In this episode of the Pensions for Purpose Podcast Karen Shackleton, Chair & Founder, talks with Abbie Lleywellyn-Waters, Lead Investment Manager of Jupiter’s Global Sustainable Equities strategy about how diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) help managers to select companies with the best long-term prospects. In a recent Pensions for Purpose Impact Lens report sponsored by Jupiter Asset Management, the two organisations looked at the importance of DE&I factors across the investment chain. The podcast discusses practical steps pension schemes and asset managers can implement.

The impact of improved funding levels on pensions and the consequent buyout boom, is one of the most significant trends to affect the UK pensions industry in recent years. Last year, around £50bn was transferred from closed corporate defined benefit pension schemes to insurers. It’s estimated to be £60bn this year and with new market entrants, could hit £100bn a year.

In this episode, podcast hosts Charlotte Moore and David Brown are joined by Paul Kitson and Ben Grainger from EY, to talk about how insurance companies are investing those assets sustainably. Many insurers have ambitious net-zero targets in place but have tight regulatory constraints about how these annuity assets can be allocated. We discuss how this shapes potential investment as well as possible solutions and opportunities for asset managers to work with insurers.

The auto-enrolled workplace pension scheme is the UK's largest driver of future retirement wealth. According to the Pensions Policy Institute's 'DC Future Book 2023', this market is projected to reach approximately £800bn by 2030. These workplace pension schemes rely heavily on passive equity investments to generate returns.

In this episode, podcast hosts Charlotte Moore and Charlotte O'Leary are joined by Keith Guthrie, Head of Sustainability at Cardano UK and NOW:Pensions. They discuss the three key areas schemes must address to enhance the sustainability of their investments, along with the challenges these present for pension funds and asset managers. The conversation covers selecting appropriate benchmarks, the importance of effective stewardship, and whether there's a place for impact investing in a workplace portfolio.