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City investor funds student stock market project

University of York students are to experience the highs and lows of the stock market with real money investments, thanks to a donation from a York physics graduate turned City investor.


Paul Griffiths (centre) with Rav Sandhu, student CEO of the Griff Investment Fund at the project launch

The Griff Investment Fund will manage an initial portfolio of £10,000 donated by Paul Griffiths, a York alumnus with over 22 years investment experience. Students will work as analysts taking decisions on where to invest the money within an ethical framework, with the help of guest lectures and expert guidance from staff in York Management School and the Department of Economics.

All profits from the Fund will be donated to student bursaries and societies.

Paul Griffiths helped launch the project by pressing the button for the inaugural trade, an investment of £700.

Real money

Speaking at the launch, Paul said: “Real money experience of the highs and lows of investment management will be invaluable when entering the jobs market and will help York students stand out from the crowd.”

Economics and Finance student Rav Sandhu is Chief Executive Officer of the Fund. He said: “We are extremely grateful to Paul for trusting us with the initial investment to the University for supporting such an ambitious project.

New skills

“Taking part in the Fund offers students a great opportunity to gain new skills and to find out more about careers in investment and finance.”

Paul’s gift is a terrific example of creative as well as generous philanthropy

Mary Haworth

Mary Haworth, Director of Development and Alumni Relations at the University of York said: “Paul’s gift is a terrific example of creative as well as generous philanthropy. His confidence in the talents of York students combined with his own career experience has led to the creation of a fantastic new project that will benefit students for many years to come.”

Members of the Griff Investment Fund will meet every week during term and will produce weekly and termly reports on investments. The fund will be overseen by trustees from the York Management School and the Department of Economics.

Paul Griffiths is Chief Investment Officer, Fixed Income and Credit, at First State Investments. He has worked for Aberdeen Asset Management and Axa and is an advisory board member for the Global Fixed Income Institute.

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