BGF invests GBP £16.6m in Workbooks to fund US growth

BGF has completed a £16.6 million investment in Workbooks, a Reading-based mid-market SaaS business that sells a platform for sales, marketing, customer support and commercial operations.

Workbooks said it will use the funding for go-to-market activity and product development. The company also said it plans further expansion in the US market.

BGF also backed the appointment of Julian Harper as Non Executive Chair through its Talent Network.

Platform focus

Workbooks positions its product as a single system that combines functions which organisations often manage across separate tools. The company said it serves hundreds of customers across multiple sectors in the UK and the US.

The business said customers choose Workbooks for a lower total cost of ownership compared with competitors. Workbooks also cited the breadth of functions within a single platform and its "Shared Success" onboarding and support approach.

The company said product development will focus on deeper integration of workflows across sales, operations and finance.

John Cheney, CEO of Workbooks, said: "Our mission is simple: give mid-market organisations an integrated platform that works the way their business works - without the complexity, hidden costs or bolt-ons that often come through alternative providers. BGF's backing helps us move faster, while staying true to the customer-first philosophy that sets us apart."

Deal team

BGF said the investment was led by Investor Jack Teasdale, with support from Harry Kernick from the BGF Reading office.

Workbooks operates in a competitive CRM and business software market, where suppliers target mid-sized organisations with bundles that span sales, service and marketing. The sector also includes vendors that sell systems with links into finance and operations tools.

"Workbooks has built a differentiated proposition with a highly configurable platform that goes beyond traditional CRM. Customers value Workbooks' deep functionality, intuitive design, and high quality service support, and we're delighted to back John and the team as they invest further in product, channels and international growth", said Jack Teasdale, Investment Director, BGF.

BGF activity

BGF described itself as the UK and Ireland's most active growth capital investor. It said it has invested more than £4.7 billion in more than 600 companies since it was set up in 2011.

The firm said it provides minority, non-controlling equity investments for growth-stage businesses.

BGF said the Workbooks investment follows other deals it completed in 2025. It named mobile data intelligence company TMT-ID, retail technology services provider PMC and hospitality accounting specialist Paperchase Accountancy.

BGF also said it pledged £400 million to high-potential businesses across the South West and Thames Valley as part of a planned £3 billion national capital deployment over the next five years.

Workbooks said it will build on its growing presence in the US as it deploys the new funding.