British startups should be kept on home soil, says top bank boss, who notes U.S. buyouts are getting all the glory with none of the risk

people walking on a busy street in London (Credit: Dan Kitwood—Getty Images)

Britain has long been recognized as one of the world’s key financial hubs. But in recent years, it’s witnessed a slew of homegrown companies shift their headquarters to the U.S. or list in American stock markets in the hopes of attracting global attention.

However that’s left the U.K. to carry all the risks of backing startups while its peer across the Atlantic reaps the benefits, according to the boss of the major state-owned British Business Bank (BBB).