The firm writes that Indosuez Funds – Impact is a solution offered to equity investors looking for meaningful routes into ESG investing. Each investment is carefully assessed for its potential to contribute positively to the achievement of at least one of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, whether it is working on health, food, or social and financial inclusion needs, supporting the environmental transition, or promoting the circular economy and digital access.

“In tangible terms, selected impact companies are assessed using an internal methodology based on three dimensions:

•               Intentionality: ensure that the company contributes to a sustainable development issue and has a positive and measurable social and/or environmental benefit;

•               Materiality: verify that intentionality is followed by actions that have a real impact on the objectives set;

•               Measurability: ensure that social and/or environmental externalities are measurable, in particular through a transparent impact report.”

Companies’ contributions to the various issues addressed by the Indosuez Funds – Impact fund will be detailed each year in an impact report using qualitative and quantitative metrics. This report will be made available to investors, in order to tangibly illustrate the impacts generated by their investments.

Based in Paris, the fund’s management team makes use of in-house ESG and impact analysts and receives support from all of Indosuez Wealth Management’s experts, including local knowledge from experts located in the various Group entities.

Delphine Di Pizio-Tiger, Global Head of Asset Management at Indosuez, says: “Our clients are increasingly keen to invest in companies running projects with a positive impact on the environment. We ensure this, including through transparent and targeted reporting that allows us to check the positive social or environmental impact of companies on the real economy.”

The institute writes that Schroders Family Office Service helped in producing this resource to create publicly available research and practical materials that inspire and guide to family offices and their advisers, who want to use their wealth to achieve positive change in the world.

Through this work, the Impact Investing Institute writes that it hopes to accelerate the participation of wealthy families in the impact investing field. The guide offers practical advice to help families align their values with their wealth and engage the next generation, allowing them to make an active contribution to solving the great social and environmental issues of our time.

The global wealth managed by families is estimated to amount to USD10 trillion. Family offices are in a unique position to apply their values to their investments, unconstrained by the restrictions that can inhibit other institutional investors. This freedom empowers family offices to act swiftly on social and environmental issues they care about while maintaining compelling financial performance.

Drawing on the real-world experiences of family offices that have successfully adopted an impact approach, the institute writes that this guide provides practical steps, information, and resources to help families navigate their route to impact investing.

“It explores how families can go about setting up an impact-focused family office from scratch as well as progressing an existing office from a traditional investment approach.

“Readers can learn about the common steps families are taking, including how to advocate internally for impact, ensuring an inclusive approach and alignment with family values. The report also explores how to create an impact framework, the questions to ask external advisers and managers, and best practices for impact measurement and management.”

“We are excited to release this comprehensive guide to help families and their advisers navigate the world of impact investing. As the impact investing market is growing, more families are looking to align their wealth with their values and our guide will empower them to do that” says Sarah Teacher, Executive Director at Impact Investing Institute. “By sharing practical steps, insights, and resources, we want to help family offices maximise their role as active contributors to solving the pressing social and environmental issues of our time.”

Lyn Tomlinson, Head of Impact and Philanthropy at Schroders Wealth Management, says: “We know many families wish to use the resources they have available, whether that is their land, operational businesses, or their investments to have a positive impact on society and the environment. We also understand that there is a seemingly complex path to navigate for those embarking on this journey. This is why we are delighted to partner with the Impact Investing Institute to commission this important piece of work. “Family Offices: A Roadmap to Impact” is intended to be as deeply practical as it is inspirational. We hope that all family offices can use this knowledge and learning from their peers to implement a legacy they are proud of.”

Generations is a seed investment fund which will support a new generation of entrepreneurs – many of whom are EDHEC alumni and who are “passionate about combining financial performance and social commitment”.

Speaking to IAM, EDHEC Dean Emmanuel Métais, says: “Our goal is to invest in startups that are responsible by design. They will want to target the market and make a profit, but at the same time, they want to address a societal issue, whether that relates to the environment, climate change, diversity and inclusion, and wellbeing.”

