Ethex wins Sustainable Finance award for investment platform

Online positive investment platform Ethex has been awarded for Sustainable Finance in the Sustainable City Awards in London.

Social entrepreneur Jamie Hartzell established Ethex in 2012 and the platform aims to assist investors in choosing organisations that deliver both a financial and positive social results.

Ethex has supported over £13.5 million of investment by allowing investors to construct their own positive investment portfolio in social and environmental firms.

The Sustainable Finance award is sponsored by the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (UKSIF) and is coordinated by the City of London.

Ethex CEO, Lisa Ashford said: “We’re particularly pleased to win this award sponsored by UKSIF as we both share a common goal in promoting the positive impact of socially responsible investment in the UK. It’s been particularly encouraging to see how the positive investment sector has grown since Ethex was founded just over two years ago, as growing numbers of people are thinking about how they can make their money do good.”

Two other companies were also recognised in the Sustainable Finance category, including Shared Interest Society, a fair trade lender providing loans and credit services to businesses and communities in the developing world.

About 9,000 people in the UK have become members of the SIS and have invested share capital of over £31 million.

sriServices was also awarded in the category and the organisation works to advance sustainable and responsible investment in retail financial services.

Its target is to improve individual investors’ access to capital that can drive the transition towards more sustainable lifestyles.

Lisa Stonestreet, programme director at UKSIF, said:“UKSIF is proud of our long-standing partnership with the Sustainable City Awards. UKSIF members and others continue to do outstanding work in the field of sustainable finance, ensuring that the UK remains a world leader in this area. It is a pleasure to acknowledge and reward those who have had a particular impact over the past year.”