About us

The QCA is a highly regarded, not-for-profit organisation that was formed solely to represent the interests of smaller quoted companies on the Main Market, AIM and the PLUS markets. The smaller quoted company (SQC) sector is characterised by companies who have the following common features, when compared to those companies in the FTSE 350:

• A lower level of resources, in terms of both management resource and finances; and
• A narrower shareholder base and lower profile with investors

The key objectives of the Quoted Companies Alliance are to benefit the smaller quoted company (SQC) sector by:

• Lobbying the Government, Brussels and other regulators to reduce the costly and time consuming burden of regulation, which falls disproportionately on smaller quoted companies. This work is done by our technical committees.
• Promoting the SQC sector, taking steps to increase investor interest and improve shareholder liquidity for companies in it. This is done by our technical committees and press contacts. It is a stated aim of the QCA to encourage all pension funds to hold at least 2-3% of their funds in SQC equities.
• Educating companies in the sector about best practice in areas such as corporate governance and investor relations. This is done via our events programmes and publications.
• Providing a forum for smaller quoted company directors to network and discuss solutions to topical issues with their peer group, sector professionals and influential City figures via our events programmes.

The QCA is committed to the continuance of vibrant quoted company markets and believes that the sector has a vital part to play in determining the future health of the UK economy.

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Our History

The Quoted Companies Alliance (QCA) was formed in 1992 as a reaction to the abolition of the Unlisted Securities Market (USM). A group of SQC advisers formed The City Group for Smaller Quoted Companies (CISCO) to lobby the London Stock Exchange to introduce a junior market that could be used for entrepreneurial companies to raise equity funding, without the need to undertake the costly and time consuming requirements of a listing on the Main Market. This pressure resulted in our first major win – the establishment of the Alternative Investment Market (AIM).

In 2000 CISCO changed its name to the The Quoted Companies Alliance Limited. (QCA).