Invest
Investment platform Ethex wins Sustainable Finance award
Online positive investment platform Ethex has won the award for Sustainable Finance in the Sustainable City Awards. A fair trade lender and an organisations working to advance sustainable investment in retail financial services have also been highly commended.
Social entrepreneur Jamie Hartzell started Ethex in 2012. The online platform aims to make it easier for people to invest in organisations that deliver both a financial and positive social return. Since its launch Ethex has enabled over £13.5 million of investment by allowing investors to build their own positive investment portfolio in social and environmental businesses.
This year the organisation won the award for Sustainable Finance award, sponsored by the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (UKSIF), at the Sustainable City Awards, which is coordinated by the City of London and celebrates excellence in sustainable development.
Ethex CEO, Lisa Ashford said, “We’re particularly pleased to win this award sponsored by UKSIF as we both share a common goal in promoting the positive impact of socially responsible investment in the UK.
“It’s been particularly encouraging to see how the positive investment sector has grown since Ethex was founded just over two years ago, as growing numbers of people are thinking about how they can make their money do good.”
Two other firms were highly commended in the Sustainable Finance category, including Shared Interest Society, a fair trade lender providing loans and credit services to businesses and communities in the developing world. To date almost 9,000 people in the UK have become members and invested share capital of over £31 million.
sriServices was also recognised. The organisation works to advance sustainable and responsible investment in retail financial services. Its goal is to improve individual investors access to investment that can drive the transition towards more sustainable lifestyles.
Lisa Stonestreet, programme director at UKSIF, said, “UKSIF is proud of our long-standing partnership with the Sustainable City Awards. UKSIF members and others continue to do outstanding work in the field of sustainable finance, ensuring that the UK remains a world leader in this area.
“It is a pleasure to acknowledge and reward those who have had a particular impact over the past year.”
Photo: images of money via Flickr
Further reading:
UN Green Climate Fund ready to mobilise finance
Fair finance, the new fair trade?
Lord Stern: development and climate finance should not be separated