Helping good business thrive in the UK

Supporting policy development and
radical government-business collaboration

About the project

Many UK businesses are already tackling social and environmental problems in profitable ways. They understand that “doing good” makes good business sense. At the same time, the government realises it can’t solve the challenges our country faces alone.

Businesses can, and want, to help: they have a unique ability to innovate and scale innovative solutions. But they currently face barriers in doing so. That’s what we’re trying to change, unlocking the win-win of business success and positive impact.

We help to bridge the gap between good business and public policy, ensuring that the expertise of the business community actively shapes national strategy. We’re experts at bringing together senior leaders across both government and business to work together to tackle the biggest societal challenges.

Unlocking better government-business partnership

In the context of tough fiscal constraints, businesses can provide much-needed scale to help design and deliver solutions to national challenges.

84% UK Business leaders think government should do more to help them tackle societal challenges. 64% UK business leaders struggle to connect with government to help tackle societal challenges.

77% UK Business leaders think businesses can drive more societal impact. Business leaders are as likely to think their purpose is to profitably tackle societal challenges as to maximise shareholder returns.

Progress to date

A ‘front door’ for government-business partnership

The government’s launch of the Office for the Impact Economy is a major milestone, providing a front door for government-business collaboration to tackle big societal challenges. We campaigned for this alongside many brilliant partners, and called for it in our 2024 report on government-business partnerships.

Embedding purpose in national strategy

The purpose-driven agenda gained significant traction across government publications and strategies over 2025, including in The Modern Industrial Strategy, The Spending Review and The Trade Strategy. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also emphasised the need for business–government partnership at the Delivering Change Together summit.

Building a cross-party coalition for change

We host our annual Good Business Ambassadors Reception to bring together senior politicians, civil servants and business leaders to discuss the power of good business in tackling social and environmental challenges. In 2025, we convened more than 80 senior leaders.

Explore our government-facing work

Explore some of the specific issues we work on below, or dive deeper into our recommendations for how the government and businesses can partner effectively.