Responsible Investing
Downing invests for return while caring for the world. ESG is a set of tools to enable this, including the integration of material factors to investments and risks, reporting, transparency and active ownership and structured engagement for positive outcomes.
c.1,400
property developments funded since 2017
c.200
special education needs school spaces
c.170,000
UK homes forecast equivalent annual electricity generated
c.1,400
care home beds
"Investors provide debt and equity and facilitate access to capital. This gives us a powerful role in achieving net gain for climate and nature, positive societal outcomes with access to the systems for a society to function, and structures for boards, management teams and shareholder rights that provide strong governance."
Roger Lewis
Head of Sustainability and Responsible Investment
Implementing our approach to sustainability
Actively identifying, considering, monitoring and managing ESG factors throughout the investment process and throughout the period of our ownership enables us to create value for our investors and communities.
Sustainability integrated
In all investment decisions, we identify ESG factors. Risks are mitigated and a foundation for engagement is set.
We aim to use an ESG scorecard is used to identify material factors like biodiversity, energy, waste and stakeholder impacts.
This is followed by preliminary and then detailed evaluation, including, for most investments.
Considering the future
We are committed to transparency and reporting our impact, as well as advocating for progress in sustainable investment.
Downing is a signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment, the Financial Reporting Council’s UK Stewardship Code, and the UN Global Compact. We are also members of GRESB, the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change. We publicly support the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosure (TCFD) and the Transition Pathway Initiative.
Empowering positive change
Active ownership and structured approaches to stewardship across all asset classes, to achieve positive outcomes during our period of investment.
We engage to empower positive change, from support in reporting greenhouse gas emissions to protecting and enhancing local ecosystems, with clarity on the subject and audience for engagement and monitoring of progress.
Investing for Return. Caring about the World.
2022’s Sustainability Report goes through our activities as a sustainable investor, lays out our key ESG milestones and achievements, outlines the environmental impact of our greenhouse gas emissions, and gives an overview of our investor voice through stewardship.
Policies & Documents
Please click below on the relevant document to download.
UNPRI Senior Leadership Statement
Private Markets Responsible Investment Policy
Sustainable Investment: Exclusions Policy
DFM Voting and Engagement Policy
Solar sheep maintain the land in which a solar farm is located in a fully sustainable and eco-friendly way while enabling dual purpose land use. The sheep support the biodiversity of the area by avoiding the use of pesticides, thus allowing local wildlife and pollinators to flourish and thrive. They also offer a low cost yet highly effective method for stopping grass and weeds from overgrowing.
Downing is pleased to be partnering with Earth Energy Education, a company dedicated to getting children out of the classroom and visiting renewable energy sites across the UK to educate them about green energy.
Open Bionics is one of Downing's portfolio companies and has developed the "Hero Arm". The Hero Arm is the world’s most affordable multi-grip prosthetic arm, with multi-grip functionality and empowering aesthetics. Engineered and manufactured in the UK, the Hero Arm is a lightweight and affordable myoelectric prosthesis, now available in over 800 locations in the US, UK, Europe.
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Downing LLP does not provide advice or make personal recommendations and investors are strongly urged to seek independent advice before investing. Investments offered on this website carry a higher risk than many other types of investment and prospective investors should be aware that capital is at risk and the value of their investment may go down as well as up. Any investment should only be made on the basis of the relevant product literature and your attention is drawn to the risk, fees and taxation factors contained therein. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances of each investor and may be subject to change in the future. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Downing LLP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Firm Reference Number 545025). Registered in England No. OC341575. Registered Office: St Magnus House, 3 Lower Thames Street, London EC3R 6HD.
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