Research and academic excellence
Mercia has collaborative relationships with 19 regional universities in the UK. We are one of the top investors by number of equity deals into spinouts, 89, and spinouts make up 5% of our current portfolio. This success, together with the professional networks of Mercia’s investment teams, provide the Group with access to great opportunities to support the growth of some of the UK’s most exciting businesses.
Heriot-Watt University
Heriot-Watt is one of the top UK universities for business and industry with a vibrant, forward-looking approach and an established reputation for world-class teaching and research.
Abertay University
Abertay was the first University in the world to offer a computer games degree, and the first in the UK to be recognised as a Centre for Excellence in Computer Games Education.
Aston University
Aston is a long established research-led university known for its world-class teaching quality and strong links to industry, government and commerce.
Birmingham City University
With around 22,000 students from 80 countries, Birmingham City University is a large, diverse and increasingly popular place to study.
Coventry University
Coventry University is a forward-looking, modern university with a proud tradition as a provider of high quality education and a focus on applied research.
Edinburgh Napier University
Edinburgh Napier comprises six schools with an international focus, each committed to delivering an excellent personalised student experience and building innovation, enterprise and citizenship.
Keele University
Keele is the largest campus based university in the UK, and is full of architectural, cultural, academic and social heritage.
Liverpool John Moores
At Liverpool John Moores University, research institutes, centres and groups carry out important and inspirational work, committed to the university's strategy of finding solutions to the problems of the 21st century.
Sheffield Hallam University
Sheffield Hallam is one of the UK's largest universities with around 35,500 students. Its research and business ideas contribute to the economic and social development of both the region and the UK as a whole.
Staffordshire University
Since 1914, Staffordshire University has offered vocationally inspired education relevant for the age - now it's delivering everything from computer games design to forensic science.
University of Birmingham
Characterised by a tradition of innovation, Birmingham has been challenging and developing great minds for more than a century.
University of Edinburgh
Founded in 1583, the University of Edinburgh has an unrivalled tradition of excellence in scholarship, research and teaching. It is the sixth oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's ancient universities.
University of Leicester
Leicester has established itself as a leading research-led university and is most famous for the invention of genetic fingerprinting.
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool provides one of the largest concentrations of health and life science expertise in the UK. Associated with nine Nobel Laureates, the University is recognised for its high-quality teaching and research.
University of St Andrews
Founded in the 15th century, St Andrews is Scotland's first university and the third oldest in the English speaking world. The university is now one of Europe's most research intensive seats of learning - over a quarter of its turnover comes from research grants and contracts.
University of Strathclyde
It is Glasgow's second university by age, being founded in 1796 as the Andersonian Institute, and receiving its Royal Charter in 1964 as the UK's first technological university.
University of Warwick
Warwick is one of the UK's leading universities, with an acknowledged reputation for excellence in research and teaching, for innovation, and for links with business and industry.
University of Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a major player in the UK higher education sector, contributing to knowledge transfer, economic development, wealth creation and social justice.
University of York
Founded on principles of excellence, equality and opportunity for all, the University of York has become one of the world's leading universities, carving out a reputation as an academic powerhouse.
Spotlight on spinouts
Beauhurst's May 2023 report on university spinouts
“The UK government has recognised the importance of spinouts to the UK — as contributors to the economy and as a strategic source of new technologies.”
– Henry Whorwood, Head of Research and Consultancy at Beauhurst.