Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust recognised as global leader in responsible investment

 THE Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT) has received international recognition for its commitment to responsible investment.

The UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) – an internationally recognised proponent of ethical investment - has named JRCT as one of its 47 global leaders. JRCT is the only European foundation to have made the list.

The accolade recognises excellence in responsible investment and organisations that excel in the selection, appointment and monitoring of external managers.

JRCT – a grant-making trust with a long-standing interest in the ethics of investment - has been named among the PRI Leaders’ Group, alongside a varied list including Church Commissioners for England and Environmental Agency Pension Fund.

Jackie Turpin, head of finance at JRCT, said: “We’re thrilled to be named among the PRI leaders. “We recognise that our investments do not stand in isolation from our grant giving work and that the investments we make, and our behaviour as an investor, have an important role in achieving the Trust’s overall aims.

“Because of this we have to be confident in the ability of our external managers to invest our funds in a way which is compatible with our values and to integrate environmental, social and governance considerations into their investment processes.

“It follows that we have to have robust procedures around their selection and monitoring to ensure that they are clear about what we require of them and are accountable to us.”

She added: “Although taking such a rigorous approach does take commitment, we are confident that the excellent external managers that we now work with have added significantly to the quality of stocks in our portfolio and our long term returns.”

JRCT has had a long-standing interest in the ethics of investment, with its first policy statement being agreed by the board in 1975. Since 2013, the Trust has invested in sustainable funds which integrate environmental, social and governance considerations into their investment processes as a matter of course.

The 2019 PRI Leaders’ Group consists of 47 asset owners, roughly equivalent to the top ten per cent of PRI asset owner signatories. PRI said it hoped its wider signatory base would learn from the responsible investment practices of its Leaders’ Group.

 

Notes:

- JRCT is a Quaker trust which supports people who are working to address the root causes of conflict and injustice, to build a fairer and more peaceful world.

- JRCT operates five grant-making programmes: peace and security, rights and justice, power and accountability, sustainable future and Northern Ireland. T

- The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT) (www.jrct.org.uk) is an entirely separate organisation from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (www.jrf.org.uk) and Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust (www.jrrt.org.uk).

Media contact: Kate Gradwell, communications officer, 01904 627810, kate.gradwell@jrct.org.uk or enquiries@jrct.org.uk