The British Business Bank has committed up to £45m as a cornerstone investor in Redrice Ventures’ £75m Fund II, aiming to strengthen early-stage investment across the UK’s creative industries.
The commitment, made through the Bank’s Enterprise Capital Funds programme, builds on a previous £36m cornerstone backing for Redrice’s first fund in 2021, which helped catalyse additional private capital into what became an oversubscribed vehicle.
Founded in 2018, London-based Redrice specialises in seed-stage investments in premium, purpose-driven consumer brands and related B2B technology. The firm focuses on companies operating at the intersection of creativity and commerce, with investments spanning media, sport, health and wellness, sectors where brand identity, storytelling and cultural relevance are central to growth.
The creative industries remain a significant contributor to the UK economy, employing around 2.4 million people and generating £124bn in gross value added. Consumer brands play a critical role within that ecosystem, driving demand for design, advertising, content production and innovation, while the broader creative sector enhances brand reach and international appeal.
Redrice’s portfolio also extends into sport and entertainment, supported by its Redrice Sports Collective, led by Sir Andy Murray and Alistair Brownlee OBE. Sport is regarded as a core creative export sector, combining live performance, media production and digital storytelling into globally marketable experiences.
The British Business Bank said its role as a cornerstone investor enables funds to achieve first close and scale more effectively. The Enterprise Capital Funds programme has backed 51 funds to date, representing more than £3bn of finance.
Christine Hockley, managing director and co-head of funds at the Bank, said the investment was aligned with the government’s growth agenda. “The creative industries are central to the UK’s growth mission,” she said. “As a cornerstone investor, we aim to crowd in additional capital and expand finance options for companies looking to scale.”
Tom March, founder and partner at Redrice Ventures, said the UK’s depth of creative and technical talent positioned it well to produce globally ambitious brands. “In a content-saturated world, the brands that win don’t just acquire customers — they build fanbases,” he said. “Fund II is about backing founders who understand that authentic connection is everything.”
The investment underscores growing institutional support for creative and consumer-focused startups as policymakers seek to strengthen high-growth sectors within the UK’s modern industrial strategy.
