It depends on your own beliefs.

We know the word “ethical” gets thrown around a lot. These days, it’s more likely to be found on packaging than in practice. For us, we're proud to be a community minded company and we take pride in our quiet commitment to doing things in a way that feels fair, decent and sustainable.

> We support (with time and money) non-profits doing the work most people don’t see. That includes suicide prevention with the Samaritans, bereavement support with Cruse and cardiac screenings via Cardiac Risk in the Young. We also give to Mums in Need, Men Up North and Cancer Research UK. These organisations help people at their most vulnerable, and that matters to us. On 21st June 2026 we entered a Kart in the Roundabout (Youth Homelessness charity) Sheffield Crazy Kart racing (photo below) and came a respectable 11th out of 21 whilst raising a decent amount for supporting young homeless people in South Yorkshire. 

> We co-facilitate a local business networking Group which meets in Rotherham and Sheffield, and raises money for 4 local charities. Through an annual Business Exposition, regular morning meetings, raffles and other events we are on track to raise over £4,000 in 2026.

> For the last 2 years, we have been sponsoring Chesterfield Cricket Club. The club foster an inclusive approach on and off the pitch, are rooted in the heart of the community and promote sport at all levels. This aligns with our values, and we are happy to continue being the main sponsor for the rest of this season and into season 2026/27! 

> We also speak to people about investing consciously. One of the most powerful ways to exercise your voice is through investing in line with your values. What this looks like for individuals can vary. It might be a local business, a local property, a local project or investing in ESG funds. 

> Our founder Steve pays himself modestly, cycles to work, to meetings (and sometimes for fun!) and drives a shared car (when he absolutely has to) with wind-up windows. He doesn’t believe leadership means getting the nicest stuff. It means sharing responsibility and being accountable to your team.

> In 2025, our market-based CO₂ emissions came to 2.23 tonnes of CO₂ per employee, a reduction on the previous year. That is not perfect, but it gives us a clear place to improve from. We walk or cycle when we can, choose trains over taxis and go local where possible for office supplies. According to Carbon Footprint, Office administration-based organisations generally have a carbon footprint of between 2 and 5 tonnes per employee. So, we're pretty average.

> We work with people we respect and try not to take ourselves too seriously. We are not perfect. But we do believe ethics should come from actions, not from a plaque on a wall or a “sustainable” badge in a website footer.

> No one at Gritstone is flying to Ibiza for team bonding. We like a quiet pint down the road or a walk in the peak district. We like working with good people. And we believe in making a difference in small, consistent ways. That is our version of doing the right thing.

It might not be your version. That’s okay. We are not here to tell anyone what ethical should mean. But this is what it means to us.

The value of an investment with St. James's Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds selected and may fall as well as rise. You may get back less than the amount invested.

Clicking a link will open a new window. Any external sites are not endorsed by St. James's Place.

Source: Carbon Footprint, 2025.