Potential projects must demonstrate to a selection committee made up of EDHEC and Ring Capital representatives that not only are they profitable and impactful but also responsible across the board. 

“It is no good for us to invest in a fund that is having a positive impact in one ESG respect but is failing on the others,” Métais says.

Applicants must also be able to explain how their offering makes a positive difference in clear and simple terms. 

“The way to avoid impact washing is through being able to prove that your startup makes an obvious improvement to the world. If you need two PhD students to explain why you are impactful, then maybe it hasn’t been so successful.”

Métais gives an example of Yuka.io a French app that allows users to scan a food product’s barcode to provide an independent assessment of its nutritional and health benefits. Métais says Yuka.io has had a “huge impact” on eating habits in France, driving individuals to make better, healthier choices, and it has since gained traction in the US market.

The goal is to raise EUR40 million of which EDHEC will contribute half, to help these types of impact companies get off the ground, and Métais says there is considerable appetite, at least among French investors.

“I don’t know if French people are idealists,” he says, “but here it is much easier to find funding for real impact startups.”

However, global venture capital investment into impact startups is predicted to drop by 36% this year, a further decline from 2022, figures from startup data platform Dealroom reveal. 

In 2023, impact startups have raised just over USD41 billion and are projected to reach USD48.1 billion by the end of the year. This is a fall from nearly USD75 billion last year and represents a notable global slowdown in venture capital funding for companies involved in climate tech, renewable energy, circularity and social justice.

That said, the Phenix Capital Impact Investing report from September 2023, reveals that private equity funds are the most dominant asset class in the US and EU, collectively making up 934 funds across both regions. European private equity funds are 42 per cent of the EU funds universe, while US private equity funds make up 34 per cent of the American funds. 

Métais is confident that the future is bright for impact startups, concluding: “There is a strong established responsible investment tradition in France and I expect that to continue.”

The fund will be co-managed by Ring Capital, a private equity firm dedicated to supporting startups that impact our world through responsible commitments and actions. This initiative demonstrates EDHEC and Ring Capital’s shared ambition to support entrepreneurial projects that drive social and environmental change. 

EDHEC writes that it was among the first European business schools to focus on entrepreneurship, opening its first startup incubator in 2010. Today, EDHEC’s incubators launch 70 startups annually, more than half focusing on solving social and environmental challenges. As part of its ongoing commitment to responsible entrepreneurship, including introducing a unique Responsible by Design methodology for incubated companies, EDHEC is taking the next step and joining forces with Ring Capital to create GENERATIONS Powered by EDHEC. This seed investment fund will support a new generation of entrepreneurs passionate about combining financial performance and social commitment, the firm says.

A partnership with impact

EDHEC chose Ring Capital to manage the GENERATIONS Powered by EDHEC fund because they represent the standard in impact investing. Ring Capital will contribute its expertise to identify, finance, and support entrepreneurs seeking innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. EDHEC will also benefit from Ring Capital’s impressive track record in identifying impact projects and its industry-leading operational support services. When combined with the strength of EDHEC’s network, the GENERATIONS Powered by EDHEC fund offers a unique value proposition for impact entrepreneurs in their seed phase.

Research and entrepreneurship to benefit future generations

This new fund will be financed with up to 20 million Euros from the EDHEC Business School Foundation (EDHEC sold Scientific Beta in January 2020) and school alumni. The fund’s creation illustrates the strength of EDHEC’s unique model, “Research for Business.” 

“In the face of pressing societal challenges, we are proud to invest the proceeds of our high-value-added research in supporting impact projects,” says Emmanuel Métais, Dean of EDHEC Business School. “Encouraging entrepreneurship is part of our DNA. By creating GENERATIONS Powered by EDHEC, we aim to support entrepreneurs who put all their energy into creating a sustainable transformation of the economy and society. In doing so, we create a virtuous circle: the value of our research allows us to nourish impact entrepreneurship, which will finance new solidarity projects for the EDHEC Foundation 

tomorrow. We are very pleased to be associated with Ring Capital, whose financial expertise and commitment to society are widely recognised.”

