BT tops tables for ethical pensions

BT has grabbed the plaudits in a survey of corporate pensions. Looking at the pension schemes for 285 supposedly 'good' companies -- those in the FTSE4Good and the Carbon Disclosure Project's leadership index -- the UK Social Investment Forum (UKSIF) ranked the firm as having the top ethical pension fund.

While BT's fund was the only one to score in the survey's top 81-100 per cent category, Friends Provident and Stagecoach Group's pensions were hot on its heels in the 61-80 per cent bracket. Trailing behind on 41-60 per cent are big names like BA, First Choice Holidays and -- not your obvious greenie choice -- BP. UKSIF's scores came partly from ranking the different pensions on their environmental and social impact. If you're thinking of switching jobs, check out how your potential new employer rates (or, more likely, doesn't) over here.

Interestingly, over half the funds approached by UKSIF failed to participate in the survey -- not exactly transparent, then. The report puts it with more levity and bluntness than we can. Do we detect a note of sarcasm here... "Nevertheless, given that transparency is a key component of corporate social responsibility, it is particularly notable that there was such a high level of non-participation from the pension funds of UK companies who are generally recognised as leaders in corporate social responsibility."

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