Publications
What we do
The Institute’s Impact Report 2019-20
In our first impact report for 2019-20, we are reflecting on our achievements of our first year and are looking ahead to how we can work towards our goal of improving people’s lives, as more capital contributes to addressing social and environmental challenges.
The third session of the Knowledge Exchange Series explored the role of National Advisory Boards (NABs) on impact investing as market navigators. The discussion focused on how NABs can engage with and strengthen their value proposition for the supply-side of capital (including investors, asset managers and asset owners) – and featured an intervention from BlueOrchard Finance, a leading impact investor.
In February 2021, the Institute submitted its response to the Financial Reporting Council’s (FRC) Discussion Paper, ‘A Matter of Principles: The Future of Corporate Reporting.’
The Impact Investing Learning Framework
We have created an Impact Investing Learning Framework for providers of investment qualifications and trainings, such as professional bodies and trade associations. The framework was developed by a Learning Panel made up of representatives from across the impact investing sector, including Barclays, Aberdeen Standard Investments and Bridges Fund Management.
In December 2020, the Institute submitted its response to the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Foundation’s Consultation Paper on Sustainability Reporting. The Institute warmly welcomes the proposal of the IFRS Foundation and commends the Foundation for taking this significant first step. We believe the Foundation is well-placed to set sustainability reporting standards which are relevant to enterprise value because of its strong experience in setting international accounting standards.
Impact Investing Principles for Pensions
We developed four guiding principles for pension schemes that give an accessible, practical insight into the opportunity presented by impact investing and the concrete steps trustees can take to pursue an impact investing strategy.
Impact investing by pension funds: Fiduciary duty – the legal context
We produced a paper that explains how fiduciary duty and impact investing are compatible, written and attested by five leading law firms and reviewed by a number of other lawyers and experts.
Pensions with impact – a case study
Many pensions are already investing with impact and provide useful examples for others to learn from. Pensioenfonds voor het Slagersbedrijf, the pension fund for the Dutch butchers’ industry with AUM of c. €2.5 billion is one of them.
Together with the Green Finance Institute and the LSE Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, we published a proposal for a Green+ Gilt that emphasises the strategic potential for a green sovereign bond to scale up the UK’s drive to a net-zero carbon economy with well-defined social and economic benefits.
Briefing paper: Reporting of Environmental, Social and Economic Outcomes
This briefing paper makes the case for mandatory public interest reporting and the integration of environmental, social and economic outcome themes and metrics in annual reports published by organisations.
Knowledge Exchange Series No.2 : Governance and sustainability
As part of the Institute’s Knowledge Exchange Series we run a series of roundtables with National Advisory Boards (NABs) on impact investing in other countries, which provide a platform for mutual learning and practical knowledge sharing between NABSs to help strengthen impact investing markets globally. The second session covered governance and sustainability.
A joint project: Mobilising more investment for place-based impact
The Impact Investing Institute, together with the Good Economy and Pensions for Purpose, is working on a collaborative project aimed at mobilising more flows of institutional investment to address place-based inequalities and support more inclusive and sustainable development across the UK.
In June 2020, the Impact Investing Institute responded to the European Commission’s consultation on the review of the Non-Financial Reporting Directive making a case for the global convergence and increased adoption of high-quality standards for measurement, management and reporting of environmental and social outcomes.
Technology-enabled impact reporting practice across the investment chain
This report, by the Impact Investing Institute in partnership with Deloitte, highlights that while progress in impact reporting practice is being made, the challenges to effective impact reporting practice are great.
Final report: Growing a culture of social impact investing in the UK
The final report by the Implementation Taskforce looks at how to grow a culture of social impact investment and savings in the UK and highlights the progress made in the first year of the Taskforce.
Growing a Culture for Impact Investing in the UK: Better reporting
This paper provides an introduction to the broader context of impact reporting, which illustrates the link between social and environmental impact reporting and investment decisions.
The rise of impact: Five steps towards an inclusive and sustainable economy
This report offers a five-point strategy to harness impact investing and purposeful business to help tackle some of the UK’s most pressing societal challenges at scale.
Other resources
The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee’s Growing Back Better report
The report features insight from the Institute, referencing our written evidence, submitted in partnership with the London School of Economics’ Grantham Research Institute and the Green Finance Institute.
Sustainability Reporting Standard for Social Housing
As part of the ESG Social Housing Working Group, a unique collaboration of 18 banks and investors, housing associations, service providers and impact investing organisations, the Institute helped develop the Sustainability Reporting Standard for Social Housing.
UK social housing – establishing a sector-standard approach for ESG reporting
The Institute collaborated with market participants to help develop a White Paper proposing sector-standard ESG criteria to unlock public and private investment in social and affordable housing.
This report by the UK Department for International Development (now Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) is the largest and most comprehensive study of the UK public’s demand for sustainable investment opportunities. It looks at investor demand and how people can use their money to help drive positive change in the world.