Manchester-based DSW Ventures, the venture capital investment arm of DSW Capital, has launched a new VC specialist graduate trainee scheme, which will allow young talent to work and train as investors from the start of their career.
Since launching, DSW Ventures has made two key team hires as the firm continues to deepen its specialist technology expertise and invest in young talent based in the North.
James Reston is the first successful graduate trainee on the scheme and joins as an Investment Associate. He was previously at AstraZeneca based in Sweden, where he worked as a research scientist exploring novel drug discovery techniques and led research collaborations within the world-famous AstraZeneca iLab. James is multi-award-winning in science communication and has a first-class master’s degree in chemistry from Durham University.
Reston’s recruitment builds on DSW Ventures’ strategy of growing the firm’s presence in deeptech and life sciences, with a strong focus on regional UK university spinouts outside of the well-funded “Golden Triangle.”
Jessica Buckthorpe also joins during her university placement year as its 2024-25 Investment Intern – a role that was created last year to offer undergraduates a rare opportunity to gain VC experience. Jessica is currently studying economics and politics at the University of Manchester.
Both trainees will work across investment sourcing and evaluation, as well as conducting due diligence and assisting the Partners in supporting the firm’s portfolio companies.
Keith Benson, Founding Partner of DSW Ventures, said: “Investing in and supporting young regional talent is as important to us as investing in and supporting early-stage regional technology companies. Through our graduate and internship programmes, we offer ambitious young people the ability to learn finance and investing in a different way – outside of the traditional accounting firms.
“James and Jess are incredibly talented, hardworking and, most importantly, as down-to-earth northerners they implicitly understand the potential of talented regional founders who are disrupting global markets from outside of London and the Golden Triangle.”
The internship programme is designed to help students develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in a career in VC, as well as allow them the chance to develop a wider network in finance. Applications for the 2025-26 internship programme will be open from January 2025.
