Ethical Finance
Our commitment is to ensure that the university, as an investor, is part of the solution to climate change and biodiversity loss.
Ethical Investment and Banking Policy
Our Treasury Management Policy includes our commitments to ethical investment and ethical banking.
Via our appointed Fund Managers the University has committed to not knowingly invest in companies whose activities that could be seen to endanger individuals or groups of people, or whose activities are inconsistent with the mission and values of the university, its community and its wider stakeholder network.
The University actively screens out investments in characteristics including production and distribution of fossil fuels, manufacture and sale of armaments to military regimes and those complicit in the violation of international law. In addition, the University will invest in green, sustainable and ethical funds that support the development of renewable infrastructure and/or social justice solutions that have measurable, real-world impact. Please see our Policy for full commitments.
Annual List of Investments
The University holds the majority of its investments in the form of cash and investment products rather than stocks and shares therefore this information is not available publicly. However, as per the Treasury Management Policy, details of the University investments and cash holdings are available upon request from Head of Financial Accounting – Ian Dempsey at i.m.dempsey@salford.ac.uk.
Student Consultation
The University consulted with the University of Salford Students’ Union as part of a review of our Treasury Management Policy which resulted in the inclusion of Ethical Investment requirements within the policy.
Student representation is included on University Council who have ultimate responsibility for development and approval of University financial strategy.
Ethical Investment Policy Governance
This policy is considered annually by the University Council Finance and Resources Committee (FRC).
Meeting Minutes
Copies of meeting minutes where the Treasury Management Policy has been considered are available on request from the University Secretary at unisecoffice@salford.ac.uk.
Gifts and Donations
Our Gift Acceptance and Ethical Fundraising Policy aims to ensure that the University does not accept donations which are incompatible with the University’s mission, vision and strategy and that ethical decisions are made with the public trust and institutional integrity in mind.
The Ethical Gift Acceptance Advisory Group, a subgroup of the University Leadership Team has oversight of all gifts, all decisions are recorded and gifts over certain values (outlined in the policy) are automatically referred to higher levels of authority for decisions.