News
LDC ESG Academy helps portfolio companies to deliver meaningful impact
23 Jun 2026
The first cohort, launched in 2024, recently completed the programme and has made significant, tangible progress in improving their companies’ ESG performance.
In 2024, LDC launched the LDC ESG Academy, designed in partnership with LDN Apprenticeships, to support the management teams of its portfolio companies as they integrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles into their growth strategies.
Working in partnership with management teams, the programme aims to equip participants with the skills, knowledge and capabilities they need to manage ESG performance within their companies both now and into the future.
It focuses on helping them to successfully embed ESG in their business models, supporting both incremental and transformational value creation. As part of the programme, participants complete an End Point Assessment (EPA). Example projects from the first cohort include:
- Hampshire-based LeMieux, a global equestrian brand, initiated a Lifecycle Assessment of its core product, saddle pads, to identify potential supply chain risks and prepare for future compliance requirements.
- Birmingham-headquartered, Precision Micro, a photo-chemical etching supplier, installed energy monitoring equipment in a manufacturing facility to enhance energy efficiency and lower operational costs in order to support the business’s sustainability strategy.
- London-headquartered Sedex, a global supply chain risk management platform, initiated development of the business’s first ESG report to establish a baseline of current ESG performance, risks and opportunities. The report aims to support compliance with emerging ESG disclosure requirements and enhance transparency over time.
- Liverpool-based Bullen Healthcare, an independent provider of stoma, urology and wound care products, conducted a review of single use plastic medical devices for its patients, reducing the environmental impact of these, and, where clinically appropriate, moving to more environmentally friendly alternatives, contributing to the NHS Green plan and their Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP).
The ESG Academy has been a genuinely valuable experience. It not only broadened my understanding of sustainability issues but also provided the tools and confidence to translate ESG principles into real-world impact within my organisation.”
In a survey of the participants, all learners reported an increase in confidence to lead or support on ESG initiatives, and everyone also reported that their ESG-focused work associated with the LDC ESG Academy is having a positive impact on their organisation. In addition, 90% of learners reported finding the programme Extremely Valuable or Very Valuable.
The Academy has been a great help in bringing new information into my workflows and critical in helping me to attain a more in-depth understanding into the field of corporate responsibility and sustainability. I highly recommend it.”
Due to the success of the LDC ESG Academy and increasing interest from our portfolio companies, we welcomed a second cohort in April 2025 and we look forward to a third cohort joining this month.