
THE TEAM
Expertise meets innovation
With over 30 years of combined experience, our team brings a unique blend of corporate leadership and entrepreneurial spirit to the table. Each of us boasts a successful track record in executive roles within prestigious Fortune 500 and FTSE 100 companies, coupled with over a decade of hands-on experience in founding and managing thriving SMEs.
Engineering Excellence
Our team's skills are as diverse as they are complementary, covering senior general management, commercial strategy, technical expertise, and financial acumen. As proud recipients of the prestigious Sainsbury Management Fellowship (SMF), sponsored by Lord David Sainsbury's Gatsby Trust through the Royal Academy of Engineering, we honed our talents at top-tier international business schools in the 90s, including INSEAD in France and IMD in Switzerland.
Future Leaders
At GI-3, we leverage the wealth of talent within the SMF network to drive our projects forward, all while giving back to the community. As part of our commitment, we donate 10% of our profits to support the SMF Scheme, ensuring the continuous growth and development of future business leaders.
Meet the Team
Meet our dynamic trio of seasoned professionals, each bringing over 30 years of invaluable expertise in corporate leadership, entrepreneurship, and strategic management to the Gi-3 team.
Partner & CEO
Chris Shelley
Christopher Shelley is a seasoned executive and Managing Partner at Gi-3 Growth Partners, specialising in industrial turnaround, succession planning, and scaling UK engineering SMEs. Based in Bristol, England, he brings over 40 years of corporate leadership to drive revenue growth and profitability in manufacturing and engineering sectors, with a key role as Executive Chair and Non-Executive Director of several SME companies in the manufacturing, engineering and tech sectors. Professional Expertise Chris served as Regional President APAC of an Invensys PLC division generating over growing from USD120m to over $200 million in revenue over 4 years with full P&L responsibility across 12 companies and joint ventures, complemented by deep experience in automotive, food process engineering, power generation, and heavy building materials. He holds expertise in business consulting focusing on start-up investment readiness, turnarounds, and capital raising from VC, private equity, and HNW investors. His approach emphasises precise implementation, from advanced engineering and manufacturing technologies to scalable production engineering. Key Roles and Companies As Managing Partner at Gi-3 since 2023, Chris leads projects and investments alongside partners Henning von Spreckelsen and Simon Duncan, targeting UK manufacturing and engineering SMEs. He serves as Non-Executive Director of Rubery Owen Holdings (family-owned industrial and retail group), Executive Chair of DYMAG Technologies (premium carbon composite and forged aluminium wheels for motorcycle and automotive OEM markets), and holds majority ownership of Fimark Ltd through Gi-3 Holdings Ltd. He also spent seven years as an industrial adviser and portfolio NED with EQT Far East Private Equity, with manufacturing operations across China, Taiwan, and the UK. Earlier corporate roles span Fortune 500 and FTSE 100 groups including ABB Power Generation Ltd (Switzerland), Invensys PLC, Blue Circle Industries PLC, and Perkins Large Diesel Engines (now Caterpillar). Impact and Recognition Chris excels in transforming underperforming businesses — most notably turning around Invensys APV's loss-making Asia Pacific division into its most profitable global unit. At DYMAG, he rebuilt the business following acquisition from administration, re-establishing OEM and aftermarket revenues. A Sainsbury Management Fellow and INSEAD MBA, he has mentored engineering talent through Royal Academy of Engineering programmes and served as President of the Sainsbury Management Fellows Society. His hands-on leadership ensures sustainable value creation for retiring SME owners transitioning their legacies.
Partner & CTO
Henning von Spreckelsen FREng
Henning von Spreckelsen FREng is a distinguished engineer, entrepreneur, and investor based in the UK, serving as a Partner at Gi-3 Growth Partners. With extensive experience in manufacturing, plastics, and engineering sectors, he drives profitability and innovation across multiple ventures. Professional Expertise Henning holds an MEng and MBA, and is a Chartered Engineer (CEng MIET) and Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng). His career spans senior roles at Tetra Pak UK and founding Bapco Closures, where he raised over £10 million, secured 130+ patents, and launched products with major brands like Pepsi and M&S. He applies world-class manufacturing to chemicals, automation, packaging, and sustainability-focused industries. Key Roles and Companies At Gi-3 Growth Partners, Henning collaborates with Christopher Shelley and Simon Duncan—fellow Sainsbury Management Fellows—to invest in UK manufacturing and engineering SMEs, recently taking stakes in Fimark Ltd as Chief Technology Officer. He is Director at Plastecowood Ltd (recycled plastic profiles), involved with Dymag Technologies (automotive components), and has advised firms in activities ranging from MRI manufacturing, marine lighting, packaging , FX algorithms, and child protection tech. Impact and Recognition Henning’s technical input transformed Plastecowood into a carbon-negative leader, recycling waste plastics to replace wood, steel, and concrete while saving trees and reducing landfill. His non-executive and investment roles emphasize engineering excellence, with 10% of Gi-3 profits donated to engineering scholarships. He sits on the Board of the Engineers and Scientists in Business Fellowship charity. Residing in England, he mentors the next generation of engineers and entrepreneurs.
Partner & CFO
Simon Duncan
Simon Duncan is a seasoned finance executive, entrepreneur, and Partner/CFO at Gi-3 Growth Partners, based in Bristol, England. He specializes in structured finance and funding UK manufacturing and engineering businesses, leveraging 30+ years of deal-making experience. Professional Expertise Simon is a Sainsbury Management Fellow with an engineering background and MBA, renowned as a "billion-dollar dealmaker" for structuring complex financings. From 1998-2011, he held senior roles at GE Capital Europe, followed by raising £340 million in debt and £140 million in equity for A Shade Greener's solar panel installation business. His expertise spans renewables, diagnostics, and plastics recycling. Key Roles and Companies As Partner and CFO at Gi-3 since December 2023, Simon directs financial strategy for SME investments, alongside Christopher Shelley and Henning von Spreckelsen. He serves as Non Executive Director of Plastecowood (waste plastic to lumber), CEO of Faster Diagnostics Ltd (early cancer screening), and Director of Gi-3 entities like GI-3 Holdings and GI-3 Marketing Services. Past roles include leading solar financing ventures. Impact and Recognition Simon has enabled £480 million+ in financing for innovative projects, from solar energy to carbon-negative manufacturing, while volunteering on COVID frontlines with St John Ambulance. At Gi-3, he supports 10% profit donation to engineering scholarships, mentoring future leaders. His engineering-finance blend drives sustainable growth for retiring SME owners.
Sector Experience

Industrial Equipment & Machinery
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Large capital equipment
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Automation equipment
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Conveyoring, Automated robotic bagging machines
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Automotive supply chain
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Performance & Luxury Products - Tier 1-4

Food & Beverage Operations
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Recycled plastic profiles from mixed plastics waste
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Industrial chemicals (Ammonia, Explosives, Plastics, Paint)
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Packaging (Plastic bottle tops, Plastic Bottle manufacturing)
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Heavy building materials

Technology & Services
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FX comparison site
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Consulting
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Artificial Intelligence
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Process automation and services
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Operations and maintenance

Renewable Energy Solutions
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Renewables
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Solar & energy storage solutions
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Utility power plant
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Packaged power plants

Financial Solutions & Investments
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Asset Finance
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Start-up angels
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SEIS, EIS
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Venture Capital, Private Equity
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Project Finance

Food & Beverage Processing
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Food processing engineering
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Dairy processing
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Microbreweries



