Our Impact

Impact and ESG are integral to what we do and who we are. From how we invest to how we operate as a firm, we aim to deliver growth with impact for investors, our portfolio companies, and Africa.

Firm Impact

Delivering impact and responsible investing beyond our portfolio

Our commitments as a firm are an important pillar of our impact and ESG strategy

At Helios, we are proud to have been B Corp certified since 2020, reflecting the high standards we uphold in social and environmental responsibility.


Additionally, we are committed to being a positive corporate citizen, with a strong focus on climate action, diversity, and community impact. Through our corporate social responsibility initiative, Helios Citizens, we extend our efforts beyond our portfolio companies, driving positive change in the communities where we live and work.

ESG video headline

Our firm-level focus on climate

Helios recognizes that private equity, with its ability to drive transformation and growth, plays a vital role in advancing the transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient global economy. This is essential to achieving the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to well below 2°C.


In 2022, Helios joined iC International, a global community of investors dedicated to understanding and managing climate-related risks and in 2023, we launched Helios Climate, a dedicated climate strategy. However, this commitment extends beyond our investments to our own operations, where we actively work to reduce our environmental impact, from our offices to business travel.

Our firm-level focus on diversity and inclusion

In 2024, Helios joined 2X Global, a global industry body dedicated to increasing the volume and impact of capital directed toward women’s economic empowerment worldwide. As a member, we are building on our commitment to diversity and inclusion, applying 2X gender-based criteria to future funds and strategies.


Beyond our investments, we are also focused on enhancing female representation within our own firm, with a target of at least 30% female professionals on the investment team and 45% across the entire firm by 2028.

B Corp certified since 2020

B Corp certification is a globally recognized mark of excellence in social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability, ensuring businesses balance profit with purpose.


At Helios, we believe that being a B Corp enables us to build more valuable, sustainable businesses with stronger long-term growth prospects. In 2020, we became the first and largest emerging-markets-focused private equity firm to achieve B Corp certification. Since then, we have deepened our commitment to these high standards. Our recertification in 2023, with an improved score, reflects the strength and impact of our ESG efforts across our business.

Wind farm on mountains

Helios and Certification B

We have become the largest emerging markets-focused PE firm globally to receive B Corp certification

CSR Program

Helios Citizens

Consistent with the impact created by Helios' portfolio companies, the firm strives to make a positive impact in the communities in which its people live and work through Helios Citizens, our Corporate Social Responsibility program.

Helios Citizens has supported the following organizations

Partners of the firm sit on the boards of organizations including:

Organisation logos
Picture of children

Eastside Young Leader's Academy

Focused on social mobility and inclusion. Operates a supplementary education programme targeted at local, disengaged, disadvantaged young African Caribbean boys and girls, typically aged 8 - 16, identified as being at risk of social and educational exclusion.

Promundo

Promotes gender equality and prevents violence by engaging men and boys in partnership with women and girls.

CAWEE

Provides practical training to disadvantaged women, subsequently employed by a network of female entrepreneurs.

  • Location: Addis Aababa, Ethiopia
  • Helios Target Cause: Education, Social Entrepreneurship
  • More information: http://cawee-ethiopia.com

Inara

Contributes to school supplies, specialized centers for disabled people and social institutions.

  • Location: Tunisia
  • Helios Target Cause: Child/Youth Welfare

HerCapital

Year-long leadership and professional development programme for university-level female students from minority backgrounds

Amos Bursary

Amos Bursary ensures that talented young men of African and Caribbean descent from underprivileged backgrounds have the opportunity to excel in education, and beyond.

The Brokerage

The Brokerage focuses on shifting the dial on social mobility through online education, undergraduate mentoring, Year 12/13 work experience and paid internships for state school students, with 90% of students coming from BAME backgrounds.

Black Women in Asset Management (BWAM)

BWAM is an organisation of professionals in the asset management industry aligned around a common goal to advance and retain black women leaders. Initiatives also include the outreach to young black women to pursue careers in investment fields.