SUSTAINABILITY
Driving change for a sustainable tomorrow
By David Crosoer , PPS Investments : Chief Investment Officer
Sustainability has become an essential pillar of corporate responsibility , with companies around the world recognising the critical role they play in shaping a more sustainable future . As stewards of the resources and communities they impact , corporations are increasingly expected to integrate sustainability into their strategies , not as a mere checkbox but as a core driving force behind their operations . At PPS , we understand that sustainability is not a solo pursuit ; it is a joint effort , a prime example of mutuality in action . The responsibility to create long-lasting positive change is shared – between businesses , employees , members and the communities we serve .
In 2024 , the PPS Group approved the commitment to spend up to 1.5 % of Group investment profit to support broader mutuality initiatives including an explicit focus on education initiatives which grow the professional membership base and build existing members ’ resilience . From a sustainability perspective , we are broadening our student support programmes at both tertiary and secondary levels . The PPS Foundation provides more than 50 bursaries annually to students pursuing postgraduate degrees in the science , technology , engineering and mathematics fields . At the secondary level , we support several initiatives , including those benefiting the children of our own staff , all aimed at growing the professional membership base .
In 2024 , PPS Investments increased its corporate social investment ( CSI ) spend , supporting various educational initiatives at local schools , hosting staff functions at these schools and welcoming scholars to our offices . We also included education and gender CSI spend , along with other gender metrics , in our annual Sustainability Survey . The asset managers we have appointed across our solutions and fund range are now explicitly being tracked in terms of their CSI spend and other metrics . We are holding ourselves accountable for these efforts . Staff across the Group continue to contribute their time outside of working hours , hosting events at PPS for the Cultivating Tomorrow ’ s Professionals initiative , where they teach mathematics and science to school students on weekends .
Several of our staff , including members from the investment team , raised money for Calling Cape Town by participating in a gruelling triathlon during the Cape Town Cycle Tour weekend , which took place on 9 March 2024 . The triathlon featured a 1.9 km swim , 90 km cycle and 21.1 km run in support of the initiative . Calling Cape Town focuses on providing quality education for lowincome students , helping to ensure better access to educational opportunities and
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