Endless Celebrating Its 20th Anniversary With New Investments In Yorkshire Businesses

Ever thought about what it takes for a local business to become a household name? Sometimes, it just needs a bit of a boost, a bit of cash, and some clever people to help steer the ship. That’s pretty much the world of private equity, and one of the big names in that game, especially up North, is celebrating a huge milestone. Endless, a firm born and bred in Leeds, is marking its 20th anniversary, and it seems the celebrations are all about doing more of what it does best: backing great Yorkshire businesses and helping them grow.

A 20th anniversary and a brilliant year

Picture this: it’s 2005. The Arctic Monkeys are just getting started, and in a Leeds office, a new investment firm called Endless is opening its doors. Fast forward 20 years, and that firm has become a massive part of the local business scene, having put its money and trust into over 100 companies. It's not just one team anymore, either. They've grown so much that there are now two distinct funds, Endless and Enact, each designed for different kinds of businesses.

Think of it like having two different types of toolkits. The Endless fund is the big one, a £400 million pot for larger, more established companies. Then there's the Enact fund, with £100 million, perfect for smaller to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) that are hitting those tricky growing pains. This two pronged approach allows them to support a wide range of businesses across the region, from those needing a £1 million helping hand to others requiring a huge £100 million transaction.

And 2025, their 20th anniversary year, has been a proper corker. The investment activity has been buzzing. Here’s a quick look at what they’ve been up to:

• Big Buys: They completed a major acquisition of a battery company, now called Veloris, from its American parent company. Another significant acquisition involved buying the hire division from the well known HSS Hire Group.
• Successful Sales: It’s not just about buying; it’s also about helping businesses grow to a point where they’re ready for their next chapter. This year, they successfully sold seven companies, including three Yorkshire based businesses: EVO Business Supplies, Realise, and Karnova Food Group.

This mix of buying and selling shows a healthy cycle of investments, where Endless helps a business reach its potential and then passes it on, ready for its next phase of growth.

An approach that just works for the region

So, what’s their secret? It’s not a one size fits all plan. Endless and Enact specialise in creating bespoke investment strategies. Imagine a tailor making a suit. You wouldn’t want one off the rack that doesn’t quite fit, would you? It’s the same with businesses. Each one has its own unique challenges and opportunities, whether it's a family run company looking to expand or an older firm needing a bit of a refresh. Their goal is to find the hidden potential and unlock some serious growth.

One of the things that makes them stand out is speed. When a business owner decides to sell, the last thing they want is a long, drawn out process. Because Endless and Enact handle all the financial and commercial checks themselves and usually fund the whole transaction without waiting for banks they can get deals done in a matter of weeks. This means the seller is only dealing with one decision maker, making the whole thing much simpler and faster. This is a huge advantage in sectors like manufacturing, business services, and engineering, where things can move quickly.

Helping family businesses level up

Many fantastic companies are owner managed, often by the families who started them. But there comes a time when the founders might want to step back, or the business needs a big injection of cash for business growth that the family can't provide. That’s where a firm like Endless comes in. They work with the existing management to evolve the company, often through M&A activity (that’s mergers and acquisitions, where companies join forces or one buys another), major capital investment in new equipment, or by setting a whole new growth strategy.

A brilliant example is the story of Karnova. This company was created when Endless backed the acquisition of two separate businesses, Yorkshire Premier Meat in 2022 and Smithfield Murray in 2023. In the first deal, Endless supported the management team while allowing the founding shareholders to sell their stake. Despite a shaky economic climate, the deal was done in just four weeks. After combining the two businesses, Karnova became a major player in the food industry, with revenues over £135 million. After a period of significant growth, Endless sold its investment in Karnova in February 2025. This shows how their support can be truly transformational for businesses. With things like the Autumn Statement potentially changing the landscape for owners, having flexible investment options is more important than ever.

Giving unloved parts of big companies a new home

Have you ever heard of carve outs? It sounds a bit like sculpture, and in a way, it is. It’s when a big corporation sells off a division that is no longer a core part of its main business. These divisions are often perfectly good businesses in their own right; they just don’t fit with the parent company's future plans.

Both Endless and Enact have a reputation for being a great new home for these carved out businesses. In October 2020, Enact supported one of these carve outs, acquiring a leading provider of apprenticeships and adult education that was rebranded as Realise Training. Enact was seen as the perfect partner to help Realise stand on its own two feet and prepare for new growth initiatives.

Following the investment, Enact helped the business in all sorts of ways, from investing in its people to making further bolt on acquisitions (buying smaller companies to add to the main one). They helped develop a long term growth strategy focused on apprenticeships and adult education. After successfully delivering on these plans, Realise was sold to AQA, the UK's leading exam board, in October 2025. It’s a classic success story of taking a non core division and helping it thrive.

Looking ahead to 2026, the plan is simple: more of the same. The teams at Endless and Enact are continuing their mission to find and support great Yorkshire businesses, driving growth and creating opportunities throughout the region. The firm's 20th anniversary isn't just a look back at past successes; it's a clear signal of its ongoing commitment to future investments and business growth.