"I worked with Simon on the Moneypenny equity investment deal and he delivered a fantastic result for us. Simon had clearly built an outstanding team and their work ethic, thoroughness and commerciality were instrumental in delivering a great transaction for the Company and its stakeholders. Perhaps the greatest achievement was that Simon and his team turned what can be a stressful process into an extremely enjoyable one."

"Mike and Ben have been a huge part of Peak’s success since leading our seed investment round. They live in the real world and have always given us practical guidance and support whenever we need it. They have a real passion for seeing Peak grow and I’ve always felt they would run through walls for us. It’s great having them in our corner and part of our team."

"I have worked with Ben and Mike for the past few years and have been hugely thankful for their support in helping to establish We Influence as one of the leading Digital Marketing agencies within the North West. Their expertise in helping develop a successful strategy for the business has enabled us to fast-forward many of our growth plans, with the result that we have been able to achieve record revenues & profit each year since we partnered in 2017. It has been more than a partnership based on investment, though. I have been indebted to Ben and the team for the trust they have placed in We Influence and its team to deliver outstanding results for our clients and for the business. 2020 has obviously been a challenging year for us all, but they have always been on the end of a phone (or a zoom call) to offer advice and guidance when needed. Their knowledge of and interest in the digital sector has helped We Influence see things differently and more strategically to secure new opportunities for the business, even during this COVID-19 era. Arete will be great partners for We Influence as we plan for an exciting 2021 and continue to thrive."

"Tactus has been working with Mike, Ben and David, individually and collectively, for a number of years. It’s obvious that they bring a wealth of experience and knowledge in each of their sectors but the success of Arete is all about collaboration, partnership and a champion mindset. They also bring a simple approach to fundraising and speedy execution. The Arete team is now an extension of the senior team at Tactus and their honesty, courage and integrity is something we value deeply."

“Mike was the architect of the Inspired Energy IPO on AIM in late 2011 having identified the opportunity for a different type of challenger M&A based platform in our space. A Board member since float, Mike’s capital markets experience and deal structuring capability were instrumental in helping the company to execute the initial phase of its buy and build strategy and grow the market capitalisation to over c.£50m by 2016. Since becoming Non Executive Chairman of the company in 2016, Mike has successfully guided the company through its transition from owner founders to the integration of a professional leadership team with the resultant acceleration of the company’s growth to a market cap in excess of c. £150m, as well as its recent £30m capital raise against the backdrop of COVID. He is a trusted and valued mentor to the executive team."

“Simon, Ben and the wider Arete team are an absolute breath of fresh air to work with. Real, transparent and hugely supportive. They provide you with the space to operate whilst adding value at every interaction. Their support from day one has been second to none and it goes way beyond the investment. They genuinely care about our business and absolutely buy into our social purpose. They care just as much about the social impact as they do the financial, meaning that as an executive team, we are aligned from top to bottom."