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Friends Provident was the first company in the UK to offer retail ethical investment when it launched the Stewardship fund range in 1984.

According to a recent survey by the group, 74 per cent of British people agree it is important that companies take social, ethical and environmental issues seriously.

Further to this, more than half the survey's respondents (54 per cent) said ethical investing was far more important than it was 25 years ago when the UK was emerging from a recession.

Looking at investor behaviour in the current climate, Friends' research revealed that nearly 70 per cent of investors expected financial advisers to offer ethical investment options, while 45 per cent thought it was important for fund managers to choose investments that took into account social, ethical and environmental issues, but only provided they were a ‘good’ investment.

Trevor Matthews, chief executive at Friends Provident, said: "Our research tallies with recent figures from the Investment Management Association and shows investors view ethical funds as a long-term investment.

"It is encouraging to note the sector as a whole has seen 14 months of positive inflows in spite of recent financial turmoil."