Nest have partnered with Aardman on a campaign to raise awareness and motivate people to take an active interest in their pensions.

The campaign, launched on 29 September on YouTube, uses animated birds in everyday work scenarios to represent Nest members. With one in three UK workers holding a Nest pension, the ads highlight how savings grow steadily in the background. Created with Atomic London, the ads take place in a giant Nest tree, home to birds with everyday jobs, narrated by Bill Bailey. Characters include a parakeet hair stylist, a dove waiter, a bullfinch at a supermarket checkout, and a bluetit working from home - each with their Nest pension symbolised by an orange egg in the background. By making pensions feel relatable and less intimidating, Nest hopes to encourage more people to take an active role in saving for retirement.

Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF) has published its third annual impact report, produced by The Good Economy.

The fund’s place-based investment strategy focuses on delivering returns while supporting local growth in Greater Manchester and the wider Northwest. The report finds GMPF’s portfolio is balanced across asset classes and is contributing to job creation, economic activity, and sustainable development in the region. The fund’s place-based strategy has supported over 23,000 jobs nationally, 38 per cent in the North-West, and backed the development of 3,752 homes, including 570 new homes in 2024. Financially, the Greater Manchester Property Venture Fund delivered a 4.6 per cent internal rate of return at the end of 2024, with exited investments returning 5.8 per cent to date. Notably, 68 per cent of the portfolio is now aligned with place-based impact goals, up sharply from 23 per cent in 2023 - showing how GMPF is scaling its dual focus on long-term returns for members and sustainable local growth.

Aviva Investors has committed over £37m in green loan financing for the redevelopment of 95 New Cavendish Street in Fitzrovia, Central London.

The scheme, led by AEW with LBS Properties as development manager, will deliver more than 22,000 square feet of office space targeting an Energy Performance Certificate ‘A’ rating, Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method ‘Excellent’ certification, and WiredScore Gold for digital connectivity. The funding comes via Aviva Investors’ Multi-Sector Private Debt long-term asset fund, which aims to help defined contribution (DC) pension funds diversify from traditional asset classes. This investment builds on Aviva Investors’ broader Central London office development portfolio, which includes development schemes across the City of London and London’s West End.

M&G Real Estate has expanded its student accommodation portfolio with over 1,000 new beds across Lisbon, Manchester and Nottingham.

In the UK, the firm has acquired Ropemaker Court in Manchester, consisting of 416 beds for £42m for refurbishment and has completed Fabric in Nottingham, which was a £48m development with 323 beds, which opened for the 2025/26 academic year. These additions address the growing demand for high-quality student housing in key university cities. In Lisbon, M&G also completed The Mile, a €35m, 333-bed development helping to ease the city’s student housing shortfall.

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