Welcome to the News & Events Archive
Please see below details of previous events we have been involved with the news about Rathbone Greenbank

Annual Investor Day 2010
Released: 10 May 2010

Nearly one hundred clients and guests attended this year’s Rathbone Greenbank Investments investor day which was held at Cambridge Cottage, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew on Monday 10 May. To highlight the International Year of Biodiversity, the event featured a line-up of expert speakers who addressed the audience on a variety of connected topics.

Mark Broadmeadow, who has led the Forestry Commission’s work on climate change for the last five years, kicked off the event with a talk highlighting the role woodland creation (and the forestry sector in general) can play in mitigating the effects of climate change in the UK. Forestry is currently high on the Government’s agenda because it can deliver effective mitigation and adaptation. However, its effectiveness will depend on mobilising sufficient carbon-related finance.

Next, Andreas Eke, director of Futuro Forestal, spoke about enhancing biodiversity and returns through reforestation, specifically with regard to his experience of managing forestry assets in Panama. Andreas stressed how heterogenic soil conditions in tropical countries mean that monoculture is not an appropriate system, and how a multi-culture approach is not only more productive, but also enhances biodiversity.

Tracey Campbell, a director at the Forest Footprint Disclosure Project, described how this government-supported initiative helps investors and consumers identify how an organisation’s activities and supply chains contribute to deforestation. The FFD Project focuses on those organisations that have a significant exposure to one or more key commodities linked to deforestation, such as timber, soy, beef, palm oil and biofuels.

Finally, Stephanie Wray from Hyder Consulting’s Environment Division addressed the issue of how biodiversity considerations can be integrated into companies’ sustainability agendas. While other environmental impacts such as energy and water use have well-established economic frameworks and, in the case of GHG emissions have become monetised making it easy to incorporate them into conventional cost-benefit analyses, the economic value of eco-system services and biodiversity is still at an early stage of development.

Talks were interspersed with two lively Q&A sessions, which provoked some stimulating debate. Guests then retired for a buffet lunch and the opportunity to take advantage of the warm spring weather with a tour of the Gardens.



Will Hutton - The Future Of Capitalism
Released: 24 May 2010

As part of the Bristol Festival of Ideas, Rathbone Greenbank Investments sponsored this event on 24 May at St George's Hall, Bristol.

The suddenness and depth of the recession has raised questions about the workability of capitalism not seen since the 1930s. One of the constraints on recovery is the growing belief that if the old model did not work, while there is no new one on offer. Hutton argued that reconstructing a robust financial system is not just a technical question. It cannot be done without a wholesale revision of the wider system and values on which it is based – and fairness must be placed at the heart of the new capitalism for society’s future well-being.

One of Hutton’s central themes on the evening was the problem of ‘disproportionality’. He explained how the ruthless early settlers to America used the scales of justice to symbolise the centrality of the notion of proportionality. The huge sums earned by hedge fund managers and traders were argued to be disproportionate and it was recommended that these sums should be curtailed for the sake of the public perception of ‘fairness’.

We were pleased to host a good number of clients at this highly informative and thought-provoking event.


Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better
Released: 11 May 2010

Rathbone Greenbank Investments sponsored this Bristol Festival of Ideas event featuring Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett, which took place at St George's Hall, Bristol on 11 May 2010 at 19.30.

Large income inequalities have often been regarded as divisive and corrosive. Wilkinson and Pickett’s groundbreaking book, The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better, demonstrates that more unequal societies are bad for both the well-off and the poor, with almost every modern social and environmental problem – ill-health, lack of community life, violence, drugs, obesity, mental illness, long working hours, large prison populations – more likely to occur. Shifting from self-interested ‘consumerism’ to a friendlier and more collaborative society, and finding a solution to social and environmental problems, is key to improving the real quality of life for everyone.