To identify, finance and accompany startup companies, GENERATIONS Powered by EDHEC will have a dedicated team, including two investors from Ring Capital: Gaspard Martin (EDHEC 2018, ex-MAIF Avenir) and Sibylle Behaghel (EDHEC 2020, ex-50 Partners). The team will also include three experienced EDHEC venture partners: Sandra Armstrong (EDHEC 1993), Jean-François Drweski (EDHEC 2004), and Didier Kuhn (EDHEC 1992).

A unique investment model

GENERATIONS Powered by EDHEC writes that it is a unique fund mobilising multiple generations – alumni, entrepreneurs, and investors – behind a common goal: transforming the entrepreneurial ecosystem to tackle significant societal challenges.

The fund will be open to EDHEC graduates and entrepreneurs who want to positively impact the global economy and society. Ring Capital will select projects based on their potential to innovate in environmental transition, health and well-being, responsible consumption, as well as equity and inclusion.

“We are witnessing the emergence of a new generation of entrepreneurs who are keen to propose solutions to the social and environmental challenges of our time,” says Ring Capital co-founder Nicolas Celier. “They are innovating and finding business models that enable them to align financial performance with impact performance. To achieve this, they must be supported by investors who understand the challenges. This is a unique opportunity for impact investors to identify and support these entrepreneurs, helping them to solve the biggest challenges facing the next generation. We’re delighted to have been chosen by EDHEC, a school that stands out for its dynamism, commitment, and values to put our experience and ecosystem to work on this mission.”

A community dedicated to positive change

The GENERATIONS Powered by EDHEC fund will benefit from EDHEC’s vast entrepreneurial ecosystem, which offers an impressive reservoir of knowledge and skills training in responsible entrepreneurship and innovation. EDHEC offers research in global entrepreneurship, degree programmes such as the MSc in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, entrepreneurial mentoring, workshops for key startup team members, and a network of experts that includes many EDHEC alumni and partners dedicated to environmental transition. In addition, entrepreneurs can immediately access the Responsible by Design methodology by EDHEC Entrepreneurs to build companies that meet sustainable economic, social, and environmental performance criteria from Day 1. 

With this new fund, EDHEC aims to promote a “regenerative” business model that will positively impact society and the environment. 

Overall, the appeal of impact investing continued to rise across countries, except for the US. Results go back to 2016 in the United States, 2019 in the UK, 2020 in Germany, 2021 in Australia and 2022 in Singapore.  

“The totality of our impact investing surveys shows the appeal has increased over the years across nations for men and women, baby boomers, Gen Xers and millennials,” says Sarah Bratton Hughes, senior vice president and head of sustainable investing for American Century Investments. “Even the populations whose interest lags other populations’ interest are making gains. This isn’t surprising, because the long-term drivers for sustainable investing remain strong, and that reaches all populations.” 

Gender gap persists internationally – recent sustainability “backlash” affects appetite for impact investing 

The 2022 survey showed women find impact investing more appealing than in prior years. Interest grew five points among US women since 2018, seven points among UK women since 2019, 16 points among German women since 2020, and two points among Australian women since 2021.  

However, as it has been each year, men’s interest in impact investing is higher than women’s. This gap is largest in Germany and Australia (12 points) and exists across all countries, including Singapore, where women’s interest (66 per cent) is higher than U.S. men (60 per cent) and German men (57 per cent) but lags Singaporean men (72 per cent). The gap has been relatively unchanged in the US (eight points) and UK (seven points). 

