Essex Pension Fund Investment Strategy and Responsible Investment Approach

Overview

The Essex Pension Fund Investment Steering Commitee (ISC) are committed to the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors when investing your money. To that end, the ISC have reviewed the Investment Strategy Statement (ISS) and Responsible Investment (RI) Policy to assist the Stewardship of the Fund's investments. The ISS and RI Policy should also be read in conjuncton with the Investment Engagement Strategy. (Links to these Strategies/Policy are at the bottom of this page). 

Please provide us with your comments to let us know how you think we are doing!

Why your views matter

Your views are improtant to us. To help you understand what the have implemented/agreed over the last three years:

1. The Fund's de-risking programme (i.e. reducing its allocation away from equities being the most risky asset class to more income generating less risky asset classes which in turn reduces the volatility of investment return) given that the Fund as at the last Actuarial Valuation is over 100% funded (assets exceed benefits due to our scheme members)   
2. The Fund’s commitment to be net zero by 2050
3. The Fund’s commitment to measure annually a set of climate metrics to see how the Fund is progressing with its ‘net zero’ goal
4. The Fund’s commitment to investing £1bn in impact solutions (strategies that as well as deliver financially also deliver both positive environmental and social benefits that would not otherwise happen)
5. The Fund’s Investment Engagement Strategy which sets out the Fund’s Strategy in how it will engagement with its investment managers and the companies that they invest in on the Fund’s behalf to ensure that mandates are aligned to the Fund’s RI Policy and RI Priorities
6. The Fund gaining signatory to the Financial Reporting Council’s UK Stewardship Code, thus being able to demonstrate that the Fund is being a responsible investor
7. The Fund switching/moving towards more sustainable/low carbon strategies as and when suitable opportunities arise