Quinn advise Palatine on Human Capital Planning as firm opens second Impact Fund by backing leading Inclusion & Diversity specialist
With The Quinn Partnership advising on Human Capital Planning, Palatine Private Equity has made its first investment from its Impact Fund II by taking a significant stake in Inclusive Employers, the UK’s first and principal membership organisation focused on creating inclusive workplaces.
Inclusive Employers works with more than 500 major businesses, organisations and sporting associations, providing consultancy, training, advice and learning resources through a dynamic and scalable membership model to help create workplaces where all employees are valued and can contribute fully to their success. This is supported by the Inclusive Employers Standard which measures clients against best practice and informs their ongoing strategy.
Inclusive Employers also founded and organises National Inclusion Week, a week-long programme of events dedicated to celebrating inclusion and taking action to create inclusive workplaces. The 10th annual event was held a week ago with a theme of ‘Time to Act: The Power of Now’ with over 4,000 businesses participating in 2022.
With a team of around 35, Inclusive Employers was founded by Richard McKenna, currently the company’s Chair, Managing Director Claire Williams and Rupert Moyne, MD of Corporate Services. Having led the business as it has scaled quickly since its inception, Richard will be exiting the business over the coming weeks while experienced non-executive director John Zafar will be joining the Board as Chair.
Working with Palatine’s Impact team the business will look to accelerate its strong recent membership growth, by scaling its teams, investing in its business development capability and building on its programme of market leading materials, training, consultancy and events.
Matt Coles, Impact Investment Director at Palatine, said: “Inclusive Employers is at the forefront of a mission to help businesses thrive by attracting and retaining the best available talent and creating a truly inclusive culture.
“We are excited to be working with the team, with whom we share so many common values and look forward to using our experience in helping similar-sized organisations scale-up, establish the necessary systems and to also identify potential opportunities in what is a fast-growing and very fragmented sector.”
Claire Williams, Managing Director of Inclusive Employers, added: “There is compelling evidence that organisations committed to building a more inclusive culture attract and retain a wider diversity of talent, which when nurtured is a key driver for greater innovation, development and engagement.
“We are incredibly passionate about what we do and are thrilled to have found an investment partner with the same passion and that has a track record of both impact investing and a deep commitment to ESG over many years.”
Mike Stiles, Director at The Quinn Partnership, commented: “Richard leaves a strong legacy as a preeminent thought leader in the space, communicating the business’ vision which both Claire and Rupert share and embody in their drive and strong operational management of the business.
“Through them Inclusive Employers has broken ground in its mission to champion Inclusion & Diversity standards and deliver best practice training and resources. Claire and incoming Chair John Zafar through their drive, shared values and passion for economic and social justice are now well placed to partner with Palatine as the business moves into a new exciting era of management and expansion.”
The investment is the first from Palatine’s returns-focused Impact Fund II, which invests up to £30m in companies that are creating social or environmental change and tackling some of the biggest issues in society.
Palatine was advised by FRP (banking), Gateley (legals), DSW (FDD), and Fairgrove (CDD). Debt was provided by ThinCats. The shareholders were advised by Grant Thornton (Corporate Finance) and Stephenson Harwood (legals).
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