There is a growing sense that the UK’s impact economy is on the brink of something bigger. Not because the ambition is new, or the intent has been lacking, but because, for the first time, the conditions are in place for this part of the economy to truly take flight.
At Forster, that belief, and our desire to be part of this wider movement for change, is exactly why we are supporting the Impact UK report, published recently by NPC (New Philanthropy Capital.
For the first time, the report provides a gauge on the substantial scale and potential of the UK’s impact economy. Worth £428 billion and accounting for around 15% of UK GDP, it represents an enormous concentration of energy, talent and capital focused on creating positive change. From impact investors and philanthropists to charities, social enterprises, B Corps and mission‑driven businesses, the foundations are firmly in place.
What feels different now is the opportunity to move beyond individual efforts and into something far more powerful: a connected movement with a shared mission.
From silos to a shared sense of purpose
Many organisations working for social and environmental good stay within the tramlines of the sector they are part of, never lifting their head to see the potential that linking up with other sectors who share their mission would provide. The result is a fragmented ecosystem that is too often less than the sum of its considerable parts.
The wind is with us if we want to change that. We’re seeing rapid growth across every part of the impact economy. Giving by high‑net‑worth individuals has grown by an average of 18% a year since 2020. Impact investing reached £76.8 billion by the end of 2023 and continues to accelerate. From a standing start less than a decade ago, the UK is now home to more than 2,700 B Corps. These are not isolated success stories, but signals of a system ready to scale through more investment and increased collaboration.
Why communications matter more than ever
This is where communications has a critical role to play. If the impact economy is to move from a collection of sectors into a genuine movement, it needs communications that can bring clarity, cohesion and momentum in the form of shared narratives, common language and the ability to connect and platform diverse voices.
At Forster, we see every day how powerful storytelling, strategic messaging and thoughtful engagement can be in building understanding and driving action. Communications has the ability to unite investors, businesses, charities, policymakers and communities, helping them see not just their individual role, but how they fit into a much bigger picture.
By helping movements for change reach broader audiences, communications can unlock greater investment, stronger partnerships and more sustained impact. It can turn momentum into mandate.
The time for collaboration is now
By outlining its scope, scale and, crucially, the potential it could realise through deeper collaboration and increased investment, the report gives shape and direction to the impact economy.
The impact economy is where impact happens. If we want to make a real difference on the issues that matter, whether climate, inequality, health or opportunity, this is where effort, capital and creativity need to flow.
At Forster, we’re proud to support this report because we believe in the power of collective action, and in the role communications can play in helping the impact economy fulfil its promise.
Now is the time to invest more, collaborate more and think bigger. We’re excited to be part of what comes next.
You can read the Impact UK report here.