FairPensions

Website: www.fairpensions.org.uk

Created in 2005, FairPensions is a campaigning charity that promotes responsible investment by pension funds and fund managers. Using pensions and savings as a platform from which to influence leading UK corporations, the organisation works with charities, trade unions, faith groups and individual investors to bring transparency to the industry.

To do this, FairPensions works to increase shareholder activism that can persuade investors to address environmental, social and governance issues. This includes training shareholder activists to direct questions at AGMs. In the past year, their activists have attended over 25 company AGMs.

One key issue challenged by FairPensions activists has been the number of workers being paid less than Living Wage. Through its work FairPensions has influenced 10 new companies on the FTSE 100 to begin paying the Living Wage. Beyond shareholder activism, FairPensions also carries out research, single-issue campaigns and awareness-building in Parliament to encourage transparency in investment and address irresponsible practices.