• Phil Sampson joins Foresight’s Cardiff office to lead the £50 million equity portion of the £130 million Investment Fund for Wales operated by the British Business Bank

Cardiff, 22nd October 2025: Foresight Group (“Foresight”), a leading independent private equity and infrastructure investment manager, is pleased to announce that Phil Sampson has joined the Private Equity Team to help lead the deployment and management of the £50 million equity element of the Investment Fund for Wales.

Based in Foresight’s Cardiff office, Phil brings extensive experience in supporting high-growth SMEs and will be instrumental in identifying and backing ambitious Welsh businesses. Prior to joining Foresight, Phil held a role at PwC, supporting on the CCR investment fund. His appointment comes as the Fund prepares to celebrate its second anniversary this November, marking a significant milestone in its mission to drive regional growth and innovation.

Operated by the British Business Bank, the £130 million Investment Fund for Wales provide loans from £25,000 to £2 million, and equity investment from £250,000 to £5 million to fund a range of small and medium sized businesses across Wales. The £50 million equity portion managed by Foresight is designed to provide flexible funding to support businesses at various stages of growth. The Fund aims to unlock potential in Welsh enterprises by offering long-term capital solutions tailored to their needs, helping to stimulate regional development and job creation.

Since its launch, the Fund has backed a number of pioneering Welsh businesses from an array of sectors. We recently announced a £1.5m investment into Bots For That, an accountancy-focused automation company, a joint investment with Development Bank of Wales into Nisien.AI, an artificial intelligence company focused on making the online world safer and Sudo Cyber a cyber security software business.  

Commenting on Phil’s appointment, Claire Alvarez, Partner at Foresight Group, said: “We are delighted to welcome Phil to the team, a well known and respected member of the local investment community. His leadership will be key to delivering the objectives of the Investment Fund for Wales. We look forward to working closely with Welsh entrepreneurs and stakeholders to support companies with high growth potential.”

Phil Sampson added: “I’m thrilled to be joining Foresight at such an exciting time. Wales is home to a vibrant community of SMEs, and the Fund presents a unique opportunity to help these businesses realise their potential. I look forward to partnering with founders and management teams to drive innovation and growth across the region”

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• Phil Sampson yn ymuno â swyddfa Foresight yng Nghaerdydd i arwain y gyfran ecwiti gwerth £50 miliwn o’r Gronfa Buddsoddi £130 miliwn i Gymru a weithredir gan Fanc Busnes Prydain

Caerdydd, 22nd Hydref 2025: Mae Foresight Group (“Foresight”), rheolwr buddsoddi ecwiti preifat a asedau go iawn blaenllaw, yn falch o gyhoeddi bod Phil Sampson wedi ymuno â’r Tîm Ecwiti Preifat i helpu arwain y leoli a rheoli elfen ecwiti £50 miliwn Cronfa Buddsoddi Cymru.

Wedi’i leoli yn swyddfa Foresight yng Nghaerdydd, mae gan Phil brofiad helaeth o gefnogi busnesau bach a chanolig twf uchel a bydd yn allweddol wrth nodi a chefnogi busnesau uchelgeisiol Cymreig. Cyn ymuno â Foresight, roedd Phil yn dal rôl yn PwC, yn cefnogi Cronfa Buddsoddi CCR. Daw ei benodiad wrth i’r Gronfa baratoi i ddathlu ei hail ben-blwydd ym mis Tachwedd, gan nodi carreg filltir arwyddocaol yn ei chenhadaeth i ysgogi twf ac arloesedd rhanbarthol.

Mae’r Gronfa Buddsoddi £130 miliwn i Gymru, sy’n cael ei gweithredu gan Fanc Busnes Prydain, yn darparu benthyciadau rhwng £25,000 a £2 filiwn, a buddsoddiad ecwiti o £250,000 i £5 miliwn i ariannu amrywiaeth o fusnesau bach a chanolig ledled Cymru. Mae'r gyfran ecwiti o £50 miliwn a reolir gan Foresight wedi'i chynllunio i ddarparu cyllid hyblyg i gefnogi busnesau ar gamau twf amrywiol. Nod y Gronfa yw datgloi potensial mentrau Cymru drwy gynnig atebion cyfalaf hirdymor wedi’u teilwra i’w hanghenion, gan helpu i ysgogi datblygiad rhanbarthol a chreu swyddi.

Ers ei lansio, mae'r Gronfa wedi cefnogi nifer o fusnesau arloesol yng Nghymru o amrywiaeth o sectorau. Yn ddiweddar, cyhoeddom Buddsoddiad o £1.5m yn Bots For That, cwmni awtomeiddio sy'n canolbwyntio ar gyfrifeg, buddsoddiad ar y cyd â Banc Datblygu Cymru yn Nisien AI, cwmni deallusrwydd artiffisial sy'n canolbwyntio ar wneud y byd ar-lein yn fwy diogel a Sudo Cyber, busnes meddalwedd seiberddiogelwch.

Wrth wneud sylwadau ar benodiad Phil, dywedodd Claire Alvarez, Partner yn Foresight Group: “Rydym wrth ein bodd yn croesawu Phil i’r tîm, aelod adnabyddus o’r gymuned Buddsoddi leol. Bydd ei arweinyddiaeth yn allweddol i gyflawni amcanion Cronfa Buddsoddi Cymru. Edrychwn ymlaen at weithio’n agos gydag entrepreneuriaid a rhanddeiliaid Cymru i gefnogi cwmnïau sydd â photensial twf uchel.”

Ychwanegodd Phil Sampson: “Rwyf wrth fy modd yn ymuno â Foresight ar adeg mor gyffrous. Mae Cymru yn gartref i gymuned fywiog o fusnesau bach a chanolig, ac mae'r Gronfa'n gyfle unigryw i helpu'r busnesau hyn i wireddu eu potensial. Edrychaf ymlaen at bartneru â sylfaenwyr a thimau rheoli i ysgogi arloesedd a thwf ar draws y rhanbarth.”

DIWEDD