Unlocking capital for skills and growth: Impact Investing Institute partners with the Ufi VocTech Trust to show how foundations can invest with purpose.
Modern foundations recognise that all their assets can be powerful tools for change – not just their grant budgets. Ufi VocTech Trust has been a pioneering example, showing how a foundation can align its entire investment portfolio with its mission to generate meaningful social impact.
Today, Ufi VocTech Trust and the Impact Investing Institute announce a partnership to help overcome barriers to impact investing, framed around the triple benefits of investing in skills; learner development, return on investment and social impact. Through a programme of knowledge sharing, practical support and sector engagement, the collaboration aims to drive a cultural shift in how investors perceive and engage with impact investing.
Sarah Teacher, Co-CEO of the Impact Investing Institute, explained:
“This partnership is rooted in a shared commitment to advancing the impact investing market. By focusing on investment into vocational technology and skills for work, investors can help address critical societal challenges and create opportunities for inclusive economic growth. We look forward to supporting the sector to evolve their approaches and allocate more of their funds to impact.”
Rebecca Garrod-Waters, CEO of Ufi VocTech Trust, continued:
“At Ufi, we are proud of our approach to impact investing, aligning our assets and activity with our mission to improve adult vocational skills. By working with the Impact Investing Institute, we hope to share our experiences with other investors to demonstrate the benefits – and the practical steps needed – to invest into skills; delivering learning, social impact and return on investment”.
By aligning its c.£50m endowment to its mission of improving adult vocational skills, Ufi has shown that foundations can deliver impact not just through grants but through every pound they manage. Ufi was also a central case study in the Institute’s first guide, Investing with impact in the endowment, which provided practical guidance for integrating impact into endowment management, debunked common myths about legality and returns and highlighted organisations – like Ufi – already leading the way.
Since its publication, interest in using endowments as a force for good has grown, with more foundations and sector leaders recognising that all their assets can be powerful tools for change.
To see what this looks like in action, explore our Endowments and Charities webpage or reach out to Programme Manager Sophia Omar.