Responsible Investment Awards

There are two awards categories open to firms: Overall ESG Framework and ESG Engagement with Portfolio Companies. Both awards are available for two groups of firms – firms with more and with less than £1bn under management. The Overall ESG Framework category is open to GPs as well as LPs whilst the ESG Engagement with Portfolio Companies is only open to GPs.

A third category ‘Outstanding Individual Contribution’ is open to individuals. This award introduced in 2016 aims to recognise an individual working for a BVCA member organisation that has made the most substantial contribution to promoting Responsible Investment within the private equity and venture capital sector.

The BVCA is launching a new category this year dedicated to portfolio companies. This Award will recognise companies who are demonstrating progress in embedding the management of ESG issues in their commercial activity.

Please note that the following judging criteria are by no means exhaustive - you do not have to address them all and should feel free to provide evidence on any other area that is key and relevant for your firm.

1. ESG Framework Award - for GPs and LPs firms
The judges will be looking for evidence of good practice of an overall ESG framework, including the following areas but not limited to:

• Existence of a house policy on ESG – including statement of why it is important to the firm, how the RI approach is embedded within the organisation, commitment at senior management level, signatory
• Examples of ESG considerations as part of the origination and due diligence process
• Evidence of post-acquisition engagement – how do you support GPs/portfolio companies to embrace ESG principles?
• Evidence of some pro-active reporting to LPs or wider stakeholders (formal or informal)
• Examples of value creation at exit from ESG engagement

• Statement of why ESG issue management is important to the portfolio company’s strategy
• Examples of post transaction ESG performance improvement
• Examples of GP engagement with portfolio companies on ESG issues
• Evidence of some pro-active ESG reporting to LPs or other stakeholders
• Examples of any value enhancement gained from ESG considerations

The judging panel will be reviewing the submissions against the following judging criteria:

• Progress made as part of the firm’s RI journey
• Policy
• ESG risk and opportunity assessment
• Regularity and depth of portfolio company management engagement on ESG matters
• KPI monitoring
• Stakeholder reporting
• Independent audit
• Support for external initiatives such as the PRI

Please provide a maximum of a page summary accompanied by as much documented evidence as you would like.

3. Outstanding Individual Contribution Award - for any individual from any BVCA member firm
The Outstanding Individual Contribution award will be presented to an individual who meets the following criteria:

• Demonstrates Responsible Investment expertise – evidence of directing the development of RI best practice within his/her firm and/or within portfolio companies
• Provides industry leadership – visible advocacy of responsible investing through public speaking and comment
• Encourages the adoption of Responsible Investment by others through advocacy with fellow investors, investees, employees and ESG policy makers

Nominations for the Outstanding Individual Contribution award can be made by anyone, including from outside the BVCA membership, as long as the nominated individual is employed by a BVCA member organisation. 

Nominations will be made by an application ranging between 150 and 700 words, making the case for the individual, submitted via this nomination form.

4. Responsible Portfolio Company Award – for any portfolio company backed by a BVCA member organisation
Any portfolio company with a UK presence which has had equity involvement from a BVCA member GP at some point during calendar year 2016 is eligible for this award.

The judges will be looking for evidence of commercial activities, which stand out for their positive impact on the environment, the workplace, the marketplace, the community or governance. Progress demonstrated by the companies in embedding ESG issue management will be recognised.

This includes any business initiatives in place where portfolio companies demonstrate positive engagement with their employees, clients and customers, suppliers and/or local communities in a sustainable way; as well as those that address environmental or governance-related concerns.

Please provide a maximum of a one-page summary accompanied by as much documented evidence as you would like.

All submissions should be emailed to responsibleinvestment@bvca.co.uk

Nominations will close on 28 September 2017.

The winners will be selected in early October by an independent judging panel composed of the following members:

• Adam Black, Coller Capital
• Phil Case, PwC
• Alison Hampton
• Patricia Hamzahee, Integriti Capital
• Jonathan Ord, Local Pensions Partnership
• Hugh Wheelan, Responsible Investor
• David Williamson, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

The 2017 BVCA Responsible Investment Award will be presented at the BVCA Annual Summit on 12th October 2017 in London.

“From a Palatine perspective, winning several Responsible Investment awards from the BVCA has helped build our reputation for delivering good returns within a strong Responsible Investment Framework and attract into the Funds new investors with a strong ESG focus like the Church Commissioners.”

Beth Houghton, Partner, Palatine Private Equity

“Year on year, Palatine have continued to demonstrate incredibly strong commitment to the improvement and evolution of their approach to responsible investment.”

BVCA Responsible Investment Awards judging panel.