Bristol-based professionals at Smith & Williamson have advised fast-growing HR technology platform Connectr on a multi-million pound investment deal.
The £5m follow-on funding into the leading digital employee mentoring platform was made by Puma Private Equity, the private equity division of Puma Investments. 
London-based Connectr, formerly known as MyKindaFuture, was founded in 2011 to help emerging talent develop employability skills while supporting employers to recruit and retain top talent.
Today it partners with more than 80 FTSE-listed employers, providing them with mentoring for job candidates and employees.
Iain Lownes, a partner in Smith & Williamson’s Bristol-based corporate finance team, was the lead adviser on the deal and assisted Connectr with raising the finance.
Iain, pictured, said: “This mentoring service is increasingly important to business and Connectr has a unique proposition. Smith & Williamson has a strong focus on technology businesses so we were delighted to work with a great team on another HR tech deal.”
Connectr founder Will Akerman added: “Connectr was born from the belief that everyone should have equal power and opportunity to shape their own future. 
“We enable companies to better support their employees in achieving their goals and realising their ambitions every day.
“This new funding from Puma Private Equity will enable us to continue building on our success within the emerging talent space, supporting diversity and inclusion in the wider workplace and achieving our goal — to reduce unemployment and build a sense of belonging for all.
“We enjoyed working with Smith & Williamson and quickly built a rapport with the team which was really important in delivering the transaction along with their professionalism.”
Smith & Williamson is part of leading wealth management and professional services firm Tilney Smith & Williamson.
