We respect what founders have built, while preparing the business for its next chapter.
We drive performance through hands-on leadership, systems improvement, and strategic focus, unlocking value that lasts.
We offer clarity, accountability, and a collaborative process, whether you're selling your business or backing our vision.
Operating Capital was founded to acquire SMEs across the United Kingdom. We focus solely on UK SMEs with solid foundations, strong customer base, and room to grow. Our work is built on trust, clear strategy, and long-term thinking.
We combine deep operational insight with great leadership, unlocking value while respecting each business legacy. Our approach is guided by data, informed by strong operational expertise, and shaped by founders’ insights. We don’t just buy companies, we build lasting partnerships that protect what has been built and help take it further.
For Business Owners: Selling a business is more than a transaction, it’s a personal milestone. At Operating Capital, we understand that selling a business isn’t just financial, it’s emotional, shaped by the family-like culture that defines many SMEs. Whether you’re retiring or seeking a growth partner, we offer a respectful and transparent process that protects your legacy and supports your team.
For Investors: Operating Capital provides access to high-quality UK SMEs with resilient business models and real potential. Our acquisition strategy is built on deep sector mapping, a clear strategy, and operational uplift. We focus exclusively on the UK market, where our local insight and hands-on approach create meaningful value. Every move is made with clarity, purpose, and accountability.
Our Mission: to build a portfolio of trusted UK businesses by acquiring with care, growing with purpose, and leading with respect. We aim to be the capital partner of choice for founders, business owners, and investors who believe in legacy-driven growth and operational excellence.
We invest in businesses that handle essential environmental services,
commercial waste collection, recycling, and compliance-led disposal. Serving UK organisations with reliability, regulation, and long-term contracts.
From facilities management to professional services, we invest in companies that form the backbone of British enterprise, where relationships and reliability drive long-term value.
We invest in businesses that deliver essential connectivity, data cabling, network infrastructure, and managed telecom solutions, supporting the digital backbone of UK enterprises.
We invest in skilled trade businesses that deliver essential services – electrical contracting, compliance testing, and technical maintenance.
At Operating Capital, our strategy is built on a simple principle: empower great businesses to do what they do best. We combine deep operational knowledge with IT expertise and smart automation to create efficiencies that free teams to focus on what truly drives growth -customer relationships, sales, and strategic expansion.
We believe that strong management is the backbone of any successful business. That’s why we look for companies with capable second-tier leadership. Teams that know the business inside out and are ready to take it further. We don’t replace them, we support them. We provide clear vision, shared mission, mentorship, and hands-on guidance to help unlock their full potential.
For businesses without a clear successor, we take an active role in recruiting and empowering new management. These leaders are carefully selected to carry forward the growth strategy, mission, and vision set by Operating Capital and its stakeholders. We ensure they’re not just stepping into a role, they’re stepping into a purpose.
We pair operational precision with digital innovation to drive performance. From process optimisation to custom IT development, we build systems, processes, and procedures that reduce friction, improve visibility, and enable smarter decision-making. At every step, we mentor, support, and invest in the people who make the business work. Because when management thrives, the business grows.
This is how we operate. Not from the sidelines, but shoulder to shoulder with the teams we back. After all, it’s embedded in our name – Operating Capital. We don’t just acquire, we take a hands-on approach, working closely with management to help operate and elevate the businesses.
Acquire well-run platforms with strong customer relationships and expand through targeted roll-ups and operational uplift.
Partner with businesses facing leadership transitions. Where successors are absent, we recruit and empower new management to execute our growth strategy and uphold the company’s mission.
Deploy systems, automation, and IT development to improve efficiency, visibility, and scalability. Freeing teams to focus on sales, customer relationships, and strategic growth.
Whether you’re stepping back or scaling up, we offer a clear, respectful path forward, protecting what you’ve built and helping take it further.
Join a network of investors gaining access to exclusive, growth-backed opportunities across high-performing sectors.
Operating Capital Ltd is a registered company in England and Wales at: c/o 128 City Road, London, United Kingdom, EC1V 2NX. Company number: 13298127
