Responsible Investment Awards

This year there are three award categories:

1. Responsible Investment Award – firms with more than £1bn under management (open to GPs and LPs)

2. Responsible Investment Award – firms with less than £1bn under management (open to GPs and LPs)

3. Responsible Portfolio Company Award (open to any portfolio company backed by a BVCA member)

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 is by no means exhaustive – you do not need to address every aspect and we encourage you to provide evidence on any other aspects that are 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 accompanied by any relevant documented evidence.

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 involvement from a BVCA member at some point during 2017 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 accompanied by any relevant documented evidence.

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

Winners will be selected in early October by an independent judging panel

The 2019 BVCA Responsible Investment Award will be presented at the BVCA Annual Summit on 12 October 2019 in London.