Features
Three months until National Ethical Investment Week 2013
National Ethical Investment Week (NEIW) – the event that brings together investors, financial advisers, fund managers, charities, faith groups and more, with the aim of raising the profile of ethical, responsible and sustainable investment – is back for another year in just under three months’ time (October 13-19).
The UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (UKSIF), which co-ordinates the event, said in Blue & Green Tomorrow’s four-month countdown piece that 2013 “will look to be bigger and bolder than ever before”.
We also sought views from co-chair of the Ethical Investment Association John Ditchfield, EIRIS head of responsible investment development Stephen Hine and founding partner at WHEB Clare Brook.
Click here to read The Guide to Sustainable Investment 2013
This time around, we’ve spoken to the two sponsors of the event – Ecclesiastical Investment Management and CCLA – to find out what they’re hoping for in 2013.
Dan Barber, sales and marketing manager at Ecclesiastical Investment Management
“Ecclesiastical has been a sponsor of NEIW for all but one of the years it has been running. We have undoubtedly seen a growing increase in the profile and traction within the independent financial adviser (IFA) community for the week over that time. Indeed the IFA community themselves are becoming more engaged by attending and hosting events where they aim to raise interest in ethical investments within their investor base.
“Ecclesiastical is one of the lead players in the ethical investment market and we spend 52 weeks a year aiming to not only promote our products but also promote the ethical investment industry. NEIW enables the voice of the ethical investment community to be amplified and co-ordinated for the industry as a whole.
Click here to read The Guide to Ethical Financial Advice 2013
“During the week we as an organisation are able to speak with new and larger audiences than we might otherwise be able to and the independent role that UKSIF play also allows our activities to reach wider. NEIW also has a broader mainstream appeal, so it allows Ecclesiastical to speak directly to the end investor, an audience we don’t focus efforts on the rest of the year.
In 2013, Ecclesiastical is looking to build on previous successful years and hope our public relations activity will be as successful as in previous years, but we also hope to be involved in reaching a wider geographic audience more directly, most likely through a greater and better online and social media campaign. The ethical investment industry is an engaged and active community and leveraging new technology to mobilise and interest that community will be vital to the success of NEIW 2013.”
James Corah, deputy head of ethical and responsible investment at CCLA
Click here to read The Guide to Ethical Funds 2013
“As the largest UK manager of sustainable and responsible investment (SRI) funds, CCLA has always made it a priority to enable our charity and church clients to reflect their values in the management of their investments, not only through the avoidance of industry sectors that contradict their mission but also by changing corporate practice through engagement on the topics that matter to them.
“National Ethical Investment Week provides an important opportunity to highlight the possibilities for people to further align their finances with their ethics and celebrate the work of the sector.”
Further reading:
The light triad within ethical, sustainable and responsible investment
The dark triad within unethical, unsustainable and irresponsible investment
There is a disconnect between investment and the real world
Ethical investors are not tree huggers, but air breathers (and responsible global citizens)