Mobilising the impact economy as partners in national renewal
The final report of the Social Impact Investment Advisory Group (SIIAG) - Mobilising the impact economy as partners in national renewal - was published today, setting out a practical roadmap for the UK Government to strategically partner with the impact economy.
Commissioned by HM Treasury and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in January 2025, the SIIAG’s final report details how a "mobilisation mindset" within government could unlock billions in private and philanthropic capital to address national priorities like affordable housing, clean energy, and child poverty.
The recommendations are a direct call to action for both central and local government to deepen their collaboration with this powerful sector.
Key Takeaways for Place Leaders
The SIIAG's work, which includes input from leaders in local government, social investing, philanthropy and purpose-driven business, strongly emphasises the potential for renewal at the local level. Place leaders—including those in local authorities and combined authorities—will find the following elements particularly relevant:
The report champions a ‘mobilisation mindset’ approach where public funds are used as a catalyst to attract private and philanthropic resources, rather than acting as the sole source of funding. This "match first / leverage approach" is recommended as a core principle for policy design both nationally and locally, including in Local Growth Plans.
Five key areas of pressing need are identified as opportunities for the government to move quickly, including a Temporary Accommodation Impact Investment Facility and a Place-based Philanthropic Match Challenge, both of which would directly benefit local communities.
The report recommends investments in boosting local capability, including seed funding a Local Investment Enablement Facility (LIEF) to provide a hub of expertise, practical help, and accessible templates to help place leaders put the mobilisation mindset into practice and reduce barriers to local participation.
Recurve’s contribution to the report
The report is the culmination of ten months of intense work by a diverse and influential group of leaders across mainstream finance, philanthropy, and civil society, including Dame Elizabeth Corley (Chair of Schroders), Kieron Boyle OBE (Chair of the Impact Investing Institute), and Rob Pollock (Chief Executive of of Cambridge City Council). Their commitment to finding solutions for national renewal is evident in the depth and breadth of the recommendations.
"The work of the SIIAG was a testament to the power of collaboration and the value of leading beyond boundaries," said Recurve’s Sam Markey, who was lead author of the final report, on behalf of the Impact Investing Institute.
"It was a privilege to have the task of curating the collective wisdom of the Advisory Group and four expert working groups into a cohesive and compelling roadmap, and support successful engagements with government ministers and officials along the way. The real success lies in the clarity of the vision, which offers both central government and place leaders at the local level a blueprint for how to mobilise the extensive creative and capital resources of the impact economy to drive enduring economic and social renewal in all corners of the UK."
Interested in partnering with the impact economy to deliver better outcomes and mobilise capital in support of renewal in your local area?
Visit our Mobilising Impact Capital page to learn more about how we can help you grow in knowledge and confidence to shape new collaborations with patient, purpose-driven investors.