Excellence in Sustainability

Recognising outstanding commitment to responsible investment

The importance of Responsible Investment has never been more relevant for the private equity and venture capital industry. Now in its fifth year, ‘Excellence in Sustainability’, formerly known as ‘Excellence in ESG’ celebrates firms from across the private capital ecosystem that have made an outstanding commitment to responsible investment principles. Excellence in Sustainability aims to recognise the vital work our members are undertaking to embed responsible investment principles and practices, and provides a platform to demonstrate our industry’s commitment to sustainability. 

2025 Categories & Guidance

Categories

For 2025 there are five categories:

  1. LPs (all sizes)
  2. GP (above £1bn AUM)
  3. GP (below £1bn AUM)
  4. Venture Capital (all sizes)
  5. Portfolio company (backed by a BVCA member)

Submission guidance

The submission should be 500-750 words and can be made via this online entry form. Your submission may be accompanied by supporting documents, if referred to in the submission. Due to the volume of submissions, the judges only have the capacity to read 3 additional pages of material, so please keep your supporting documents concise. Any attachments that exceed 3 pages total will not be considered.

Multiple submissions are welcome, please submit a separate entry form per nomination.  

The judges will be looking for evidence of improved responsible investment practices, substantiated by specific examples that illustrate the firm’s engagement with portfolio companies. The submission should give details of the development or engagement which has taken place over 2024, covering how and why your firm has acted, and what the outcome has been. 

The judges will be looking for a clear explanation of the objectives for your responsible investment strategy and activity, evidence of your commitment to sustainability, linkage to investment strategy, and why the outcome has been positive. Please provide clear examples to evidence your submission. 

If you have any questions, please contact Breeze Haywood.

Please note, due to the high volume of submissions, we will not be able to provide individual feedback.

Entries opened on Tuesday, 8 April 2025 and closed on Monday, 30 June 2025. An independent judging panel will score the submissions and present the awards at the BVCA Summit Main Conference on 10 September 2025.

 

Criteria for LP category (all sizes of LP)

The judges will be looking for progress made in responsible investment integration and engagement by LPs in 2024.

Submissions should set out the following:

  • How your firm has enhanced and developed its overall responsible investment framework during the year, either the first-time adoption of a framework, or the refreshing of an existing framework. This should include why sustainability is important to the firm and the commitment demonstrated by senior management. 

  • How your firm has worked with GPs to integrate sustainability within due diligence and reporting. 

  • Demonstrate specific or thematic engagement with one or more managers to address any sustainability risks or opportunities. This can include the regularity and depth of post-acquisition / funding engagement with portfolio companies / GPs on sustainability matters. 

  • Provide evidence of leadership or active engagement with external initiatives such as the PRI, TCFD, iCI, ILPA (Diversity in Action), EDCI etc. 

 

Criteria for both GP categories (above and below £1bn)

The judges will be looking for progress made by GPs in responsible investment integration and engagement in 2024. 

Submissions should set out the following:

  • How your firm has enhanced and developed its overall responsible investment  framework, either the first-time adoption of a framework, or the refreshing of an existing framework. This should include why sustainability is important to the firm and the commitment demonstrated by senior management. 

  • Demonstrate active and/or thematic engagement with one or more portfolio companies to address any sustainability risks or opportunities.

  • Provide examples of sustainability-led value creation due to sustainability engagement (evidenced by quantitative and/or qualitative data). 

  • Provide evidence of sustainability within reporting to LPs / investors or other stakeholders (formal or informal). 

  • Provide evidence of leadership or active engagement with external initiatives such as the PRI, TCFD, iCI, ILPA (Diversity in Action), EDCI etc. 

 

Criteria for Venture Capital category

The judges will be looking for progress made in responsbile investment integration and engagement by VCs in 2024.

Submissions should set out the following:

  • How you integrate sustainability relatedconsiderations across the investment lifecycle. 

  • How your firm has assisted companies in supporting their sustainability journey and setting KPIs to make improvements. 

