Bridges Fund Management

Investment decisions are overseen by the Bridges investment committee, which includes co-founders Michele Giddens (Executive Chair) and Simon Ruskell (Chief Executive). Each of Bridges' three strategies — private equity, real estate and sustainable infrastructure — has its own dedicated investment team and lead partners (per Bridges, firm website).

Bridges generates proprietary deal flow through its network of impact-focused intermediaries, its in-house research team analyzing macro sustainability trends, and its reputation as a specialist impact investor. The firm also sources co-investment opportunities from institutional partners, and its real estate team often originates projects through local authority partnerships and regeneration frameworks (per Bridges, firm website).

Bridges is an institutional asset manager, not a family office. It manages third-party capital from pension funds, endowments, foundations and family offices. The firm is owned by its partners (including the co-founders) and retains an independent governance structure (per Bridges, firm website).

Bridges' private equity strategy targets control and significant minority stakes in established, growth-oriented SMEs in the UK and Europe. Its real estate strategy focuses on value-add and development opportunities. The sustainable infrastructure strategy targets operating assets and greenfield projects (per Bridges, firm website).

Bridges operates an explicit exclusion policy aligned with its impact mandate, avoiding investments in fossil fuels, tobacco, alcohol, gambling, weapons, and any activities with significant negative environmental or social outcomes. Its exclusion list is published as part of its responsible investment policy (per Bridges, firm website).

Bridges uses its proprietary 'Impact Diamond' framework to assess investments across four dimensions: Impact Intent (is the business designed to solve a social/environmental problem?), Impact Contribution (can Bridges' capital add to the impact?), Impact Risk (what are the downside risks?), and Impact Performance (are outcomes measurable and improving?). The firm also uses third-party verification where possible (per Bridges, firm website).

Bridges maintains a dedicated philanthropic arm called the Bridges Social Entrepreneurs Fund, which provides charitable capital and capacity-building support to early-stage social enterprises. This fund is distinct from the main for-profit funds and is managed with a separate governance framework (per Bridges, firm website).