Why is impact investing important?

The history of impact investing

Historically, the investment community might have argued that risk-adjusted financial returns must be sacrificed to achieve positive social and environmental impact. However, recently impact led investing has become a popular choice for investors who want to achieve social and environmental goals while earning a financial return. The UK has emerged as a leading player in the impact investing sector, with a thriving community of impact investment leaders dedicated to making a positive impact via impact investing companies. 

Successful impact investments seek to make a positive impact on society and the planet, while still earning a return on their investment often using an impact investing framework. We believe that socially orientated investing can directly address some of the most pressing societal demands — and deliver superior risk-adjusted returns.

Social impact led investing: examples

In Oxford, Legal & General have a joint venture partnership with Oxford University. We have invested £4 billion: creating assets from world-leading space for cutting-edge, life-changing research.  Being an impact led investment, this will help retain talent in the city, whilst providing the facilities for world-leading research and innovation, as well as much needed housing for University and College staff.