fit with IIC's investment philosophy of backing innovative, high-growth businesses that have the potential to create lasting impact in the Cardiff Capital Region." PwC provides investment research and sourcing to Capricorn. Rob Asplin, PwC partner, said: "Coaches' Voice stood out as an investment opportunity because of its blend of premium content, digital capability, commercial relevance and international market potential, alongside a clear commitment to growing its regional presence."
Breaking Change Secures Over £1m for Games Industry Software
Chepstow-based technology firm Breaking Change has secured more than £1 million in funding to support its commercialisation. The company develops software infrastructure that helps game studios model, simulate, and maintain complex systems like vehicles, weapons, progression, and economies more quickly and efficiently. The platform combines simulation technology with AI-assisted authoring.
The funding package includes £735,000 in equity investment, led by the Development Bank of Wales and Haatch, alongside an Innovate UK Growth Catalyst grant. The development bank's technology venture investments team invested £350,000 from the Wales Flexible Investment Fund, with Haatch contributing £285,000. Other participants include Saola Ventures and games industry business angel Dr Tomas Rawlings. The funding will enable team expansion, progress R&D, and begin piloting technology with studios later this year.
Dr Jonathan Quinn, co-founder and chief executive of Breaking Change, said: "The games industry is at a real inflection point. Player expectations are rising, but the tools available to studios haven't kept pace with the complexity of modern games. Our platform is designed to remove some of the biggest technical barriers, helping studios build richer, more dynamic experiences while reducing the risk and cost of development. This funding package allows us to advance the platform, move into real-world pilots, and work directly with studios to prove that value." He also acknowledged earlier support from Media Cymru, Innovate UK, the UK Games Fund, and the Royal Academy of Engineering.
Dr Quinn previously held senior roles at Aardman, Dovetail Games, and Reach Robotics. He is joined by co-founder and chief technology officer Ben Laws, alongside senior engineers James Munro and Ivo Hinov. Tom Linney, investment executive at the Development Bank of Wales, said: "Breaking Change is an exciting example of a Welsh-based technology company with global potential. The team brings a strong track record and deep technical expertise in a sector that is evolving rapidly. We're delighted to support the business as they look to redefine how complex game systems are built and maintained."
Maid to Help Cleaning Specialists Acquires Hafren Services with £150,000 Funding
Facilities management company Maid to Help Cleaning Specialists has secured £150,000 in funding from BCRS Business Loans to support the acquisition of Mid Wales-based Hafren Services. The funding package consists of £75,000 from the Community Investment Enterprise Fund 2 and £75,000 from the British Business Bank's Investment Fund for Wales. Founded in 2014 by Samantha Howells in Caerphilly with one employee, the company now employs over 100 trained operatives providing services to NHS sites, gyms, schools, and construction environments.
Samantha Howells, founder, said: "We're really excited to bring Hafren into the Maid to Help Cleaning Specialists group to further our growth, as we look to scale both organically, and through acquisition. The team has built a strong, reputable business, which will allow us to continue that success while strengthening our presence across Wales. With an expanded team, we have doubled our capacity which has strengthened our foothold across Wales, and allows us to target other areas of the UK."
Niki Haggerty-James, business development manager at BCRS Business Loans, said: "We're proud to support Maid to Help Cleaning Specialists as it continues to grow and create opportunities across the UK. This funding will help the business strengthen its operations, and with an expanded team, Maid to Help Cleaning Specialists is well positioned to continue scaling its operations." Bethan Bannister, senior investment manager at the British Business Bank, added: "Maid to Help Cleaning Specialists' growth journey demonstrates the impact that targeted funding can have in enabling businesses to compete for larger contracts across a wider geographic footprint."
Monex Group Acquires 45% Stake in A J Ostridge Transport
Newport-based Monex Group has strengthened its UK footprint with the acquisition of a 45% stake in A J Ostridge (Transport), a family-run haulage business based in Maldon, Essex. Founded over 25 years ago, the business provides container movements, road transport services, and outdoor storage solutions with a fleet of around 15 vehicles and approximately 20 employees, all of whom remain in place. The partnership marks Monex Group's first strategic move into the east of England.
Matthew Elms, commercial director at Monex, said: "We are delighted to welcome A J Ostridge Transport into the Monex Group. This is exactly the kind of business we look for and align with; a well-respected, family-run operator with deep local roots, a loyal customer base and a strong reputation for quality service. This investment represents an important step in our strategic expansion into the East of England." Alan Ostridge, director of A J Ostridge Transport, added: "This is an exciting step for our business. We've spent over two decades building a company we're proud of, alongside our team, and joining forces with Monex allows us to grow while keeping the values that matter most to us." The value of the deal has not been disclosed.
Welsh M&A Deal Figures for Q1 2026
According to Experian's MarketIQ M&A review for the first quarter of 2026, the number of merger and acquisition deals in Wales fell to 61 with a combined value of £245 million, compared to 66 deals worth £1.1 billion in Q1 2025. The largest deal was Admiral's £80 million acquisition of London-based telemetry fleet insurer Flock. Other notable deals included a £47 million fund raise by Wrexham Football Club and a £65 million debt deal secured by Bangor-based housing association Adra from HSBC.
The Development Bank of Wales was the most active investor in the UK by deal volume, with eight deals, followed by LDC (7), and six each for the British Business Bank, Maven Capital, Mercia, Techstart, and BGF. Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy, Adam Price, said: "An important part of our missions to half the productivity gap with UK is to make Wales the easiest place in the UK to start, grow and invest in a business. Access to investment is vital to achieving that. The Development Bank of Wales continues to play a vital role in strengthening investment across our economy."
Rhian Elston, group investment director at the Development Bank of Wales, said: "Being recognised as the most active investor in the UK by deal volume is a significant achievement, but what matters most is what that activity represents for Welsh businesses and the wider economy. The Experian report highlights a positive picture for Wales, with increasing levels of venture capital, private equity and debt finance being deployed across the country. That points to a funding ecosystem that is becoming stronger, more diverse and better equipped to support business growth."
