A social care firm has secured a new £8.5 million equity deal with investor BGF.
Birmingham-based Antser delivers services to the social care, health and education sectors in partnership with local authorities and independent providers.
The investment will allow the company to continue to scale its business within the children's social care sector as well as increase its reach across adult social care and the adjacent markets.
Antser employs 150 people across four UK offices including at its HQ in Edgbaston.
It has a presence across all 152 local authorities in England and in other public sector bodies and independent care providers.
It runs expert witness services to the children's social care sector alongside solutions ranging from direct work with children and core compliance to transformation, training and technology.
This includes a virtual reality programme designed for people who interact with and support the most vulnerable members of society.
Chief executive Richard Dooner said: "We started the business with a belief we could use technology and innovation to achieve positive change across the health, education and social care sectors.
"We're already partnering with hundreds of providers and have an ambition to continue to expand and support transformation across the sector."
Antser was founded by husband and wife team Jim and Ayyab Cockburn and remains a member of their network of companies the Martin James Network.
Chris Nixon, investor at BGF, added: "Antser is a fantastic Midlands business making a hugely positive impact - achieving better outcomes for its partners and those in their care.
"The combination of the team's experience and their innovative use of emerging technologies has ensured Antser has stayed at the forefront of the children's care sector and has quickly grown into other important areas of safeguarding, policy, data insight and support across the wider care sector.
"We're delighted to be backing such a capable and ambitious management team to accelerate growth and allow Antser to support even more organisations, develop new products and drive acquisitions."
BGF investor Tom Horton has joined the board as a director while industry specialist Andrew Pickup has been recruited as a non-executive.
Law firms Mills & Reeve and Shoosmiths and financial services firm PwC and BDO acted on the deal.
