Reeves’ £28bn wealth fund under fresh scrutiny Politics Rachel Reeves’ flagship National Wealth Fund has come under scrutiny after an audit identified “weaknesses” in the multi-billion pound vehicle’s risk controls. An audit of the National Wealth Fund (NWF) pointed to potential failures in the effectiveness of risk, management, governance and internal controls. Whilst the findings from the report confirmed “improvements have taken place”, [...]
Reeves’ National Wealth Fund faces ‘very challenging’ growth goal Economics Rachel Reeves faces an uphill battle as she looks to use her National Wealth Fund to ramp up the government’s economic growth mission, top MPs have warned. The Chancellor has touted the new unit as a growth-focused initiative that would unlock over £70bn in private investment. But in a new Treasury Select Committee report, the group’s [...]
Unlock pension funds to power up UK infrastructure Opinion Unlocking capital from pension funds could power up our infrastructure while also providing better returns for customers, writes Mike Eakins.
National Wealth Fund pumps millions into battery storage developer August 27, 2025 The National Wealth Fund has joined forces with two investment firms as part of a £500m venture to enhance the UK’s battery storage facilities. The consortium – including infrastructure asset manager Equitix and Australian pension fund Aware Super – will “build, own and operate grid-scale battery storage assets” via an investment in developer Eelpower Energy. [...]
Rachel Reeves’ matchmaker moment July 23, 2025 Finance bros and gals are often seen oozing confidence as they strut their stuff around the streets of the City of London, imagining they’re the main characters on hit show Industry. But it would be a mistake to assume these investor strategists, expert consultants and risk analysts are libertarian dreamers, swashbuckling Reagan fanatics and small-state [...]
National Wealth Fund to put £28m into carbon capture project July 7, 2025 A government -backed fund is pledging more than £2 for a carbon capture project. Energy secretary Ed Miliband has said that workers in “Britain’s manufacturing heartlands” will benefit from the investment in the Peak Cluster works. Peak Cluster is working towards a pipeline that will take carbon emissions from cement and lime companies in the [...]
National Wealth Fund boss calls for public finance consolidation July 1, 2025 The boss of Labour’s National Wealth Fund has urged the government to remain open to consolidation of public finance institutions in a bid to ease confusion for the private sector. In a hearing on Tuesday, the chief executive of the National Wealth Fund (NWF) John Flint told MPs he would “encourage” the Treasury “not to [...]
National wealth fund boss slams banking industry’s risk appetite June 30, 2025 The boss of the National Wealth Fund has blasted the banking industry’s risk appetite and cited the lack of risk-taking as the reason for waning growth figures. Speaking at City Week on Monday, John Flint, the chief executive of the newly-established government body, said: “The banking system is very heavily regulated and in the best [...]
British Business Bank set on delivering Labour’s growth ambition June 28, 2025 Arguably one of the biggest winners from Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ latest spending splurge, the British Business Bank had its lending capacity beefed up and pledged to back the UK’s innovators with its expanded range. The bank had its funding capacity increased to £25.6bn in the Spending Review from near £15.6bn as it targets eight key [...]
Natwest executive top choice to lead Reeves’ National Wealth Fund June 24, 2025 A senior Natwest executive is the leading choice to become the next chief of Labour’s National Wealth Fund. Oliver Holbourn is the front-runner to oversee the Treasury’s new body with current boss John Flint set to depart in the summer. Holbourn currently heads up Natwest’s RBS International Arm and previously managed UK Financial Investments – [...]