  • How you are fostering collaborative relationships with LPs across the responsible investment strategy, reporting, and portfolio management. Utilisation and engagement with initiatives such as ESG_VC, Venture ESG and Impact VC.  

  • How your firm is prioritising Sustainability internally.  For example, having a sustainability champion and the commitment demonstrated by senior management. 

 

Criteria for Portfolio Company category

This category seeks to recognise portfolio companies that have demonstrated good practice in embedding the management of sustainability issues in their day-to-day commercial activity and have been supported by their investors to do so. This category is to open to any portfolio company with a UK presence which is currently backed by a BVCA member (or was exited in 2024). 

Submissions should set out the following:

  • How sustainability related considerations are considered within the portfolio company’s day-to-day commercial activities. 

  • Either evidence of the portfolio company seeking to minimise negative sustainability impacts or examples of positive impacts on the environment, workplace, marketplace and/or community (or both). 

  • How the portfolio company’s approach to sustainability has changed or evolved in the last 12 months, as a result of the BVCA member’s investment. 

  • Evidence of engagement on sustainability related issues with wider stakeholders (including employees, suppliers, customers, and/or local communities). 

  • Demonstration of industry engagement, accreditations such as B Corp certification, awards, or work with other industry bodies/standards. 

 

Judges

2025's Excellence in ESG judging panel is comprised of:

  • Eimear Palmer, Partner, Pantheon
  • Maria Carradice, MD, Mayfair Equity Partners 
  • Michelle Lamprecht, Head of Corporate Affairs, Cambridge Innovation Capital 

 

Meet the 2025 Judges

 

Denise Odaro

Denise Odaro

PAI Partners

Henry Philipson

Henry Philipson

Beringea

Eimear Palmer

Eimear Palmer

Pantheon

 

2024 Top Recognised Firms

GPs (below £1bn AUM): Freshstream Investment Partners
GPs (above £1bn AUM): Equistone Partners Europe
LPs (all sizes): Pension Protection Fund
Venture Capital (all sizes): Oxford Science Enterprises
Portfolio company (backed by a BVCA member): Reconomy

The judges also awarded Special Recognitions across all five categories.
These were:

  • GPs (below £1bn AUM): NorthEdge
  • GPs (above £1bn AUM): Cinven
  • LPs (all sizes): Neuberger Berman
  • Venture Capital (all sizes): Clean Growth Fund
  • Portfolio company (backed by a BVCA member): Cambridge GaN Device

Entries for Excellence in ESG 2024 opened on 5 April 2024 and closed on 7 June 2024. An independent judging panel scored the submissions and presented the awards at the BVCA Summit conference on 12 September 2024.

All Recognised Companies

 

2024

We were delighted to celebrate the excellent work of GPs, LPs and portfolio companies from across the private capital ecosystem that have made an outstanding commitment to ESG principles in 2023. The firms recognised were selected by an independent judging panel and presented at the BVCA Summit on 12 September 2024.

Top Recognitions:

  • GPs (below £1bn AUM): Freshstream Investment Partners
  • GPs (above £1bn AUM): Equistone Partners
  • LPs (all sizes): Pension Protection Fund
  • Venture Capital (all sizes): Oxford Science Enterprises
  • Portfolio company (backed by a BVCA member): Reconomy


Special Recognitions:

  • GP (below £1bn AUM): NorthEdge
  • GP (above £1bn AUM): Cinven
  • LP (all sizes): Neuberger Berman
  • Venture Capital (all sizes): Clean Growth Fund
  • Portfolio Company (backed by BVCA member): Cambridge GaN Device
2023

We were delighted to recognise outstanding contributions to ESG from across private equity and venture capital. The firms recognised were selected by an independent judging panel and presented at the BVCA Summit on 5 October 2023.

