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Written by the Scheme's investment manager, Railpen, the 2022 Review aims to provide comprehensive but straightforward information on what Railpen has done on behalf of members in last year, and what the plans are for the coming months. 

What the report covers

Before putting the report together, Railpen asked members what they wanted to know more about with regards to how their pension was invested. The report has been based on their feedback and addresses what members told us their key areas of concern are. For a second year in a row their top 3 concerns were:

• fair treatment of workers
• climate change, and
• fair pay
  

The new report describes Railpen’s investment approach to environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues, with a specific focus on the three areas highlighted above. It includes real-life examples to help bring the investment narrative to life and to aid members’ understanding of the work undertaken by the Sustainable Ownership team throughout 2022.

The 2022 Review draws members’ attention to:

• how Sustainable Ownership makes a positive impact on a company’s financial performance
• Railpen’s work on workforce treatment issues with a specific focus on how companies it invests in should treat their staff better and Railpen’s efforts in advocating for a consistent focus on workforce issues among all UK investors
• the power shareholder voting gives Railpen to influence companies it invests in – a couple of examples that illustrate how Railpen has used its voting rights to make a difference on climate change and fair pay
• how by excluding a company from their portfolio, Railpen has encouraged it to improve the way in which a company is governed
• Railpen’s ambitions and efforts in pushing for positive policy change through a constructive dialogue with policymakers on pressing ESG-related topics that will make a difference to outcomes for members of the RPS
  

How to share your views 

To further enhance our knowledge of members’ concerns and interests in sustainable ownership, we’ll be sending a short survey to you about your pension and how it’s invested. It’s important that we know what you all think, so we’d really appreciate it if you could complete it. Every response is valuable and will be considered in our work to invest in a way that benefits not only the income you will receive in retirement, but also our world, and the world our children and grandchildren inherit.

We welcome all your questions or thoughts on this subject, so please let us know what you think about the 2022 Member Review. You can get in touch with us at so@railpen.com 

Read the 2022 Sustainable Ownership Review