Is there any point of an ‘ethical’ insurance syndicate?

Lloyd’s of London insurer, Beazley, is offering extra cover to companies that score highly in terms of their social and environmental credentials. James Moore looks at whether it’s a worthwhile project

A legitimate attempt to make social change or a cynical PR attempt? (PA)

Now more than ever, businesses are paying attention to how they are perceived in terms of their ESG (environmental, social, governance) record.

Gone are the days when it was enough to put a picture of a smiley wheelchair user in the annual report (as happened to a friend of mine) and count the job as done. Investors are increasingly raising the issue and large parts of the public feel that it matters too.

Now a Lloyd’s of London insurer has launched a syndicate especially for client companies which score highly in ESG terms. A sign that it has come of age?