NPIF – Mercia Equity Finance

Alex Gwyther is an investor in Mercia's VCT funds, working on deal origination, leading transactions, portfolio management and exits. Before joining Mercia in 2021, he spent seven years in science and technology, first as a science policy advisor for the UK government and then as a consultant and client manager at IBM. He studied Biology at the University of Oxford and Science Communication at Imperial College London.

Chris McCourt joined Mercia in 2023 as Investment Director for the North East Venture Fund, focusing on early-stage and technology investments across Durham, Northumberland, and Tyne and Wear. A Chartered Accountant (FCA) with over 20 years of experience, he has advised shareholders and directors on growth, fundraising, acquisitions, and business sales. His prior roles include working at PwC in Newcastle and London, serving as Chief Operating Officer at the North East England Chamber of Commerce, and spending eight years as a Corporate Finance Partner at regional accountancy practices.

Andy Clough is an Investment Manager in Mercia's Debt Team, providing NPIF Debt funding mainly to established companies seeking to grow across the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding area. He joined Mercia in March 2022, having spent 18 months as a commercial finance broker and worked with the Business Enterprise Fund delivering the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund's micro-finance for SMEs. Earlier in his career he spent 16 years at Yorkshire Bank in retail and commercial banking roles.

Chris Borrett joined Mercia in 2023 as an Investment Director on the Equity Team, where he focuses on originating and executing early-stage deals in high-growth companies and supporting the existing portfolio. He previously worked with Boston Consulting Group's corporate venturing arm, helping build and invest in new start-ups across APAC, and later ran Flip Insurance, an insurtech backed by HCF Group. He co-founded the Australian chapter of Leaders For Climate Action, has mentored founders in Australia, Europe, and Africa, and holds a Master's degree in Physics with a background in data science.

Diane Seymour-Williams is Chair at SEI and holds non-executive director positions across asset management, wealth technology, private markets, and venture capital, as well as serving as an independent member of the Valuation Committee of Chrysalis Investments Limited. Her executive career in investment management spanned roles including portfolio manager, chief investment officer, chief executive officer, and distribution head, with a specialization in Asia and experience across Europe and North America. She has chaired remuneration, ESG, and investment performance and risk committees, and completed the University of Cambridge's sustainable finance course in 2021.

Holds undergraduate and postgraduate B.Acc degrees from Stellenbosch University and is a qualified CA(SA) with strong valuation and analytical skills.

Chairman of AP Ventures LLP, chairing the Investment Committee and the Limited Partner Advisory Committee. She has over 25 years in finance, including senior roles at Robert W Baird.

Connor Murphy joined Mercia in September 2024 with a background in accounting and investment consulting. He holds a bachelor's degree in accounting and finance and started his career as an Audit Associate at Grant Thornton. He later worked for two years as an Associate Investment Consultant, advising pension schemes on investment strategies and supporting trustees with regulatory guidance.

Adam Lovell is an Investment Director at Mercia Ventures, focusing on B2B software investments at Series A and beyond, with interests in cybersecurity and enterprise SaaS. He trained as a Chartered Accountant at EY in London, spending seven years in audit and transaction services advising founders and private equity investors, before moving to a Manchester corporate finance house in 2017. He joined Mercia in 2021 and holds a BSc in Accounting and Financial Management from Loughborough University.

Alison Dwyer joined Mercia in August 2019 to lead its marketing and communications, overseeing the firm's communications strategy and brand development. She has over 20 years of experience leading marketing and communications teams in-house and agency-side across multiple sectors and countries, including professional services, financial services, government and technology.

Amber Jardine joined Mercia in 2024 as a Portfolio Support Manager. Before Mercia, she launched and managed an institutional investment fund for Twinkl Educational Publishing. Over the previous five years she has mainly supported and advised early-stage technology companies in the UK.

Amy Westwood works in marketing and visual communication, focusing on brand growth, communication strategy, graphic design, and copywriting. She holds a Master's degree in Visual Communication and is currently pursuing an MBA.

Austin Beckett is the Finance and Operations Manager at Fox Development Corporation. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Management Information Systems from Eastern Illinois University.

Ben Boocock joined Mercia in March 2026 as a Finance Operations Manager, working within the Finance team on the Group's tax-efficient products alongside the EIS and VCT teams. He previously spent three years at Ascot Lloyd Investment Management, progressing from Investment Analyst to Senior Investment Operations Analyst. He holds a certificate in Investment Management from the CFA Institute and a 1st Class BSc in Finance from Coventry University.

Claire Evans joined Mercia in July 2025 to lead its compliance monitoring function, ensuring the firm meets its regulatory, legal, and internal policy obligations. She began her career in automotive sales before moving into automotive compliance, working with the Risk & Compliance Director of a car-finance brokerage on regulatory processes and Consumer Duty. At Mercia she oversees compliance monitoring across the group and the SM&CR regime.

Clare Houghton is a Business Development Manager at Mercia, where she supports financial advisers looking to offer tax-efficient investments to their clients. She previously worked as an Independent Financial Adviser at HSBC and later Lighthouse Group, and has more recent experience in business development within the EIS space.