Investors speak out against BP's Tar Sands plans
Released: 16 April 2010

Investors sent a strong message of concern about the risks of Tar Sands investment to the management of BP yesterday, as nearly 15% of shareholders declined to support the company’s view of the special resolution tabled by a large number of Rathbone Greenbank Investments' clients.

High profile support from major US investors in addition to leading UK pension funds gave strong backing for the calls for more transparency. The result gives a clear mandate for continued engagement on this issue and the company stated that although the resolution had been defeated, it was taking the concerns raised very seriously.

Since the financial crisis there has been much criticism of shareholders as absentee landlords. We feel the tar sands resolutions process has extracted highly valuable disclosures regarding future strategy and risk profile. BP has put far more data into the public domain than before the resolutions were tabled, which should be seen as a success.

We are at a watershed moment for shareholder democracy in the UK. The financial crisis highlighted to the world the shortcomings of the system, as remuneration reports and accounts at some banks, such as RBS, were passed without comment. We believe that shareholders raising genuine, well founded questions through the use of shareholder resolutions, enabled by Company law, should not be branded as ‘dissident’ or ‘rebel’ but be treated as responsible long-term owners of the company.

Shareholder resolutions should be treated on their merits and institutional investors should be encouraged to focus on the spirit of such requests rather than worrying about their relationships if they were to vote against the company’s wishes. Proposed codes of practice for shareholders should be amended to reflect this.

In any case, the Tar Sands resolution process has sparked a wider debate about the economic and environmental sustainability of all unconventional oil and gas. We look forward to remaining leading voices in this debate, representing clearly the concerns of our clients.

Matt Crossman, Corporate Engagement, Rathbone Greenbank Investments


Team News
Released: 12 February 2010

Elizabeth Haigh has now stepped down as Head of Rathbone Greenbank Investments handing the leadership of the team over to John David.

Elizabeth founded Rathbone Greenbank in 2004 and under her stewardship the team has grown into arguably the UK’s most successful ethical specialist in discretionary investment management for private clients, charities and trusts.

In addition to continuing to manage client portfolios, Elizabeth will be spending more time in conjunction with Mark Mansley in developing Rathbone Greenbank’s expertise in social enterprise investment, an area of growing significance within the ethical investment arena.

John joined Rathbones in 2001 and was a founder member of Rathbone Greenbank. In addition to managing private client and charity accounts, John has developed the team’s expertise in ethical managed funds portfolio management. He also sits on Rathbones’ Social & Environmental Committee. Away from work, he is a trustee of Frank Water Projects, a charity dedicated to providing sustainable clean water in the developing world.


Rathbone Greenbank Investments engages on US labour law
Released: 14 October 2009

Rathbone Greenbank Investments has been involved in promoting the protection of employees’ rights at work for many years, most notably in our support for shareholder resolutions at the transport company, FirstGroup in 2006. Throughout 2009 we have been engaging with companies with significant US operations regarding their employment policies, with specific regard to their approach to unionisation.

Whilst the freedom of association is an established right in the US, the system for gaining approval to form a union is currently complex and open to manipulation. The campaign group Human Rights Watch has noted that in the US “Legal obstacles tilt the playing field so steeply against workers’ freedom of association that the United States is in violation of international human rights standards for workers.”

Following the election of Barck Obama, there was renewed hope that legislation seeking to address this situation would be enacted, in the form of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). The EFCA essentially creates a new legally recognised method of forming a union in the US, seeking to avoid situations where employers hire so called ‘union-busting’ consultants, affecting supposedly secret elections.

The legislation is proving controversial, and we wrote to companies with a significant exposure to the US in the first half of the year asking for clarification on their stance on the EFCA, and the extent to which their existing policies supported freedom of association. We received encouraging replies from a number of companies, and have remained in productive dialogue. In the second half of the year, we have been pleased to work with a broad coalition of investors also seeking to engage with companies on the EFCA. This group has communicated with a large number of UK companies with US operations, many of which it has met in person to discuss the issues.

