Border To Coast Pensions Partnership

So pleased to be on the Professional Pensions shortlist for Best Pension Scheme Investment Strategy. Congratulations to all other nominees.   Our approach to investment is shaped by the needs of our 11 #LGPS Partner Funds and our £16bn private markets and £1.2bn Real Estate programmes are integral to our strategy. They seek to deliver attractive returns and additionality – supporting the pathway to net zero and financing of UK economic growth.   Looking forward to the awards ceremony in June!

At Border to Coast, we prioritise long-term value in our investments. Effective climate transition plans are crucial to mitigate risks and move towards a net zero future. Proxy voting is a powerful tool for investors to drive this change. We ensure our voting aligns with our stewardship strategy to avoid mixed messages and strengthen engagement. Our approach highlights the importance of true alignment with engagement objectives. More in this report from Pensions for Purpose

Sharing insight and expertise at Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association 2025. With the government proposing an accelerated timetable to pool #LGPS assets, our CEO Rachel Elwell joined Paddy Dowdall of Greater Manchester Pension Fund to discuss what the future may look like for the LGPS. The session was chaired by Neil Mason, PLSA policy board member and Director at Partner Fund Surrey Pension Team. Rachel explained how, in collaboration with our 11 Partner Funds, we have developed our 2030 strategy, delivering a resilient system enabling them to pay pensions in an affordable and sustainable manner. She also focused on how we have the scale and sophistication to have the capacity and capability to deliver Partner Funds’ local investment needs.

Today we spoke to Responsible Investor after BP failed to put its climate transition plans onto its AGM agenda. Our Stewardship Manager Colin Baines said: "It’s disappointing that BP isn’t seeking a new shareholder mandate by offering a ‘Say on Climate’ vote at its AGM, which many shareholders have called for. A large majority of shareholders supported BP’s transition plan at its 2022 AGM, which has now been weakened twice without renewing that shareholder mandate.   “We will be raising our concerns with BP about inadequate medium-term targets and decarbonisation strategy and, as things stand, we will be voting against the re-election of the Chair at the forthcoming AGM. In the absence of a vote this year, we are calling for a comprehensive transition plan to be published and put to a vote at the 2026 AGM. This should reflect BP’s new strategy and detail its post-2030 pathway to net zero.”  The full article link is in the comments. Thank you Gina Gambetta #Investing #climate #pensions

How fit for the future are we? You may have seen that in addition to responding to the questions set out in the government’s LGPS consultation, pools were also required to submit a report on their capability to meet the proposed minimum standards. So where are we against these standards and what lies ahead for the Border to Coast partnership, leading to the April 2026 deadline? The good news is that we start from a strong position. And in many areas, we go beyond the required standards. There will still be challenges, but we are confident that we can navigate these, thanks to the culture of collaboration we have with our Partner Funds. Read our company statement on the matter in the comments below.

We're proud to announce that we've been awarded Limited Partner of the Year (Climate) at the annual New Private Markets Global Awards.   Thanks to New Private Markets and Private Equity International for kicking off the week with this great news. It’s brilliant to be recognised for our approach to investment, particularly the creation, expansion, and effective deployment of the Climate Opportunities Fund. The credit is also shared with our Partner Funds who act as vital collaborators in all that we do.   The award highlights our commitment to designing and launching innovative investments that align with our 11 #LGPS Partner Funds' long-term strategies. Our private markets programme is highly valued by Partner Funds. The addition of the Climate Opportunities offering meets the need for long-term returns while driving the essential transition to a low-carbon economy and supporting efforts to combat climate change.

Receptionist – opportunity to join our Business Support team Are you passionate about delivering exceptional customer service? If so, take a look at this opportunity for a receptionist to join our Business Support team. As a key member of our team, you’ll be the first point of contact for our visitors at our Leeds HQ, ensuring they feel welcomed and valued, as well as dealing with correspondence and phone calls. We are a customer-owned, customer-focused organisation that prides itself on creating a positive environment for everyone. - Be part of a supportive and inclusive team. - Enjoy a welcoming and supportive workplace culture. - Make a real impact by providing top-notch service to our visitors and team members. Interested in learning more? Check out the details in the comments below.

Are you a pro-active and self-motivated team player with a proven track record of providing exceptional support to senior executives? Border to Coast is looking for a highly skilled senior Executive Assistant to join our Business Support team and play a crucial role in our mission. Discover more about this opportunity to make a difference in a fast-paced environment and work with a range of internal and external stakeholders. Please share with your networks. Link to further information about the role is in the comments below.

Recognised as a signatory to the UK Stewardship Code for the past four years, we are proud to meet the high standards it sets for effective #stewardship and believe this should be maintained.   In our response to the Financial Reporting Council consultation on proposed revisions to the Code, we welcome efforts to streamline the Code’s requirements but raise concerns and propose changes to ensure the Code’s value as a benchmark of effective stewardship practice remains. We wish to see more robust supporting language to accompany the definition of stewardship, including explicit reference to climate change and investors’ fiduciary duty. We also called for more explicit support for collaborative engagement from the regulator.   You can read our response in full on our website, link found in comments.

As a long term and responsible investor, Border to Coast is committed to managing climate risk in our portfolio.   We share the concerns of co-signatories to this letter - covered in the Financial Times today - regarding any potential weakening of BP's climate targets and transition plans. By further stepping away from its shareholder mandated transition plan, BP is signalling its prioritisation of short term gains over rebalancing the business to protect and enhance shareholder value and long-term returns.   We believe that long-term value in BP is dependent upon a quality transition plan that aligns with pathways to net zero and we will continue to engage BP to that end. A link in to the full piece can be found in the comments.