The Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) is now 30 years old! To celebrate, we asked Christiana Stewart-Lockhart, Director General of the EIS Association, onto the podcast to discuss the past, present and future of the scheme.

In a wide ranging discussion we talk about:

• the founding of EIS
• the progress it has made
• what has made it so successful
• renewal of the scheme and the efforts underpinning it
• why EIS is still not as well known as it should be
• how awareness could be increased
• the progress with improving diversity and regional investing
• the effects of the recent changes to SEIS limits

Christiana brings together both the big picture on the importance of the tax advantaged schemes and the small scale that each company and investor represents. Its a great discussion - enjoy!

PS This was recorded before the recent Treasury announcement that the EU has approved the extension of EIS.

00:50 Christiana introduces herself and the EIS Association

04:00 The founding of EIS and how it has progressed

07:25 Why has EIS been successful

12:15 How the Patient Capital Review changed the schemes

14:00 Lobbying for the scheme extension

18:50 Why EIS is not as well known as we would like

26:50 How do we increase awareness

30:15 Role of financial advisers

34:45 Progress with diversity of founders and expanding into regions

41:00 Effect of changes to SEIS limits

43:00 Looking forward

46:10 Favourite questions

Links

EIS Association website - https://eisa.og.uk/

HMRC 2023 EIS Statistics - https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/enterprise-investment-scheme-seed-enterprise-investment-scheme-and-social-investment-tax-relief-may-2024

30th Anniversary of EIS event - https://eisa.org.uk/30th-anniversary-of-eis/

Subscribe to the EIS Navigator podcast on most services here: https://the-eis-navigator.captivate.fm/listen

Suggested books and media

Alchemy by Rory Sutherland

Bio

Christiana Stewart-Lockhart

Director General, EIS Association

Christiana Stewart-Lockhart is the Director General of the Enterprise Investment Scheme Association (EISA). She previously spent more than a decade working in Westminster including ten years at the Institute of Economic Affairs. She also founded EPICENTER, a Brussels based network of some of the most respected think tanks from across Europe. Christiana holds a BA in Politics from the University of York. She is a member of TISA’s Children’s Financial Education Policy Council and also sits on the Advisory Board for the All Party Parliamentary Group for Entrepreneurship.