HaysMac, the award-winning accountancy, tax and advisory firm, has partnered with Aquis Stock Exchange on the inaugural Aquis IPO Academy, supporting ambitious UK growth companies as they explore the public markets as a route to future growth.
Run by Aquis Stock Exchange in partnership with Barclays Eagle Labs, the Aquis IPO Academy is a six-month public markets readiness programme designed to give high-growth businesses the knowledge, networks and practical support to better understand the public markets and what it takes to prepare for a potential future listing.
The inaugural cohort brings together 26 ambitious UK growth companies, half of which are female-founded, spanning sectors including AI, fintech, robotics, cyber and enterprise software. The programme officially got underway with a kick-off event on 16 September, bringing together the cohort, Aquis and the Academy partners for the first time.
As an Academy partner, HaysMac will draw on its extensive experience supporting businesses before, during and after an IPO to provide practical guidance and mentoring to the cohort over the coming months. Specialists from across the firm will contribute expertise in areas including financial readiness and reporting, audit preparation, tax, governance, internal controls and the requirements of operating as a listed business.
The programme will give participants access to workshops, mentoring and expertise from across the public markets ecosystem, helping founders and management teams understand both the opportunities that public markets can offer and the practical steps involved in becoming public-market ready.
Laura Mott, Partner and Co-Head of Equity Capital Markets at HaysMac, commented, “Every successful IPO starts long before a company goes public. Building a business that is ready for the public markets means putting the right financial, governance and reporting foundations in place early, rather than waiting until an IPO is on the immediate horizon.
The Aquis IPO Academy is a great opportunity to give ambitious founders greater insight into what the public markets could offer their businesses and what they need to consider along the way. We’re delighted to be involved and to share our experience with the cohort, helping them build the knowledge and confidence to explore whether a future listing could support their growth ambitions.”
HaysMac works with ambitious founder-led and scaling businesses as they prepare for life as a listed company. From strengthening governance, financial reporting and internal controls to navigating the IPO process itself, the firm provides practical, partner-led advice throughout the public markets journey. Its services include IPO readiness assessments, reporting accountant services, financial due diligence, working capital and financial modelling, tax planning and risk assurance & advisory.
HaysMac also has an established presence in the UK capital markets, currently acting for more than 40 listed businesses across Aquis, AIM, the Main Market and Nasdaq. The firm is ranked first in the Technology sector for listed UK audit clients*.
The partnership with Aquis builds on HaysMac’s wider commitment to supporting a healthy and accessible UK capital markets ecosystem. By engaging with businesses earlier in their growth journey, the Academy aims to broaden understanding of the public markets and help more scaling businesses consider them as a viable route to their next stage of growth – supporting a stronger pipeline of future UK public companies.
This announcement follows an exceptional 12 months for HaysMac. Most recently, the firm was recognised for the third consecutive year as one of The Sunday Times ‘Best Places to Work 2026 – Big Organisation’ and named ‘DEI Champion of the Year’ at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards. These achievements build on HaysMac’s inclusion in eprivateclient’s ‘Top Accountancy Firms’ for 2025, ranking the leading UK tax advisory firms serving domestic and international private clients, their businesses, and families.
In January 2026, HaysMac celebrated its 25th anniversary, marking a quarter century of delivering exceptional service, fostering talent, and making a lasting impact across the business and social purpose community. This milestone year also saw the strategic acquisition of corporate finance firm Green Square, further strengthening HaysMac’s deal advisory capabilities. Alongside this, the firm acquired Moore DM’s US Tax team, enhancing its international tax compliance offering and Private Client Tax expertise to provide seamless cross-border support.