A question new to the survey this year reveals another gender gap: in all five countries, men were more likely than women to report the recent sustainability “backlash” impacted their appetite for impact investing. Yet the backlash’s impact on men was mixed: men in the UK, Australia and Germany reported a higher appeal in 2022 compared to 2021 while American men’s interest fell by three points. In Singapore, the recent sustainability backlash was more likely to affect men (57 per cent) than women (49 per cent) when it came to their appetite for impact investing in 2022.    

Geographic rankings shift with addition of Singapore and declining interest only in US. 

Overall, the interest in impact investing rose seven points in Germany, six points in Australia and two points in the UK but fell five points in the US since 2021. Singapore’s addition to the survey shifted comparative rankings in 2022 by taking the top spot (69 per cent). Displaced to number two (65 per cent), U.K. respondents find impact investing much more appealing than their U.S. (56 per cent) and German counterparts (51 per cent), who are much less likely to be familiar with impact investing. Notably, despite the strong interest and high familiarity with impact investing, nearly 60 per cent of UK respondents believe greenwashing has increased. 

“Despite a challenging global economy, an evolving regulatory environment, and political pushback over the last year, interest in sustainable investing not only endures, but has grown in most places,” says Bratton Hughes. “And even though the appeal in the US fell five points since 2021, it has increased 18 points since 2016.”  

Bratton Hughes also pointed out US (24 per cent) and German (24 per cent) respondents were the least likely to report the recent sustainability “backlash” impacted their appetite for impact investing, compared to Australia (26 per cent), the UK (31 per cent) and Singapore (53 per cent).  

“Despite the backlash, we largely see that people continue to show more interest in impact investing year after year,” says Bratton Hughes. “Integrating sustainability and ESG factors into the investment process is not, and should not be, politically motivated – it is focused on value creation, not values. We believe incorporating sustainability into our investment processes can lead to more informed decision-making and better long-term risk-adjusted returns for our clients.”  

Health care and disease prevention and cures remains a top cause  

For the sixth impact investing survey, health care and disease prevention and cures is the cause that matters the most in the US and Australia, and the second concern in the UK and Singapore after the environment.  

As an asset manager with an impact on global health, American Century Investments writes that it has a unique perspective on sustainable investing. More than 40 per cent of American Century dividends go to the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, a world-class biomedical research organisation with an equity stake in American Century. American Century Investments has generated nearly USD2 billion in dividends for the Stowers Institute since 2000.  

“We have a purpose-driven business model that sets us apart in the industry. Through our relationship with the Stowers Institute, we generate an impact on global health while helping clients achieve financial success. Our connection with the Stowers Institute, as well as their long-term view and commitment to research and innovation has helped to shape our culture and naturally aligns with integrating sustainability into our investment practices,” says Bratton Hughes.  

The firm’s research – which analysed the investment perspectives of 770 institutional investors, who are collectively responsible for USD27.5 trillion in assets and from 28 locations around the world – shows that almost half of these leading investors now have a preference for sustainable investments focused on impact.

The study, carried out in March, is an influential bellwether of the investment appetite of major global institutional investors – from corporate and public pension plans to insurance companies, official institutions, endowments and foundations.

This year’s survey found that 48 per cent are focusing on the impact of their investments – up from 38 per cent last year and just 34 per cent in 2020. Schroders says the 2022 result marks the first time that impact investing has ranked in the top three preferred approaches to sustainable investing since the firm first launched its survey in 2017.

Impact investing was a particularly popular approach among respondents in Latin America (62 per cent), followed by the UK and Europe (50 per cent) and Asia Pacific (48 per cent) – while in North America, impact investing did not make it into the top three.

Andy Howard, Schroders’ global head of sustainable investment, says: “The findings of the 2022 Institutional Investor Study are striking. More and more institutional investors want to measure, manage, and deliver impact.”

Integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into the investment process, and positive screening – where investments are only considered if they meet particular sustainability criteria – are the most popular preferences for sustainable investing overall, selected by 75 per cent and 53 per cent respectively. Demand for ESG integration is also up substantially, from 68 per cent the previous year.