The passage of the EFCA has been somewhat hindered by the focus on efforts to deliver healthcare reform in the US, but we will continue to push companies to adopt best practice as regards respecting workers’ human rights, and ensure that companies in which we are invested are demonstrating an awareness of such emerging ethical issues.


Organic Food Festival 12 -13 September
Released: 12 September 2009

We were pleased to be a part of the Soil Association's Organic Food Festival, which took place in Bristol's Harbourside on the weekend of the 12th September.

Our stall was located in the 'Green Planet' zone in the Millenium Square area.

For more information please visit http://www.theorganicfoodfestival.co.uk/2009.


Rathbone Greenbank Investments Newsletter: Summer 2009
Released: 20 July 2009

Rathbone Greenbank Investments is pleased to announce the launch of its latest newsletter - "Global problems, local solutions"

Summarising our recent investor day, the report examines the very different responses to global challenges being persued by United Utilities, the Ashton Hayes 'Going Carbon Neutral Project' and Habitat for Humanity.

The full document can be downloaded here


Rathbone Greenbank Investments calls for ‘green’ focus in economic recovery measures
Released: 6 April 2009

Rathbone Greenbank Investments was part of a group of major investors, representing over £400bn in funds under management, which wrote to the UK Prime Minister, as chair of last week’s London summit, supporting a strong ‘green’ element in programmes of fiscal stimulus undertaken by governments. Elizabeth Haigh, head of Rathbone Greenbank Investments, was one of ten leading fund managers to support the letter.

The intervention follows President Obama’s announcement of a stimulus package containing major investments in low-carbon energy and energy efficiency and echoes calls for a ‘green new deal’ by others such as the UN’s Environment Programme and Lord Stern, the former head of the UK Government Economics Service.

The initiative was convened by UKSIF, the sustainable investment and finance association and the UK-based business-led think tank, Tomorrow’s Company. Penny Shepherd, UKSIF chief executive, said: “The stimulus packages now being considered by several governments will be all the more powerful if they lever in private investment from responsible investors seeking long-term sustainable returns. This requires some detailed work to design frameworks and financial instruments that encourage investors to participate. Governments need to keep engaging in debate with investors so that the private sector’s potential can be fully harnessed”.


Rathbone Greenbank Investments attends the 2009 Ethical Property Company AGM
Released: 2 April 2009

Chris Bullock from Rathbone Greenbank Investments attended the Ethical Property Company AGM in London on Saturday 21 March. The event was very well attended as shareholders and interested parties were given a presentation on the company's progress and results along with workshops focusing on interesting current developments and future opportunities for the company both in the UK and overseas. It was also a welcome chance to meet the European team and the new non-executive directors who were standing for election and to look back on the company's 10 year history.


Rathbone Greenbank Investments' book recommendation
Released: 9 March 2009

Rathbone Greenbank Investments recommends the following book to clients:

'How to get your ideas adopted (and change the world)'

by Anne Miller (published by Marshall Cavendish)

Have you ever thought you had a good idea, but then found that no one would listen? They said it was too risky, or not their area, or they just made so many objections that you got fed up and dropped the whole thing?

In today’s challenging times new ideas are more urgently required than ever, so this important, enjoyable and stimulating book is of vital importance. It will inspire innovators and creative people to develop fresh ideas for difficult times, and then equip them to push through the inevitable resistance to success.

Using a wealth of case studies, it explores why you may be more creative than you realise and how you can develop your 'seed' ideas into great ideas. It then reveals the powerful techniques for overcoming resistance in each of its four very different stages.

Freely crossing the boundaries between technological innovation, business and social change, and drawing on practical psychology and illuminating case studies from the author's and others' experiences, this inspiring book is both a practical guide to bringing ideas to fruition, and an inspiring demonstration of the power of individuals to make the world a better place.

