Graphite Capital is delighted to announce that it has been shortlisted by Real Deals for ESG Champion of the Year (Mid-Cap).
Being shortlisted for this award is a reflection of Graphite’s commitment to furthering the sustainability agenda, working with its charity partners and supporting its portfolio companies to improve their own ESG performance.
Graphite focuses its charitable donations in three main areas, which include environmental projects, disadvantaged young people in the UK, and relief for humanitarian crises around the globe. The first two of these areas have been highlighted for this award:
In 2024, Graphite supported the Conservation Collective with its Devon Environment Foundation Kelp Rewilding project, which is aimed at rewilding kelp forests along Britain’s southern coast. By leading from the front, Graphite is also aiming to encourage portfolio companies to become more directly involved in environmental stewardship.
Secondly, Graphite has continued its longstanding partnership with Buttle UK through the Bursary Fund established in 2014 to award grants to estranged young people. Through these Chances for Children grants, Graphite provides everyday essentials and resources through a network of local referrers. Over ten years, Graphite’s funding has supported 1,022 young people aged between 16 and 20, across every region of the UK.
Alongside charity partnerships, Graphite profiles ESG risk and opportunity throughout the investment process and encourages engagement within the portfolio, receiving regular updates, collecting KPIs, driving the ESG agenda and hosting webinars on ESG topics. Since 2022, when Graphite joined the EDCI, we have collated and reported our portfolio ESG data, striving each year for greater coverage of the indicators.