According to Schroders, results from the 770 global institutional investors that were surveyed highlight four key areas: investing in the energy transition as key to increasing sustainability adoption; the journey to net zero; active ownership themes; and challenges around performance concerns and greenwashing.

Demand for more investment solutions focused on the energy transition, and the need for tangible quantitative evidence about real-world outcomes, are among other key findings from the study – along with desire for more clarity and education about the different sustainable investment options that are available, a greater push from regulators on how to approach investing sustainably, and industry initiatives such as the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative.

More than half of investors (59 per cent) said that investment in the energy transition would encourage them to invest more into sustainable investments. In the UK and Europe and in Asia Pacific the level of interest in transition-oriented solutions was highest, at 68 per cent and 62 per cent respectively. However in North America energy transition opportunities were trumped by demand for quantitative evidence about the financial considerations of investing sustainably (60 per cent).

At the same time, almost four in 10 (37 per cent) said their organisation had committed to reaching net zero by 2050, with European investors (42 per cent) ahead of those in Latin America (40 per cent), Asia Pacific (37 per cent) and North America (28 per cent). In North America, a third (33 per cent) of investors are still exploring the transition but have not yet committed to specific targets.

Engagement, where investors actively influence corporate behaviour, continues to be an important focus for investors globally, with 59 per cent of those surveyed wanting evidence of measurable improvements for stakeholders.

This was ranked the most important component of an active ownership strategy by the study, followed by transparency on progress (53 per cent) and evidence of improved financial performance (48 per cent).

Kimberley Lewis, Schroders’ head of active ownership, says: “We are in an era of transition in many key areas, including climate change, equality, diversity and many more. Old ways of working are being upended and companies will need to adapt to thrive more than ever.”

“As active managers, we have a critical role to play in supporting that transition. Engagement is one of the important tools we can use to influence the companies in which we invest, to strengthen the long-term value of those assets, enhancing outcomes for clients, and to accelerate positive change towards a fairer and sustainable global economy.”

Governance and oversight – for example through transparency of voting and shareholder resolutions – was the most popular engagement theme for two thirds of investors at 64 per cent. Human rights – in terms of the impact companies have on workers, communities, and consumers – at 62 per cent, followed by climate action and transparency (61 per cent), completed the top three.

Climate was particularly important for investors in Asia Pacific (65 per cent) and the UK and Europe (64 per cent) while human rights and governance came up top for North America (64 per cent for both), and in Latin America human capital management – ensuring workers are supported and protected – was first, at 58 per cent.

Meanwhile, performance concerns over sustainable investments have also increased in the last year – with 53 per cent of investors citing these as a worry in this year’s survey, up from 38 per cent in 2021. According to Schroders, anxiety over performance had been consistently falling year-on-year until this year, with market conditions changing considerably due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, rising interest rates and surging inflation.

Howard says: “Recognising concerns over tensions between sustainable investment and return goals, it’s clear that thoughtful approaches grounded in investment experience are critical. Schroders is committing significant time, resource, and expertise to developing robust and rigorous solutions to meet that need.”

Schroders was a founding signatory in 2020 to the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative – with the firm aiming to reach net zero emissions by 2050 or sooner across all assets under management and committing to 100 per cent renewable energy globally by 2025.

The firm is a member of the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN), a leading non-profit organisation dedicated to increasing the scale and effectiveness of impact investing. It has 350 members globally, including impact investment pioneer BlueOrchard, which is part of the Schroders Group and has been operating since 2001.

Schroders commissioned CoreData to conduct the sixth Institutional Investor Study to analyse the world’s largest investors’ key areas of focus and concern including the macroeconomic and geopolitical climate, return expectations, asset allocation, and attitudes to sustainability and private assets.

As part of this effort, JPMorgan Chase’s electricity consumption will be matched to renewable generation on a 24/7 basis. Matching will take place on a half-hourly basis, through source-specific access to EDF’s 8 TWh of Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) portfolio.  
 