About the author

Anne Miller is a successful entrepreneur, innovator, and probably one of the world’s most successful female inventors. She is the director of the Creativity Partnership, based in Cambridge, providing consulting and management training in creativity and innovation for some of the world’s leading organisations. She works at Board level, helping many of the UK’s leading non-governmental organisations collaborate on climate change campaigning.

For more information, see www.annemiller.info


Chicken, Hugh and Tesco too
Released: 26 January 2009

Head of Rathbone Greenbank Investments Elizabeth Haigh featured on the Channel 4 update of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s ‘Chicken Out‘ campaign, broadcast Saturday 31 January 2009. The programme followed the progress of the resolution that Rathbone Greenbank Investments was involved in last year, encouraging leading retailers such as Tesco to take action on the welfare of standard broiler chickens.

The ‘Chicken Out’ campaign has had some notable successes. In November 2008, the campaign reported that Sainsbury’s had seen continued sales growth of its new range of RSPCA Freedom Food chicken. Sainsbury’s has also pledged to remove battery farmed eggs from its supply chain. Overall, the campaign claims that sales of higher welfare chicken have grown from 5% to 15% of UK sales.

As a result of the resolution, Tesco pledged to be part of an industry wide forum on the issue of improving welfare standards. This process begun with a Chatham House discussion in November 2008 intended to set the scene for the debate. This forum has been co-ordinated by the England Implementation Group (EIG), and it was agreed that the group should look at a range of issues including agreeing on what is an acceptable ‘good’ UK standard of poultry welfare, ensuring that industry progress in improving welfare is not undermined by lower welfare imports and addressing the issue of competitive pressure on pricing.

Rathbone Greenbank Investments continues to encourage retailers to address the ethical sourcing issues related to food production, and welcomes moves to open up higher welfare alternatives for those on lower incomes, such as those provided by the RSPCA Freedom Foods standard.


The 2009 Annual Garrad Hassan Renewable Energy Lecture: Energy Security and Complexity
Released: 20 January 2009

Members of the Rathbone Greenbank Investments team attended this lecture in Bristol on 20 January 2009. Garrad Hassan kicked off the proceedings with a positive outlook on the renewable energy sector and informed the packed audience of the various job vacancies available with them – somewhat of a rarity in the current environment!

Professor Catherine Mitchell from the University of Exeter presented her view of UK and global energy policy – where we’ve come from, the challenges facing us and her goal of a decentralised, sustainable energy policy. Although one sensed Professor Mitchell’s despair at times regarding historic and current policy, there was palpable optimism that through the assembled parties - renewable energy companies, academia and the young, bright minds of the Bristol University students - a sustainable energy policy could be realised.

Schumacher Lectures - Bristol
Released: 11 October 2008

Rathbone Greenbank Investments was delighted to once again sponsor the annual lectures in Bristol at the Council House. For further information on the Schumacher Society go to http://www.schumacher.org.uk or call 0117 903 1081. Please also see our review of the event.


Rathbone Greenbank Investments launches in Liverpool
Released: 23 May 2008

Rathbone Investment Management (Rathbones) is to formally extend its specialist ethical investment service by launching Rathbone Greenbank Investments in Liverpool.

“As ethical investment issues become more mainstream, we are seeing increasing demand from clients and their advisers for a dedicated ethical service that takes their concerns into account and is backed up by detailed research and understanding of the issues. Extending Rathbone Greenbank Investments to Liverpool will help us capitalise on Rathbones’ longstanding and recognised credentials in this market and make the service more widely available to investors across the UK,” commented Elizabeth Haigh, head of Rathbone Greenbank Investments.

The new Liverpool team will be headed by investment director Lorraine Dodd who has worked at Rathbones since 1993.


Rathbone Greenbank Investments offers portfolio screening during National Ethical Investment Week
Released: 18 - 24 May 2008

During National Ethical Investment Week 2008, Rathbone Greenbank Investments offered individuals and trustees the opportunity to have their portfolios screened for ethical conflicts as well as the chance to discuss how their ethical interests may be incorporated into their investment strategy.