Recognised firms:

  • GPs (below £1bn AUM): Palatine
  • GPs (above £1bn AUM): Ares Management
  • Venture Capital (all sizes): Albion Capital
  • LPs (all sizes): HarbourVest Partners
  • Portfolio company (backed by a BVCA member): Hawksmoor (nominated by Graphite Capital)


Special recognitions:

  • GP (below £1bn AUM): NorthEdge, Piper PE LLP, and Freshstream Investment Partners LLP
  • GP (above £1bn AUM): Graphite Capital, ICG plc, and PAI Partners
  • LP (all sizes): Adams Street Partners UK LLP
  • Portfolio Company (backed by BVCA member): Material Exchange (nominated by Molten Ventures)
2022

At the 2022 BVCA Summit, we recognised members that had demonstrated an outstanding commitment to ESG principles into the investment cycle over the past year without our ‘Excellence in ESG’ initiative, produced in association with Ramboll and Kroll. Learn more about these firms below.

Recognition went to the following firms:

  • GPs with AUM above £1bn: Permira
  • GPs with AUM below £1bn: ETF Partners
  • LPs of all sizes: Neuberger Berman Private Markets
  • Any portfolio company backed by a BVCA member: Reconomy Group


The judges also wish to award special recognitions across all four categories. These were:

  • GPs with AUM above £1bn: Ares Management and EMK Capital
  • GPs with AUM above £1bn: Ares Management and EMK Capital
  • LPs of all sizes: Church Commissioners for England and Universities Superannuation Scheme
  • Any portfolio company backed by a BVCA member: Findel Education, Bright Data and Williams Advanced Engineering
2021

At the BVCA Summit on 7 October 2021, we recognised those members that had demonstrated an outstanding commitment to embedding ESG principles over the past year with our ‘Excellence in ESG’ initiative, produced in association with Ramboll.

Recognition went to:

GP category (AUM of less than £1bn): Beringea

For driving industry collaboration through its ESG_VC benchmarking initiative and its commitment to bringing more firms onboard.

GP category (AUM of more than £1bn): EMK Capital

For an impressive response to the pandemic from across its portfolio, as well as strong evidence for each portfolio company regarding their ESG targets and achievements.

Special commendation: Palatine and Permira

 

LP category: Church Commissioners for England

For having outstanding ESG measurement systems in place across their portfolio, alongside ethical investment standards, set at Board level, that all its fund managers are assessed against.

 

Portfolio company category: Weener Plastics (Backed by 3i)

For demonstrating excellent innovation and a clear focus on moving towards more recyclable and reusable products.

Special commendation: Oddbox

2020

At the BVCA Summit on 8 October 2020, we recognised those members that had demonstrated an outstanding commitment to embedding ESG principles over the past year with our ‘Excellence in ESG’ initiative, produced in association with Ramboll.

Recognition went to:

GP category: Tikehau Capital

The judges said ESG was clearly a part of Tikehau’s DNA. Special praise went to their sustainability-themed investing, and their comprehensive reporting, which sets out what they are doing with the companies they invest in. They have clearly demonstrated that ESG is an important point through all their workstreams. Hugely impressive.

 

LP category: HarbourVest

The judges commended HarbourVest’s demonstration of how they are driving improvements with their GPs, using strong, evidence-based results. One particular highlight was the creation of scorecards, stretching back over 10 years, looking at fund managers’ overall ESG performance. They already have an excellent standard, but demonstrated they have invested and improved over the course of this year.

 

Portfolio company category: TTC Group, backed by Palatine

The judges applauded TTC’s commitment to utilising Palatine’s six sustainability pillars. They have adopted a holistic approach to ESG, and it is clear that Palatine has had, and is continuing to have, a very positive influence over the direction of the business.

 

Due to the strength of the nominations in 2020, we also made two special commendations:

Special commendation – GP category: Oxford Capital

The judges said Oxford Capital demonstrated very effectively how they are embracing ESG, and deserve special recognition for showing that it does not matter how big you are, any firm can make a difference.

Special commendation – LP category: Coller Capital

The judges were impressed by how Coller demonstrated their engagement with GPs and pushing them to become better. Coller have a long and strong history of ESG commitment, and their consistent high-level of performance should be commended.

For further information please contact the BVCA

Get in touch

×

Update your login details

We updated our website and supporting systems on 12th December. 

If you previously had an account, please reset your password. If it's your first-time logging in, please register to create an account. For assistance, please contact the BVCA Membership Team

Login