This bespoke agreement is thought to be a first for UK large business electricity supply. Such innovative structures will enable organisations to take a real-time view of their energy sourcing and associated carbon footprint.
 
EDF will provide JPMorgan Chase with approximately 120,000 MWh of renewable electricity each year to power more than 3 million sq ft of offices across the UK, which is the equivalent of powering nearly 33,000 households in the UK.
 
The energy provided to JPMorgan Chase will be monitored utilising ClearTrace’s patented blockchain-based energy-tracking technology to ensure that the electricity consumed is matched digitally, in real-time, to renewable generation. JPMorgan Chase will have an accurate and auditable view of their carbon footprint, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
 
Raghav Singh, Head of Large Business at EDF, says: “We are delighted to be working with JPMorgan Chase and supporting them with their sustainability commitments. Thanks to our strength and expertise in renewable PPAs and supply, we have delivered an innovative, tailored solution for JPMorgan Chase. Zero carbon electricity will be essential for British businesses to achieve Net Zero and we are proud to be supporting our customers on their journeys, delivering solutions that meet their diverse requirements.”
 
JPMorgan Chase has set a number of targets to drive progress on operational sustainability, including a commitment to maintain carbon neutral operations annually. The firm continues to support the development of renewable energy, including installing on-site renewable energy systems and executing long-term renewable energy procurement agreements, and has set a goal that these solutions will make up 70 per cent or more of their renewable energy procurement by 2025. 
 
Jon Denial, Chief Administrative Officer for JPMorgan Chase in Europe, the Middle East and Africa says: “We are pleased to collaborate with EDF to deploy this leading-edge technology, which gives us around-the-clock visibility into our energy consumption and the corresponding renewable generation across our entire UK portfolio. This construct sets a high bar for responsibility and transparency in renewable energy sourcing.”
  
JPMorgan Chase is committed to helping facilitate the transition to a low-carbon world. The firm strives to promote a sustainable and inclusive economy through its Paris-aligned financing commitment that includes carbon reduction targets for the Oil & Gas, Electric Power and Auto Manufacturing sectors, and its target to finance and facilitate USD2.5 trillion in sustainable development over ten years.

The Marshall Impact Accelerator will provide a brand new platform for the world’s most promising social ventures, scaling them to help us tackle global challenges in areas such as health, the environment, social inequality, public policy and developmental economics. 

Bringing together LSE’s world-leading research expertise and the Marshall Institute’s existing government and policy networks, the accelerator will provide key grant-making services and resources for the social sector that have long only been available to commercial firms and for-profit investors.

Launching in Spring 2022, Marshall Impact Accelerator marks the Marshall Institute’s next step in improving the impact and effectiveness of private action for public good.

Sir Paul Marshall, investor and philanthropist, says: “We live in a constantly evolving world, and if we want to overcome the challenges we face, we need to embrace brand new ways of thinking, now more than ever. This donation to create the Marshall Impact Accelerator will support visionaries from every continent, as they create groundbreaking new innovations and change the world. I can’t wait to see what they come up with.”

Baroness Minouche Shafik, Director of the London School of Economics, says: “The Marshall Impact Accelerator will provide a truly world-class environment for stimulating the creative and entrepreneurial talents of our students in the service of solving some of the world’s most intractable public and social problems. We could not be more delighted to bring the Marshall Impact Accelerator to LSE, and we could not be more grateful for the visionary generosity of Sir Paul Marshall in inspiring it.”

Stephan Chambers, Director of the Marshall Institute, says: “As the world begins to turn away from a focus on ‘making things people want’ towards ‘making things people need’, the scaling up of social impact projects through the Marshall Impact Accelerator will accelerate this trend. Our aim is to create ‘impact unicorns’ — organisations improving billions of lives.”

