Excellence in Impact

The judges will be looking for intention of creating and evidence of achieving positive environmental and/or social impact alongside financial return. Submissions should be able to demonstrate good impact practices for measuring, managing, and reporting impact, with a focus on continuous improvement. The judges recommend you give details of the development or engagement which has taken place, 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 rationale, commitment to impact, linkage to investment strategy, and why the outcome has been positive. Please provide clear examples to evidence your submission. 

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.  

For further information about the Excellence in Impact Awards, 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.

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

This should include the following:

• Clear articulation of your impact goals and objectives, and how this is incorporated into your firm and your strategy, including policies and/or reporting, due diligence practices, and value creation plans. Key points to consider include:  

  • Detail about your measurement methodology, 

  • The frameworks it is aligned with,

  • How you ensure accountability through independent verification processes (these are not strictly confined to limited or reasonable assurance e.g. receiving LPAC approval or independent approval from an Impact committee). 

• Provide examples of how your firm has engaged with portfolio companies and achieved social or environmental outcomes in their portfolio company as evidenced by additionality through the setting and achieving of bespoke KPIs over the last year. 

• How your firm has worked with GPs to integrate impact within reporting.   

• Provide evidence of how you are engaging in systemic change in relation to impact within the private capital industry. 

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

This could include one (or more) of the following:

• Clear articulation of your impact goals and objectives, and how this is incorporated into your firm and your strategy, including policies and/or reporting, due diligence practices, and value creation plans. Key points to consider include:  

  • Detail about your measurement methodology, 

  • The frameworks it is aligned with, 

  • How you ensure accountability through independent verification processes (these are not strictly confined to limited or reasonable assurance e.g. receiving LPAC approval or independent approval from an Impact committee). 

• Provide examples of how your firm has engaged with portfolio companies and achieved social and/or environmental outcomes in their portfolio company as evidenced by additionality through the setting and achieving of bespoke KPIs over the last year. 

• How your firm has worked with LPs to integrate impact within reporting. 

• Provide evidence of how you are engaging in systemic change in relation to impact within the private capital industry. 

This category seeks to recognise portfolio companies that have demonstrated good practice in creating a positive environmental and/or social impact in their day-to-day business 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 exited in 2024).

Submissions should include the following:

• Outline the core mission of the portfolio company, and how this is contributing to solving a particular environmental and/or social challenge. 

• Demonstrate how positive environmental and/or social impact is considered within the portfolio company’s day-to-day commercial activities in 2024.   

• Demonstrate how the portfolio company is measuring its current impact, and any measures established to improve or grow its impact. 

• Demonstrate how the portfolio company sees impact as driving commercial value to shareholders. 

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

• Alex Shadbolt, Investment Manager and Impact Lead, Future Planet Capital 

• Ellen de Kreij, Lead Advisor – Impact & Sustainability, Apax Partners 

• Sarah Teacher, Co-CEO, Impact Investing Institute 

• Zoë VanderWolk, Partner, ETF Partners