The Social Element

As B2B and technology investors in growing people-based businesses, we believe that the Social element of ESG is by far the one in which we can create more value. Horizon recognised the importance of its people, in the same way our portfolio companies support and value their employees. We are fundamentally all peoplebased businesses where people are the main asset, and therefore, we must do everything we can to ensure they are happy and feel valued, to ensure long-term success.

Horizon has invested in its team, which has grown from 12 to 17 over the last 12 months (to March 2023). Investment has not only been made in new heads, but also in our existing staff base – for example the Investment Directors were sponsored to attend an LSE course on Negotiation. Furthermore, the Partners released a new corporate initiative available to all Horizon’s staff to promote volunteering. Both the volunteering and charitable initiative were embraced positively by the team.

On a yearly basis, we track 90 ESG measures across our portfolio which allow us to gain a reasonable insight into the social initiatives that develop across the portfolio. In 2022 we have recorded:

We are proud of our portfolio companies and as such, not only monitor the initiatives that they implement but we support them wherever we can with brainstorming and/or financially.

774 hrs of volunteer (vs. 473 in 2021)

1,088 weeks of apprenticeships (vs. 1708 in 2021)

1,263 hrs of staff support (vs 999 in 2021)

180 hrs of career support sessions (vs. 38 in 2021)

Having the opportunity to attend the Negotiation Course was a fantastic chance to further develop a skill that I use on a daily basis in real life scenarios in my working life. The course was interactive, full of both theory and practical content, and was a great experience in meeting and negotiating with a wide range of people from diverse backgrounds.

Matt and Emily - Horizon Captial