The data, from Big Society Capital’s Annual Market Sizing Report, shows there has been consistent growth year-on-year with a particular acceleration between 2019 – 2020, the year of the pandemic, which saw a 26 per cent increase in the value of social impact investments in the UK (26 per cent 2019-2020 vs 21 per cent increase 2018-2019).
 
Social property funds continue to account for the largest portion (45 per cent) of the social impact investment market and has seen eight-fold growth since 2016. Social lending accounts for 43 per cent of the market, seeing three-fold growth since 2011.
 
Some of this growth in the social lending sector can be attributed to funds launched in response to the Coronavirus pandemic, such as the Resilience and Recovery Loan Fund, set up by Social Investment Business with funding from Big Society Capital.
 
Existing funds also contributed to the growth in social lending, supporting social enterprises and charities through the crisis by providing additional flexibility and liquidity. These included the Community Investment Enterprise Facility and the Growth Fund, created as a partnership between Access, the National Lottery Community Fund and Big Society Capital.
 
This further demonstrates that social impact investment is playing a key role in providing financial support to social enterprises and charities so they can continue to help communities which have struggled even more following the impact of Covid-19.
 
Stephen Muers, CEO of Big Society Capital, says: “Social enterprises and charities have been a fundamental lifeline for many of the millions who were furloughed, made redundant, or isolated from their regular social networks and support. They became frontline services for the nation and have played an important role in the recovery.

“Despite this, the mainstream funding challenges persist for many of these organisations, so it comes as highly welcome news to see the burgeoning growth of social impact investment from the private sector, alongside increasing investment from both local and national government.

“But this is only a fraction of what we believe is possible over the next few years. Momentum is building and social impact investment has a huge role to play. We aim to at least double the capital going into UK social investment, to between GBP10 billion and GBP15 billion by 2025.

“More and more investors are realising that it is possible to deliver both a social and financial return and so we are confident the market is on track to meet this ambitious target.”

Sarah Gordon, CEO of the Impact Investing Institute, says: “The social investment market sizing which BSC conducts sets an important baseline which demonstrates not just how dynamic this market is, but how relevant it is for policy-makers intent on increasing opportunities and addressing regional inequalities across the UK. We’re excited to be integrating this work into our own impact investment market sizing exercise, which will take a broader look at institutional capital dedicated to impact.”

Launched eleven months ago and co-founded by The Big Issue this pioneering investment and financial services platform offers a wide range of 50 independently rated socially and environmentally responsible or sustainable funds direct to a retail audience. Janus Henderson has initially proposed three funds to be hosted on The Big Exchange; these have been put forward for The Big Exchange’s impact assessment and, if rated, will be available for retail investors by the end of 2021. Those funds are: the Janus Henderson Global Sustainable Equity Fund, the Janus Henderson UK Responsible Income Fund and the Janus Henderson Global Responsible Managed Funds. 
 
Since its launch in October 2020, The Big Exchange has already attracted a Best Buy Sustainable ISA rating from Boring Money, the money and investment advice website, and is growing its customer base on average by 150% month on month. It is also attracting a diverse customer base with a significant number of female, first time and younger investors joining their movement.
 
Jill Jackson CEO of The Big Exchange, says: “I am delighted to welcome Janus Henderson as a partner of The Big Exchange. This is an exciting step for our business, and our shared vision will allow us to continue to give consumers the access, support and choice to invest their money in funds that are seeking to provide a financial return by using a responsible or sustainable investment approach.”
 
Simon Hillenbrand, Head of UK Retail for Janus Henderson, says: “We are delighted to support The Big Exchange, and we hope to accelerate their work; our partnership demonstrates Janus Henderson’s commitment to meeting the needs of our investor’s and working toward a more sustainable world.  Janus Henderson is also committed to making the asset management industry more transparent; we hope that our partnership increases the momentum behind The Big Exchange’s mission to promote sustainability, inclusivity and fairness in finance, and signifies the growing tide of demand within the investment industry to provide trusted responsible or sustainable products to retail investors.”