Palatine’s Impact Fund has acquired a majority stake in Crowdguard, a specialist in hostile vehicle mitigation (HVM) solutions, helping to protect people at public events, sports stadia, entertainment venues and in city centres across the UK and Ireland.

Based in Standish, near Wigan, Crowdguard works with organisers and operators of events in crowded spaces to assess the risks posed by vehicle-borne threats and develop protective security solutions based on the assessed threat, vulnerabilities, operational requirements and consequences.

Its services cover the full process, from risk assessments and solution design through to deployment, installation, assurance, servicing, and maintenance.

With access to equipment from across the market, Crowdguard can recommend solutions suited to each location, rather than taking a product-led approach. This means balancing security with practical considerations such as crowd flow, emergency vehicle access, and keeping public spaces welcoming.

Public spaces

The investment comes at a time of increasing focus on protective security across public spaces, venues and major events, with organisations placing greater emphasis on proportionate, risk led measures, operational resilience and assurance.

With Palatine’s backing, Crowdguard will invest in its people, further strengthen its leadership team alongside Deborah and Iain and develop its systems, operations, technology and assurance processes, while continuing to raise standards and capability across the sector.

The Impact Fund was established by Palatine with the ambition to demonstrate that financial returns and positive social or environmental impact can go hand in hand.

Building on the firm’s long heritage in sustainable investing, it backs businesses tackling important societal challenges and works alongside their management teams to support both their growth ambitions and impact strategies.