The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT) has been named as one of the 47 global leaders recognised by the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). The accolade recognises excellence in responsible investment and organisations that excel in the selection, appointment and monitoring of external managers.  JRCT is the only European foundation to have made the list.

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.

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

‘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.’