As an impact investor, Triodos Investment Management select companies that develop solutions to the world's most critical sustainability challenges. This process involves seven sustainable transition themes (tracked against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals), one of which is ‘Social inclusion and empowerment’ which Triodos believe is instrumental in securing a sustainable future for all.

“We focus on selecting companies for our funds that make products or provide services to strengthen inclusion and empowerment, especially there where social inclusion barriers are the highest, such as education and employment,” said Pieter-Jan Hüsken, fund manager at Triodos Investment Management.

He continues: “Recruitment market leader Adecco contributes to our social inclusion and empowerment theme and is included in the Triodos Global Equities Impact Fund. The company is prioritising social inclusion and equality, by actively committing to ensuring a balanced gender mix across all levels of its organisation and to implementing innovative schemes to break down any barriers to employment.”

Inclusive recruitment

Founded in 1996, Zurich-based Adecco is a market leader in recruitment and staffing services. Through the company’s services more than 700,000 people work on a permanent or flexible basis; placed in some 100,000 organisations worldwide and working in sectors such as administration, industrial, technical, financial and legal. Active in more than 60 countries, Adecco also employs around 34,000 people.

Adecco stands out from its competitors via its initiatives designed to increase work opportunities for all; regardless of gender, ability or age. Its current programmes include Way to Work; offering young people opportunities to gain work experience through internships within Adecco or with one of its clients and it has so far supported over 40,000 Paralympic, Olympic and elite athletes with career training and finding employment. Adecco demonstrates a strong commitment to equality in its own workforce; which is 65% female and over 55% of its branch managers are women.

Why it’s a good fit for the Triodos Impact Investment Funds

  • Through its activities Adecco has a clear positive impact on society and promotes social inclusion. 
  • The company works to support equal employment opportunities for all, offering additional support to empower disadvantaged groups
  • Adecco sees sustainability as a competitive force and is moving from a culture of compliance to integrated sustainability, aiming to set an example as the market leader.
  • The company demonstrates a commitment to gender equality through its staffing
  • Adecco respects human rights  

Adecco contribute to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:

 

“Through continued engagement with the companies we invest in we actively encourage them to advance the business to advance in all areas of sustainability and provide support along the way,” says Pieter.