Rathbone Greenbank Investments hosts the Standards International Seminar
Released: 15 May 2008

Rathbone Greenbank Investments was delighted to host the Standards International seminar in London, aimed at increasing the awareness of ethical investments among financial intermediaries. Speakers included Penny Shepherd from the UK Social Investment Forum, Melanie Blackmore from Standards International and Nicola Day from Rathbone Greenbank Investments. For further information, please contact us on 0117 930 3000 or e-mail greenbank@rathbones.com.


Rathbone Greenbank Investments' Annual Investor Day
Released: 14 May 2008

This year we held our Investor Day at the STEAM (Museum of Great Western Railway) in Swindon, on the subject of ‘Sustainable Transport – The Way Forward’. We were joined by Helen Pilbin from National Express, James Finlayson from City Car Club and Peter Lipman from Sustrans. For further information, please contact us on 0117 930 3000 or e-mail greenbank@rathbones.com.


Rathbone Greenbank Investments sponsors The Funding Network in Bristol
Released: 7 May 2008

The Funding Network South West held a Funding Event in Bristol on 7 May. It was a special environmentally themed event organised in partnership with Forum for the Future as part of the Green Capital Initiative, and sponsored by Rathbone Greenbank Investments.

Details of the projects are listed below:

Boiling Wells Project at St Werburghs City Farm was looking for funding to work with young people to develop a derelict part of their site into an outdoor amphitheatre, education space and storytelling arena.

Transition Bristol wanted to develop practical, community-led responses to the effects of climate change and the use of energy, raising awareness of the issues and the potential for local action to address them.

Bristol Food Hub required funding for their Food and Mood courses, teaching people about the health and environmental benefits of eating and growing local food.

Carbon Busters needed funding for their schools programme designed to raise awareness of their environment and their impact on it. It aims to change behaviour through a practical programme led by and for young people.

Plastic Bag Free Bristol needed to raise funds to support local groups with the aim of drastically reducing the use of disposable plastic bags by retailers and their customers and to make Bristol the first plastic bag-free city in the UK.

Kilter Theatre – Back on track wanted to run an open air performance along the cycle route near Bath to highlight sustainable transport issues and the demand by local communities for greater use of cycle paths in the UK.

For more information visit The Funding Network or email tfn@quartetcf.org.uk.


Rathbone Greenbank Investments supports The Ethical Superstore.com
Released: 21 April 2008

Rathbone Greenbank investors have participated in the recent fundraising by PointOV, the company behind www.ethicalsuperstore.com. The Ethical Superstore, based in Newcastle, has one of the largest ranges of ethical and fairly traded products available online from a single source. They currently stock more than 3,000 products ranging from organic wine and fairly traded coffee to eco friendly gadgets. The new funds will be used to build the business and to allow it to compete more effectively with larger online stores. For further information, please go to http://www.ethicalsuperstore.com.


Rathbone Greenbank Investments questions BP's oil sands project
Released: 17 April 2008

Rathbone Greenbank Investments joined with a coalition of investors to raise concerns at BP’s Annual General Meeting over the company’s re-entry into the Canadian oil sands project. Jointly presenting the statement with the ECCR, Rathbone Greenbank raised important questions about the long-term environmental impacts of this highly intensive form of oil extraction, and the future costs to the company should expensive carbon capture technology have to be fitted to the project. Complementing the coalition on their reasoned approach, BP Chairman Peter Sutherland stressed the company’s ongoing commitment to leadership on renewable and sustainable energy solutions.


