Castlefield Partners Limited

Q&A with Castlefield 

Castlefield are a Best Buy in our guide to Ethical Investment Funds. 

We spoke with Pooja Shah, a Partner and adviser in the client advice team of Castlefield, to find more about this Best Buy Label Holder.

Ethical Consumer: Tell us a bit about Castlefield

Pooja: Castlefield is an award-winning, employee-owned investment and financial planning firm, known for its leadership in values-led investing. At its heart is a simple idea: our values shape every decision including how we manage money.

This philosophy drives a thoughtful, tailored approach, from managed funds and personal pensions to advising charities. Values aren’t just words; they form the foundation for strategies that deliver real-world results.

As an employee-owned business, Castlefield’s culture mirrors the principles it applies for clients: personal, accessible, and ethical. Known as ‘the Thoughtful Investor’®, the firm proves that investing can be responsible and aligned with what matters most showing that doing the right thing is as important as competitive returns. For those moving from conventional financial environments, the difference is clear: thoughtfulness isn’t a buzzword it’s the way the firm operates. Doing the right thing is the unsaid mantra, proving that thoughtful investing is as much about culture and principle as it is about performance.

EC: Why do you think you received our Best Buy Label? What separates you from other ethical investment funds?

Pooja: We’d like to think that we earned Best Buy labels for our values-led advice and thoughtful investment funds by consistently delivering exceptional service over time.

Castlefield is built on clear values, and we apply them deliberately and rigorously. Far from being a burden, this approach can provide a long-term strategic advantage: values-led businesses consistently outperform over time, demonstrating that doing the right thing and doing well are not mutually exclusive. 

What differentiates Castlefield from other ethical investment funds is our proprietary Thoughtful Investor ® approach, which includes active ongoing engagement with investments on behalf of our clients. 

We use our voting rights at company AGMs, challenge issues such as excessive executive pay, and scrutinise director appointments. We also push companies to confront major environmental and social challenges, from carbon emissions and water scarcity to human rights. By aligning our investment practices with clients’ values, we ensure that their money supports responsible businesses and drives meaningful change.

EC: Do you see a growing demand for ethical finance options? 

Pooja: Investor expectations have evolved. Today, investors care deeply about where their money goes, the industries they support, and the wider impact of their investments on the world. In a fast-moving financial landscape (where financial products are more complex, clients more selective, and regulators more alert), ethical behaviour has become essential rather than optional. This is driving strong demand for investment approaches that genuinely reflect values.

Several trends highlight this. The rapid rise of AI increasing energy and resource demands, making the shift to renewable energy and more efficient infrastructure not just an environmental priority, but an economic necessity. At the same time, more businesses are setting clear, science-based targets to improve their environmental performance.

Thoughtfulness and sustainability are now recognised drivers of innovation and efficiency. By embracing sustainable practices, companies can turn responsible choices into a competitive advantage.

In short, values-led investing is forward-looking and commercially smart, aligning positive impact with long-term financial performance.

EC: Do you have any advice for consumers who want to make the switch to ethical finance providers?

Pooja: Switching to values led financial choices isn’t straightforward. Not everything marketed as sustainable, ESG, or “green” meets the high environmental or ethical standards consumers expect.

For anyone wanting their money to reflect their values, the key is looking beyond marketing. Examine what a fund actually holds, understand its strategy, and ask how decisions are made in practice. A genuinely responsible manager doesn’t just select companies and step back - they actively engage with businesses to improve environmental, social, and governance practices over time.

Transparency is critical. Investors should see clear evidence of stewardship in action: how votes are cast at AGMs on climate, diversity, and governance issues, or whether measurable impact data from carbon emissions to social outcomes is published. These are practical ways to distinguish meaningful commitment from well-intentioned marketing.

At Castlefield, values-led investing isn’t a label; it’s a disciplined, transparent approach that shows clients exactly how their money is managed and the difference it is designed to make.

EC: What does "ethical business" mean to Castlefield, and how do you integrate this philosophy into the company's day-to-day operations?

Pooja: We manage our clients’ money with a values-led approach, always. But this approach isn’t a product or an add-on for us; it’s the foundation of everything we do. We hold our own business to the same high ESG standards we expect from the companies we invest in.

We’re proudly employee owned, and we call our team “co-owners” because ownership is real, not symbolic. We share our strategy and performance openly, and everyone has the opportunity to buy a stake in the business and share in our success. It keeps us aligned, accountable and focused on the long term.

