Learn investing by doing it.
Prune Hill Capital is a student-led, non-profit investment fund. Students research, pitch and manage a real portfolio under a formal investment mandate, with academic oversight from the Business School.
Target allocation
Mandate s4.1Hard limits
Risk framework- Single position
- max 10%
- Single sector
- max 40%
- Leverage
- None, ever
- Review trigger
- -15% (6m) / -20% (12m)
A real portfolio, run like a professional fund.
Members get practical experience across the full investment cycle, from first idea to committee vote to ongoing monitoring.
Investment analysis
Company research, financial modelling, valuation and industry analysis, coordinated by the Head of Research and written up as formal investment theses.
Portfolio management
Portfolio Managers own sector and geography coverage, pitch trades to the Investment Committee and monitor positions once they're held.
Risk management
Every trade is checked against the mandate before execution. Concentration limits, drawdown triggers and a risk register keep the Fund disciplined.
Five steps from idea to execution.
No single person makes an investment decision. Every position goes through research, a written memo, a pitch and a committee vote.
Research
PMs and Analysts develop ideas under the Head of Research.
Memo
Written analysis: thesis, valuation, ESG factors, risks and expected return.
Pitch
The PM presents the idea to the Investment Committee.
Vote
The Committee discusses, votes and approves or rejects.
Execute
Checked against risk limits, executed, and recorded in the trade blotter.
ESG isn't an add-on. It's written into the rules.
We prefer ESG-screened and sustainability-themed funds, benchmark against ESG indices, and exclude whole sectors in line with Royal Holloway's divestment policy.
We invest in
- Listed developed-market equities
- ESG-screened and thematic ETFs
- Cash and money market instruments
We never invest in
- Fossil fuel companies
- Armaments, gambling, tobacco, adult entertainment
- Derivatives, leverage or crypto
- Unlisted or private securities
Building investors, and giving back.
Our first goal is education: giving students genuine experience managing capital. Our second is long-term impact on campus.
During the initial growth phase every gain is retained to build a sustainable capital base. Once the Fund reaches a scale agreed with the Academic Adviser, up to 30% of realised net profits each year may be transferred to an approved RHUL hardship, bursary or access fund.
Meet the full team
Learn investing by doing it.
Open to every enrolled Royal Holloway student. No finance background needed, just curiosity, rigour and around 6-8 hours a week in term.