Rathbone Greenbank Investments attends Social Investment Forum’s Spring Symposium
Released: 15 April 2008

Matt Crossman joined members of the SRI community from across Europe and North America for a meeting of ethical fund managers and engagement professionals held in London. As well as benefiting from a talk from keynote speaker Ernst Ligteringen of the Global Reporting Initiative, various other speakers from organisations such as Oxfam and US Unions sparked discussion on activist and investor collaboration. Representatives from the investment community in the UK and Europe discussed different methods of corporate engagement, as well as sharing in debates about the best ways to integrate environmental and social concerns into traditional investment analysis. Discussion on the challenges and opportunities for aligning business practices and human rights considerations was enhanced by the presence of representatives of the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, an important news source for Rathbone Greenbank. Several opportunities for future collaborative work emerged by the end of the day, with a genuine sense of momentum building from the sharing of promising practices in responsible investing.


Rathbone Greenbank Investments meets with Cafédirect
Released: 8 April 2008

Members of Rathbone Greenbank Investments met with Fairtrade drinks producer Cafédirect for an annual update. Cafédirect is one of many social investments well supported by Greenbank clients, contributing to the further development of Fairtrade markets in the developing world. Cafédirect offers more than just Fairtrade premiums to partner growers, also investing in community projects such as schools and infrastructure under the unique Producer Partnership Programme (PPP). The company has recently recruited several members of staff including Anne MacCaig as chief executive, bringing a wealth of commercial experience and passion for sustainability issues as the group enters the next stage of growth. It has also recently appointed a supply chain manager who brings to the company 25 years of supply chain management experience at M&S. As commodity prices fluctuate, Cafédirect is demonstrating commitment to its production partners above and beyond paying the Fairtrade premiums.


Rathbone Greenbank Investments' ethical investment seminar for intermediaries
Released: 27 February 2008

We are hosting a seminar on ethical investments from our London office aimed at financial advisers, lawyers and accountants. We will be joined by representatives from Impax, First State and Developing World Markets to discuss issues around ethical and sustainable business. For further information, please contact us on 0117 930 3000 or e-mail greenbank@rathbones.com.


Nobel Peace Prize winner Mohammed Yunus talks in Bristol
Released: 17th February 2008

Muhammad Yunus, winner of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, gave a talk in Bristol at St. Georges concert hall. His visit to the UK marked the publication of his new book 'Creating a World Without Poverty', in which Yunus envisages a future where 'business' could make a serious contribution to ending poverty. Thirty years ago, he invented the field of microcredit with the founding of the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh. Having since seen micro-lending banks established in over 100 countries and lending to 100 million families, he is now on a mission to see that 'social business' - business designed to meet a social rather than a financial goal - becomes the next global development.


Rathbone Greenbank Invesments recommends Rachel Carson's play 'Breaking the Silence'
Released: 6 February 2008

Rathbone Greenbank Investments was delighted to recommend this event at Circomedia in Portland Square, Bristol. The theatre piece is based on Rachel Carson's influential book “Silent Spring”, written last year as a celebration of the centenary of her birth. The full production will be touring the country this Spring. For further information on all the shows please go to www.rachelcarson.co.uk/tourdates or email info@rachelcarson.co.uk.


Rathbone Greenbank Investments publishes its Spring 2008 newsletter
Released: 17 January 2008

The latest Rathbone Greenbank newsletter was published in January 2008 and looks at some of the new investments made in the last year and provides an overview of our engagement activities. Read more about the Rathbone Greenbank Review Spring 2008 (PDF, 876k).


Environment Agency Awards Update
Released: 7 December 2007

Mark Mansley has been consulting on the environmental strategy for the Environment Agency's £1 billion pension fund for the past six years and, after joining the team in 2004, Rathbone Greenbank Investments was appointed to officially advise in this process. We are delighted to announce that since then the fund has won numberous industry awards for best practice including the IPE/Brooklyn Bridge/TBLI Environmental Social Governance Leaders Award; the LGC Finance Corporate Governance Award; and the Most Innovative Investment Strategy Award at the 2007 Pensions Management Awards. A full report is attached.

Click here to download the report.