And our values don’t stop at investment decisions. We also source local and/or sustainable suppliers for our own supply chains. From the furniture in our office to the coffee in the kitchen, we think carefully about the ethical and ecological credentials of the suppliers we choose.

For us, values aren’t marketing. They’re how we do business, every day.

EC: What is the most challenging aspect of running an ethical business, and how do you overcome those challenges?

Pooja: Our approach isn’t for everyone and we’re comfortable with that.

Because our business is built on shared ownership and a deeply embedded values-led philosophy, maintaining that culture is of the upmost importance – recruitment is about far more than technical ability. Skills can be taught. Processes can be learned. But alignment with our values and belief in our common purpose are far harder to instil.

When we welcome new colleagues, we look first for mindset: integrity, long-term thinking, personal accountability and a genuine commitment to responsible business. Technical expertise matters, of course but we are confident in our ability to train and develop those capabilities over time.

What matters most is bringing in people who believe what we believe, who want to build something collectively, and who are motivated not just by success, but by doing things the right way.

EC: How do you engage with your customers regarding ethical and sustainability issues?

Pooja: As ethical specialists, we naturally engage with clients in many ways around ethical and sustainability issues. For over 20 years we’ve included an ethical questionnaire as part of our client Factfinding process as standard, to gather their views. Responses help inform our in-house screening and external fund selection for clients.

Alongside regular newsletters, articles, social media posts and commentary pieces across the financial press, we keep our clients informed and involved in several ways: through client meetings, webinars and regular client reviews. These present opportunities to explore our approach in depth and answer questions directly.

Our comprehensive stewardship reports also provide insights into collaborative initiatives, voting activity, and engagement case studies. 

We also conduct periodical surveys to gauge how ethical preferences and priorities may have changed over time. 

As beliefs and values evolve, it is vital for us to listen carefully and ensure that our investment approach aligns with what matters most to our clients.

EC: How do you measure the environmental impact of your operations, and what steps have you taken to reduce your carbon footprint?

Pooja: Since 2021, we’ve measured our full carbon footprint from business travel and commuting to water, waste, and purchased goods to track our progress toward Net Zero.

We train our team in Carbon Literacy, set ambitious targets, and invest ethically: Scope 1 & 2 emissions gone by 2030, Scope 3 Net Zero by 2045, and all our investee companies Net Zero by 2040. Even our pensions are fossil-free.

Everyday actions count. Hybrid working reduces travel, a ‘public transport first’ policy keeps cars off the road, our office is largely paper-free, and we source responsibly from coffee to furniture. Renewable energy, IT recycling, and reusable cups round out our approach.

Sustainability isn’t just a target; it’s how we operate—every choice shaping a greener future, today.

EC: Looking ahead, what future goals or projects does your company have in place to further your ethical commitments, whether environmental, social, or economic?

Pooja: Castlefield’s future ambitions build on a long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship, responsible investment, and ethical business practices. Our plans span both environmental and social pillars, reflecting a holistic approach to creating positive impact.

We continue to pursue Net Zero across our operations and managed portfolios, alongside strengthening environmental disclosure and aligning with global ESG standards. Engagement with our clients ensures that the sustainability issues that matter most are integrated into the services we provide.

Castlefield is advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) through our Belonging report, Gender Pay Gap reporting, and DEI surveys, covering protected characteristics and socio-economic background. We maintain and grow links with charters, pledges, and networks such as the Women in Finance Charter, Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter, and Living Wage Foundation, reinforcing accountability and values.

Our Employee Ownership model empowers co-owners to build meaningful stakes in the business and pursue long-term careers. 

The Castlefield Charitable Fund (CCF) amplifies local impact, supporting homelessness, vulnerable families, wellbeing, and environmental initiatives, while matched funding encourages co-owner involvement.

New initiatives include expanding volunteering opportunities, launching a 2026 sports funding programme to support youth development and community cohesion, and strengthening financial literacy partnerships with local colleges and universities. Castlefield is also partnering with Collyhurst & Moston Boxing Club to fund a Women and Girls Boxing Programme, fostering confidence, wellbeing, and participation.

Our ongoing support for The Booth Centre, a Manchester‑based charity supporting people who are homeless, remains a cornerstone of our social impact. In 2025 it generated £6,421 in donations, alongside active co-owner volunteering and participation in key events.

Through these integrated efforts, Castlefield continues to drive meaningful impact, building a sustainable, inclusive future for co-owners, clients, and the wider community.