The BVCA Responsible Investment Awards were Europe’s only awards that recognise and celebrate outstanding Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices within private equity and venture capital.
In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, we replaced these awards and now celebrate GPs, LPs and portfolio companies that have demonstrated ‘Excellence in ESG’ instead.
Excellence in ESG is now our annual awards initiative, aimed at recognising our members' outstanding commitment to responsible investment.
Awards process
The BVCA Responsible Investment Awards were an opportunity for LPs, private equity and venture capital firms and their portfolio companies to be recognised for the strong efforts made to progress on their ESG journey.
2019 Winners
Firms with less than £1bn under management
Winner: ETF Partners
Firms with more than £1bn under management
Winner: Arcus Infrastructure Partners
Portfolio Company Award
Winner: The Alchemist, backed by Palatine Private Equity
Award categories for 2019
There are three award categories:
- Responsible Investment Award – firms with more than £1bn under management (open to GPs and LPs)
- Responsible Investment Award – firms with less than £1bn under management (open to GPs and LPs)
- Portfolio Company Award (open to any portfolio company backed by a BVCA member)
Submission guidance for 2019
The judges are looking for submissions that can illustrate how the ESG practices of firms and companies have progressed over time, in addition to examples of best practice.
Please note that the following judging criteria are by no means exhaustive – not all have to be addressed and please provide evidence on any other aspects that is key and relevant for your firm.
Responsible Investment Awards – for GP and LP firms
The judges will be looking for evidence of good practice of an overall ESG framework by the firm, as well as examples to illustrate the firm’s engagement with portfolio companies. The judging panel will consider submissions against the following criteria:
- How responsible investment is embedded at the firm level, including why it is important to the firm, existence of an ESG policy, and commitment by senior management
- How ESG is considered as part of origination and due diligence
- Regularity and depth of post-acquisition / funding engagement with portfolio companies / GPs on ESG matters
- Evidence of ESG reporting to LPs / investors or other stakeholders (formal or informal)
- Examples of value creation at exit / capital distribution due to ESG engagement
- Support for external initiatives such as the PRI
Please provide a one-page summary addressing the above criteria. You may also choose to submit relevant supporting evidence, however please keep this concise in order for the judges to take this into consideration.
Responsible Portfolio Company Award – for any portfolio company backed by a BVCA member organisation
This award seeks to recognise portfolio companies that have demonstrated progress in embedding the management of ESG issues in their commercial activity. Any portfolio company with a UK presence that has had equity investment from a BVCA member at some point during 2018 is eligible for this award. The judges will consider submissions against the following criteria:
- How responsible investment is embedded within the portfolio company, including the existence of an ESG policy and commitment by senior management
- How ESG is considered as part of the portfolio company’s day to day commercial activities
- Evidence of the portfolio company seeking to minimise negative ESG impacts
- Examples of positive impacts on the environment, workplace, marketplace and/or community
- Evidence of engagement on ESG with wider stakeholders (including employees, suppliers, customers, local communities and/or investors)
Please provide a one-page summary addressing the above criteria. You may also choose to submit relevant supporting evidence, however please keep this concise in order for the judges to take this into consideration.
Past Winners
2018 Winners
- Firms with less than £1bn under management
Winner: Mayfair Equity Partners
- Firms with more than £1bn under management
Winner: Coller Capital
- Portfolio Company Award
Winner: Future Industrial Services, backed by NorthEdge Capital
2017 Winners
- Outstanding Individual Contribution
Winner: Marta Jankovic, APG Asset Management, and Chair, Invest Europe
- Overall ESG Framework - firms with less than £1bn under management
Winner: ETF Partners
- ESG Engagement with Portfolio Companies - firms with less than £1bn under management
Winner: Lyceum Capital
- Overall ESG Framework - firms with more than £1bn under management
Joint winners: Ardian and Church Commissioners for England
- ESG Engagement with Portfolio Companies - firms with more than £1bn under management
Winner: Ardian
- Responsible Portfolio Company
Winner: Frontier Medical Group
2016 Winners
- Outstanding Individual Contribution
Winner: Beth Houghton, Partner, Palatine Private Equity
- Overall ESG Framework - firms with more than £1bn under management
Winner: Hermes GPE
- ESG Engagement with Portfolio Companies - firms with more than £1bn under management
Winner: KKR
- Overall ESG Framework - firms with less than £1bn under management
Winner: Bridges Ventures
- ESG Engagement with Portfolio Companies - firms with less than £1bn under management
Winner: NorthEdge Capital
2015 Winners
- Overall ESG Framework & ESG Engagement with Portfolio Companies
Firms with more than £1bn under management
Winner: Apax
- Overall ESG Framework & ESG Engagement with Portfolio Companies
Firms with less than £1bn under management
Winner: Palatine Private Equity
2014 Winners
- Demonstration of active portfolio ESG engagement & Demonstration of an ESG framework at firm level
Firms with more than £1bn under management
Winner: Terra Firma
- Demonstration of active portfolio ESG engagement
Firms with less than £1bn under management
Winner: Palatine Private Equity
- Demonstration of an ESG framework at firm level
Firms with less than £1bn under management
Winner: NorthEdge Capital
2013 Winners
- Demonstration of active portfolio ESG engagement
Firms with more than £1bn under management
Winner: The Carlyle Group
- Demonstration of active portfolio ESG engagement
Firms with less than £1bn under management
Winner: Palatine Private Equity
- Demonstration of an ESG framework at private equity firm level
Firms with more than £1bn under management
Winner: HgCapital
- Demonstration of an ESG framework at private equity firm level
Firms with less than £1bn under management
Winner: Palatine Private Capital
Doughty Hanson received a special judges’ commendation for excellence in both their framework and engagement with portfolio companies.
2012 Winners
- Overall Winner:
Permira
- Commended for leading role:
Bridges Ventures
2011 Winners
2011 Winners
- Inaugural Winner:
Doughty Hanson
- Special Commendations
KKR
Bridges Ventures
BC Partners