Responsible Investment
We endeavour to use ESG practice in a systematic way to identify and maintain ethical behaviour and also to improve portfolio company performance. Rutland adheres to the United Nations’ Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI) and the 10 principles of the United National Global Compact.
We want managers in our businesses to go beyond paying lip-service to ESG matters; our system of KPIs and ongoing progress monitoring ensure they are empowered to capitalise on opportunities for improvement.
Employee performance management can lead to improved productivity, raising supply chain standards can reduce reputational risks and better management of environmental impacts can protect the health, safety and wellbeing of employees as well as appeal to customers.
Read more about Rutland’s ESG practises by downloading our company review opposite.
Read more about the ESG practices undertaken by some of our portfolio companies below.
Armitage Pet Care
As the largest manufacturer and distributor of pet products and accessories in Europe, Armitage Pet Care has ethics at its heart, which not only covers their own workforce but encourages all their suppliers to operate to the same ethical standards as they operate themselves. With this in mind, Armitage suppliers are selected based on their strict ethical policies which include:
- Freedom of employment
- Safe & Hygienic working conditions
- No child labour
- Anti-discrimination policies
Armitage believes their employees are their strength and the company culture is built on teamwork and empowerment. Armitage provides equal opportunities and is committed to the principle of equality regardless of race, colour, ethnic or national origin, religious belief, sex, age or disability.
As a Europewide distributor Armitage also takes its environmental responsibilities very seriously, and constantly encourages and reviews initiatives that will help to reduce their environmental impact both as a manufacturer and importer.
AFI Uplift
AFI is committed to ensuring that the company is a great place to work and the health and happiness of its employees is of paramount importance. The company goes to great lengths to ensure staff are happy from the top down.
Some of the health and wellbeing initiatives undertaken by AFI included providing employees with a comprehensive health scheme, providing defibrillators at all locations, as well as giving care and consideration for employees’ families in times of need.
This commitment has been acknowledged by Investors in People (IIR) on more than one occasion; first winning IIR’s Gold award and then gaining the organisation’s Health & Wellbeing Award. In addition, AFI has been awarded the Best Companies accreditation at the first time of entering the scheme. The Best Companies accreditation scheme follows the Michelin star-style rating system for organisations that show high levels of employee engagement.
TOTAL RAIL SOLUTIONS
Total Rail Solutions has one of the highest staff retention rates in the industry, which is due to their commitment to ensuring its workforce is correctly trained achieving the competencies and expertise to successfully carry out every job they undertake. The company actively encourages their workforce to continually develop their skills and knowledge, providing them with resources to enable them to do so.
In addition, health and safety excellence is a companywide goal, actively promoted through their behavioural safety strategy ‘Destination Total Safety’. Focusing on health and safety excellence – every day – the strategy’s objectives are to eliminate unsafe actions, minimise risks and ensure a safe and healthy working environment for everyone. Total Solutions recognises the need to invest in their workforce, giving them the skills and mind-set to be safe in everything they do.
As part of Destination Total Safety Total Rail Solutions actively promotes the Network Rail Lifesaving Rules and is a member of the British Safety Council. In addition, the company holds an impressive list of RISQS approvals and a wealth of accreditations, including: BS EN ISO 9001 – for quality, BS EN ISO 14001 – for the environment, BS EN OHSAS 18001 – for health and safety, FORS Bronze membership – Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme.