We entered the Sustainable Finance Awards in the Investment Management category to spotlight our continued commitment to this style of investing. At Affinity our purpose is to help align our clients’ values, with their wealth and entering these awards enables us to showcase our approach and the contribution we are making towards a more sustainable future.

Since June 2021, our discretionary services have been dedicated to Responsible and Sustainable investment solutions. We see our role as mobilising capital towards the achievement of the 17 UN SDGs alongside raising awareness across our stakeholders in how financial markets can be a force for good. In January 2023, we launched an Irish-domiciled, daily dealing UCITS solution; the Affinity Sustainable Growth Fund. This facilitates broader access to our expertise – through local IFAs and pension schemes – meaning savers with smaller portfolios can choose to direct capital for positive change, using a locally-based manager. As part of this, we are collaborating with Jersey firms to raise awareness around the ‘power in their pensions’, supporting both business’ and the island’s pathway to Net Zero.

Affinity supports the Jersey For Good strategy and organised a Sustainable Pensions event, encouraging local employees to engage with Pension providers to offer sustainable investment choices. We also work with intermediaries and local trustees, supporting them as they advise on investing for purpose, successfully embedding ESG into investment policy statements and charitable giving.

We believe in sharing best practices to support peers on their sustainability journey and we use local media and our social media presence to challenge, educate and engage around sustainability topics. We provide thought leadership, as well as showcasing ideas around corporate stewardship and engagement. We also regularly contribute to island-wide consultations for example; Jersey’s Carbon Neutral Roadmap and participate in Government of Jersey led initiatives such as the Sustainable Finance Ambassador Group. We are also corporate members of Jersey Association of Sustainable Practitioners (JASP) and one of our employees sit on their Marketing and Events Committee.

We have just completed our fifth annual Impact Report, providing investors with insight into their contributions towards the SDGs, outlining fund managers’ engagement with underlying companies and credible metrics to quantify impact.

Affinity supports employees’ continual professional development around sustainability, with a number of our staff holding sustainability qualifications and all our people  signing our Ethical Charter.  The leadership team are committed to delivering on our Sustainability Policy Statement; providing a framework for improving and embedding ESG into the culture of the business.

We are extremely proud to have won this award. It not only validates the team’s hard work but also serves as a powerful endorsement of our leadership in sustainable investing. The recognition provides a valuable opportunity to communicate our values and achievements to a broader audience, fostering trust and credibility within Jersey’s finance industry. We will continue to support and engage with the sustainable finance awards next year, as well as collaborate with our peers to help build the sustainability ecosystem across the island.