Nest launches a video to inform members about Responsible Investing – better for members, better for the world

The first in a range of informational videos, they will be available to members and the public on Nest’s website, as well as being made available to employers to host on their intranet.

In a survey commissioned to better understand and engage with members, almost two thirds of Nest savers (63 per cent) said they want to know more about the pension scheme’s status as a responsible investor. Women (68 per cent) are more likely than men (59 per cent) to want to know more about how their funds are being responsibly invested, and almost half savers surveyed (45 per cent) felt more confident about saving with Nest when they heard about Responsible Investment. 

Nest is a committed responsible investor, meaning it takes into consideration environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors across its investment portfolio. Evidence has shown companies which perform poorly on things like executive pay, environmental damage, human and labour rights can damage long term profits. 

Helen Dowsey, Nest's Director of Employer & Intermediary Experience, said:
“With more than 8 million members, representing around one in four of the UK working population, Nest is in a unique position to be able to get a representative sample of savers across the UK.

“We’ve engaged with our members to ask what they’d like to hear about us. One of our key finding was that members want more details on how Nest invests responsibly and more simplified information on our investment strategy illustrated in a digestible and relatable manner.

“So, we’re producing videos like this one which highlights how we’re managing our members’ money. For example, this year through our Climate Aware Fund we withdrew more than £179m from companies that are high contributors to climate change and invested more in renewable energy companies. This is one of the key messages we’re sharing in what we believe is a compelling, engaging way.

“Upcoming videos will highlight things like encouraging and helping members to log in for the first time and “top ten tips” for employers to help them navigate the system.”

Notes to editors:

• Nest regularly conducts research with our membership and the wider population eligible for auto enrolment. All survey results are weighted to be in line with the relevant population. Data in this press release is drawn from Nest member survey conducted online in November 2017 with 3543 members. Results are weighted to reflect Nest membership by age and gender.
• Nest takes communicating with members seriously, we convened a round table of pensions experts whose insights, along with the member research, resulted in this video.
• Nest has invested more than £750 million in its UBS Life Climate Aware World Equity Fund (as of end of March 2019). 
• The video is available on the Nest website