Rathbone Greenbank Investments supports 'The Big Event'
Released: 25 November 2007

Rathbone Greenbank Investments was delighted to support The Big Event being organised by Transition Bristol on 25 November at the Bristol Council House on College Green. The event included a number of workshops sharing ideas on the practical responses to Peak Oil and Climate Change. For further information please visit http://www.transitionbristol.org.


Rathbone Greenbank Investments attends Oxfam’s 'Climate Change: A Global Injustice' event
Released: 18 October 2007

We had a stall at the 'Climate Change: A Global Injustice' evening on Thursday 18 October, organised by Oxfam Campaigns South West. Among the speakers were George Monbiot (journalist, campaigner and author of 'Heat - How to stop the planet burning') and Kate Raworth, a Senior Researcher with Oxfam. further information, please go to http://www.agoraspace.org or call 0117 9574652.


Rathbone Greenbank Investments sponsors the Schumacher Lectures
Released: 13 October 2007

Rathbone Greenbank Investments has again sponsored the annual lectures in Bristol at the Council House. We are delighted that the Westmill Wind Farm Co-operative was named as this year's winner of the prestigious Schumacher award as we have supported their fundraising on behalf of a number of our clients. For further information on the Schumacher Society go to http://www.schumacher.org.uk or call 0117 9031081. For further information on the Westmill Wind Farm Co-operative go to http://westmill.coop or call 01229 821028.


Rathbone Greenbank Investments attends the Landmark Eco Fair
Released: 29 - 30 September

Rathbone Greenbank Investments had a stall at the Landmark Eco Fair, held at the Landmark Arts Centre in Richmond. For further information please go to www.landmarkartscentre.org or call 020 8977 7558.  


Rathbone Greenbank Investments supports The Funding Network's autumn funding day
Released: 29 September 2007

Rathbone Greenbank Investments sponsored the autumn funding day in London at the NCVO offices on Saturday 29th. For further information please go to http://www.thefundingnetwork.org.uk or call 020 7243 0667.


Rathbone Greenbank Investments attends the Soil Association Organic Food Festival
Released: 1 – 2 September 2007

We had a stall in the amphitheatre during the Soil Association Organic Food Festival in Bristol. For further information please go to www.soilassociation.org festival or call 0117 929 9008.


Rathbone Greenbank Investments attends the Hay Festival
Released: 25 May - 2 June 2007

Members of the Rathbone Greenbank Investments team were involved with the Gaia Partnership exhibition and lectures at the annual literary festival at Hay-on-Wye. Despite the downpours, we had enjoyable time.  For further information on Gaia Partnership please contact info@gaiacooperative.com or call 0845 4584718.


Something to Celebrate - The Centenary Birthday Party of Rachel Carson
Released: 23 May 2007

Rathobne Greenbank Investments was delighted to support this event at Science Oxford. The day included an extract from “Breaking the Silence” a theatre piece based on “Silent Spring”. The full production will be touring in the Southern England region in Autumn 2007. For further information please go to www.rachelcarson.co.uk.


Rathbone Greenbank Investments' third Annual Investor Day
Released: 17 May 2007

We held our annual investor day at the Frontline Club in London on 17 May. The day was based around ˜Microfinance and Trading Fairly: Sustainable Investing in the Developing World". We were joined by Jean-Philippe de Schreve from Blue Orchard Finance, Caroline McCarthy-Stout from Kingfisher, and Wolfgang Weinmann from Cafedirect. More details can be found in our latest newsletter.


Resurgence Magazine’s “The Culture of Food” Evening
Released: 7 March 2007

Resurgence Magazine hosted an evening at Bordeaux Quay in Bristol on “The Culture of Food”. Speakers included Satish Kumar, Carl Honoré, Patrick Holden and Miche Fabre-Lewin. For further information please contact biz-rjt@blueyonder.co.uk or call Rosalind Turner on 0117 3779231.


