According to a new report by the British Venture Capital Association (BVCA), investment by U.K. private equity firms reached a record £9.7 billion last year, an increase of more than 50% over the £6.4 billion invested in 2003. The BVCA’s annual Report on Investment Activity found that investment outside the U.K. accounted for about 45% of all U.K. companies’ activity and that investment in the U.S. increased by 57% to £459 million. Investment on the Continent nearly doubled from £2 billion to £3.9bn over the same period. The number of start-up investments increased from 185 to 190, while the total amount invested in start-ups increased from £73 million to more than £96 million.

European Tech Wire: European Tech Wire – May 11, 2005

This echos the report below: UK Venture Capital is definitely on the upswing.