Pollen Street Capital: Best Responsible Alternative Investment Team UK 2023

Founded in 2013, Pollen Street Capital is a progressive entrepreneurial partner leading a transformation in financial and business services. Pollen Street is a purpose-led alternative asset manager that has embedded ESG data as a strategic source for impact propositions. The firm is a pioneer of diversity, equality and inclusion (DE&I). Lindsey McMurray, the firm’s managing partner, was recognised as a diversity champion of 2021, and Pollen Street has received high commendation for championing women’s equality. Over a quarter of the executive committee for the private equity portfolio are women. Pollen Street’s second internal DE&I survey shows that 64 percent of the firm’s employees are state-educated, and 17 percent come from ethnic minorities. Active management and engagement have spurred the average portfolio gender pay gap to decrease by 6 percent. Over the past 12 months, Pollen Street Capital has expanded ESG data collection and developed a proprietary scoring mechanism to ensure it’s better equipped to track and build on positive impacts. The ESG data model allows the Pollen Street team to rank and score investments using 50 data points from each portfolio company. The scoring system helps the team set targets, measure progress and design improvement plans. All of its portfolio is addressing ESG concerns at the board level and 40 percent have formulated net-zero or carbon-neutral commitments. The CFI.co judging panel presents Pollen Street Capital — a repeat programme winner — with the 2023 award for Best Responsible Alternative Investment Team (UK).