Latest UKSIF News
Ethical Investment on the Rise: ISA Opportunity
11 February 2010
The Investment Management Association’s (IMA) quarterly statistics issued today show that Quarter 4 sales of ethical funds at £62.2m were the highest since Quarter 4 2007.
Commenting on the IMA statistics, Penny Shepherd MBE, chief executive of UKSIF, the sustainable investment and finance association, said:
“Increasing numbers of investors want to make money and make a difference. As we gradually move out of recession, it is vital that people carefully consider the impact of their investments to help build a sustainable economic recovery. One simple way to make a difference is to consider green and ethical funds as part of your ISA.
“A survey conducted as part of National Ethical Investment Week found that
According to the IMA, there is more than £5.6 billion invested in green and ethical funds in the UK – up from £2.5 billion 10 years ago
Enhancing fund value drives local authority progress on Responsible Investment
4 December 09
Local authority pension funds are increasingly implementing Responsible Investment, according to research by UKSIF, CIPFA and LAPFF announced today at the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF) Conference. For 75% of local authority schemes, the increasing commitment to Responsible Investment is being driven by the need to protect and enhance fund value.
Four out of five schemes agree or strongly agree that considering long term Responsible Investment is part of their fiduciary duty. However, barriers to implementation remain, with 88% of respondents pointing to lack of time, resources, and competing priorities as significant barriers.
Read the full press release. Find out more about the Sustainable Pensions Project.
Penny Shepherd comments on Green ISA announcement by Conservative Party
23 November 2009
UKSIF chief executive Penny Shepherd responds to the speech today by Shadow Chancellor George Osborne in which he announced his intention to introduce Green ISAs.
“Green ISAs will enable individual investors to make money and make a difference to climate change. It is good news that people will be able to shelter some of their rainy day money in ways that help to protect against the dangers of climate change. It should encourage new savings, as well as allowing a greater proportion of existing investments to be held tax free and help to build a better world. This should be a win-win solution for savers and the environment.”
Read the full speech by the Shadow Chancellor or visit our Media Centre.
National Ethical Investment Week 2010 dates announced
16 November 2009
The dates of the third National Ethical Investment Week will be 7-13 November 2010. This follows from the success of this year's NEIW, which featured over 30 events and wide press coverage for green and ethical investing.
Visit the National Ethical Investment Week website.
Copenhagen Calling: Government must do more to stimulate green and ethical investment
11 November 2009
In the run up to the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit, new research released at parliamentary receptions on Tuesday and Wednesday has found that private investors want the Government to do more to stimulate green and ethical investments in the UK.
The poll, conducted by YouGov on behalf of National Ethical Investment Week, found that half of investors (50%) agreed that the Government should encourage greater disclosure and transparency from the financial services industry to improve understanding and awareness of green and ethical investments. In Scotland, the number of investors who felt that government should do more reached 54%. Nearly half (47%) of investors in the UK said that the Government should introduce education in schools so that people know about the likely impact of their investments from an early age.
The research was unveiled at a Parliamentary Reception attended by Rt. Hon Stephen Timms, Financial Secretary to the Treasury to celebrate National Ethical Investment Week. The Scottish research was unveiled at a similar reception at Holyrood, attended by John Swinney MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth.
Read the press releases from the two receptions, or learn more about National Ethical Investment Week.
'Green Gap' in consumer attitudes to green and ethical investing
9 November 2009
New research has found that more than two thirds (70%) of people in Great Britain consider their outlook and lifestyle to be either very or fairly green and ethical. The poll, conducted by YouGov on behalf of National Ethical Investment Week (NEIW), also found that half (49%) of people with savings and investments would like to make money and make a difference. Despite this positive attitude and a growing array of financial products to choose from, only 8% of investors currently hold a green and ethical investment or savings product.
The research highlights a ‘green gap’ in peoples’ attitudes towards ethical and environmental issues and the actions they currently take, especially when it comes to investing. To help breach this green gap, NEIW aims to raise awareness of the green and ethical options available to investors. The week runs from 8 – 14 November 2009, featuring 30 events across the country. NEIW is coordinated by UKSIF – the sustainable investment and finance association, and sponsored by Aviva Investors, CCLA Investment Management, The Co-operative Financial Services and Henderson New Star.
Read the full press release or visit the National Ethical Investment Week website at www.neiw.org.
Ethical Investments return to pre-Crunch levels
4 November 2009
Quarterly Investment Management Association (IMA) statistics for Q309 highlighted some important findings on ethical investments:
Net sales of ethical funds were £59 million in Quarter 3 2009, reversing the previous quarter's exceptional £18 million outflow, and more than double the £21 million net sales in Quarter 3 last year.
Commenting on today’s IMA statistics, Penny Shepherd MBE, chief executive of UKSIF said:
“Investment in ethical funds has returned to levels not seen since the credit crunch took hold, with a near three-fold increase in year-on-year net sales – the highest level since 2007.
“Encouragingly, ahead of National Ethical Investment Week, which starts on 8 November, this highlights a growing trend of investors wanting to make money and make a positive difference to the world they live in.”
For older news articles see UKSIF News Archive. All 2009 press releases are available in the Media Centre.