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By Alexander T Davies, Hargreaves Lansdown

If you are looking for a high octane UK growth fund we believe the recently launched Britannic Cartesian UK Opportunities Fund could make an excellent long term choice.

This is a small, flexible fund with a single aim - outperformance. It will typically hold just 30-60 stocks. We prefer managers who are not afraid to think long and hard about each stock and then invest an amount that can make a significant difference to the performance of their fund. It is a higher risk strategy but with managers like David Stevenson and Andrew Kelly at the helm we believe investors could be rewarded.

Our analysis of funds they have managed before shows they have developed one of the strongest stock picking records of any fund management team in the UK. We firmly believe everything is in place for this new fund to be a success.

A new fund allows the managers to start with a clean slate and, as the fund is small, holdings can be bought and sold quickly to seize potential profits. Cartesian is a new joint venture between David Stevenson, Andrew Kelly and Britannic Asset Management. The success of this joint venture depends on the performance of their funds which is a fantastic incentive for the managers to produce results but please remember that funds can fall in value as well as rise. Their partnership with Britannic, who handle all of the administration, enables Cartesian to focus solely on delivering maximum returns.

Outlook for this fund

The manager's outlook for the UK economy is encouraging. Inflation is low and importantly so are interest rates. Companies can borrow money cheaply to expand their business or take over other firms. Indeed the number of mergers and takeovers has been rising and the Cartesian team expect this trend to continue. In addition, companies are buying back their own shares and others are being bought by private equity funds. This not only shows the relative value of equities but means supply is shrinking at the same time as demand is increasing - a good sign.

The combination of a new, small, nimble fund in the hands of two of the most talented managers in the UK makes the Britannic Cartesian UK Opportunities Fund an exciting proposition. In our opinion shrewd investors will consider buying this fund now before a track record is established and reap any rewards. We believe investors looking for a spicy UK holding could be well rewarded.

The Britannic Cartesian UK Opportunities Fund is available through Hargreaves Lansdown with an initial saving of 5.25% and an annual loyalty bonus of 0.375%. Investors can apply online with a debit card or download application forms or transfer forms from our website.

The Fund of the Month is written by Hargreaves Lansdown. An independent broker offering unit trust, stockbroking and other pension and investment services.

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