Matt Crossman joins board of ECCR
Released: 1 September 2006

Matt Crossman joins board of ECCR We are delighted that Matt Crossman was invited to join the board of directors of the Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility (ECCR), an organisation with representatives of many mainstream Christian denominations whose aim is to raise the profile of corporate responsibility within the churches. We worked closely with the ECCR to bring about a shareholder resolution at the Shell AGM, and we hope to continue to work closely with them in future on other important engagement issues. For more information please visit www.eccr.org.uk


Nicola Day joins Rathbone Greenbank Investments
Released: 1 August 2006

Nicola Day, investment director, joined Rathbone Greenbank Investments in August 2006 from Gerrard Investment Management Limited, where she worked as a divisional director specialising in ethical investment for six years. Prior to this, she spent 12 years as an investment manager at HSBC Investment Management, formerly James Capel. Nicola has a BSc (Hons) in economics and an MSc in corporate governance and ethics. She is also a Fellow of the Securities Institute. Download the press release here.


Rathbone Greenbank holds its third Annual Investor Day
Released: 11 May 2006

On 11 May the Greenbank team held their third annual Investor Day on the subject 'Climate Action Now'. The event was held at the GreenPark Business Centre which is owned by PruPIM and is home to the M4 wind turbine. 50 clients and staff were treated to some interesting and informative talks by Paul MacNamara of PruPIM, Charles Conner of Climate Change Capital and Lorraine Hudson of the Sustainable City Team at Bristol City Council. There was also an opportunity to learn about the development of the business centre and tour the park and wind turbine. For more information click here.


Rathbone Greenbank Investments & Rathbone Pension & Advisory Services launch the first specialist ethical SIPP
Released: 6 April 2006

Rathbone Greenbank Investments & Rathbone Pension & Advisory Services announce the first specialist ethical self-invested personal pension plan (SIPP). The product will bring together the ethical investment management provided by the team at Rathbone Greenbank Investments with the provision of the Rathbone SIPP by Rathbone Pension & Advisory Services. It combines the tax advantages and flexibility that a SIPP offers with the opportunity to manage an individual's pension investments in accordance with their ethical interests and concerns. For more information click here.


Rathbone Greenbank Investments holds its second Annual Investor Day
Released: 17 March 2005

Rathbone Greenbank Investments held its second investor day on the 17 March at Westbourne Studios in London. It was on the subject of climate change, and the speakers included Andrew Simms of the New Economics Foundation, Mark Mansley of Rathbone Greenbank, Bruce Jenkyn-Jones of Impax Asset Management and Harry Platt, chairman of Workspace Group plc. The event was attended by 45 staff, clients and IFAs and proved very successful. It was clear that climate change is a huge problem, but encouraging to see that investors can play a part in addressing the challenge. After the event we toured Westbourne studios, which is a fascinating development by Workspace, located under the Westway, and used by artists and designers. A fuller report on climate change, including a write up of the event will follow in due course. For more information click here.


Rathbone Greenbank Investments awarded Best Provider for Ethical Investing in the United Kingdom in the Euromoney Private Banking Awards
Released: 25 January 2005

Elizabeth Haigh was presented with the award at a ceremony at the National History Museum in London.


Rathbone Greenbank Investments launches an Institutional Advisory Service
Released: 20 October 2004

Rathbone Greenbank Investments announced the launch of a specialist advisory service on socially responsible investment (SRI) for pension funds and charities. The new service has been introduced in response to the increasing demand for advice on ethical investment. Download the full press release here..


Rathbone Greenbank Investments holds its first Investor Day
Released: 23 September 2004

The first Rathbone Greenbank Investor Day was held at the Henry Doubleday Research Association (HDRA) organic gardens at Ryton, near Coventry. We invited speakers from organisations involved in public sector catering and campaigning for better foods and farming. For more information click here.


Rathbone Greenbank Investments launches
Released: 24 February 2004

Specialist Ethical Investment Unit 'Rathbone Greenbank Investments'. Download the full press release here.