Collaboration, innovation, and impact: Highlights from NPC Ignites 2025
17 December 2025
Last month, more than 250 influential leaders, experts, and changemakers took a full day out of their regular work week to join us at NPC Ignites. Why? To understand how we, together, can grow and strengthen the impact economy.
The day started with an insightful and optimistic introduction by our CEO, Jonathan Simmons, who reminded us that this is a time for celebration in the sector. Some things to celebrate: philanthropy in the UK is on the rise, and the government announced a new Office of the Impact Economy, highlighting the importance of impact at a national level. This set the tone for an event full of conversations across the sector sharing new and innovative ideas, challenges, and solutions.
What did we learn?
1. The impact economy is full of potential
What exactly is the impact economy? And how big is it?
These are the questions everyone seemed to be asking, both speakers and attendees alike. We at NPC have been asking the same questions, and we are knee deep in the process of answering them. We will be releasing our Impact UK report early next year which will contain a definition of the impact economy as well as a rigorous sizing of it. So, stay tuned!
Regardless of size and exact definition, Ignites reminded us that there is power in the impact economy – power to realign, scale, and accelerate solutions to some of our biggest challenges. The shift toward utilising capital in ways that benefit the world and its people socially, environmentally, and beyond is not just a UK movement, but a global trend. The more we recognise it, the more accessible and open it becomes.
But as Polly Neate, former CEO of shelter powerfully reminded us, this transformation cannot happen without civil society. For civil society to be an equal partner – equally influential and powerful – its knowledge and experience must be valued as highly as financial capital.
“There’s absolutely no way in which investors, government and public services can make a dent in the huge and complex societal issues we face without civil society,”
Polly Neate
Former CEO, Shelter
2. Collaboration is key to impact
One of the clearest messages of the day was that impact doesn’t happen in isolation, collaboration is critical. Organisations can start collaborating by grounding themselves in a shared understanding of purpose, and we were reminded by Joshua Meek of Unity Trust Bank that a Theory of Change is a great tool for this. It should be used internally and created with key-decision makers, stakeholders, and beneficiaries where possible.
Beyond that, the sector is facing big shifts, such as the rise of AI, which demands open conversations and joint problem-solving. Tom Ilube, Chair of the King’s Trust, encouraged attendees to bring AI experts into discussions, explore its role for beneficiaries, and use it creatively particularly in areas where other resources are scarce.
Finally, Nick Pontefract from Sport England highlighted that partnerships are catalytic to change, but they work best when built on trust. We need to be clear about what we want from a collaboration but stay open to what others can offer, all while holding space for the reality that partnerships cannot be forced and sometimes efforts simply misalign.
“As an organisation we are constrained. As a network we are unlimited in our capacity”
Nick Pontefract
Chief Strategy Officer, Sport England
3. Exciting innovations are happening in our sector
New guidance from the SORP has introduced tiered reporting, mandatory impact reporting, ESG disclosures, and simplified rules for smaller charities—changes designed to enable greater transparency and more meaningful data collection. Charity Commission CEO David Holdsworth urged charities to treat impact reporting as more than just “an annual tick-box”, warning against generic statements that fail to showcase the difference charities make.
At the same time, grassroots movements are gaining momentum, fuelled by a desire for collective action and openness. Joe Ryrie from Smartphone Free Childhood provided a powerful example, inspiring parents to be intentional about how they enable their children to access technology.. Alongside this, individuals, groups, and organisations are embracing a culture of working in the open—sharing strategies, programmes, learning, and evaluations. Hera Hussain of Chayn exemplified this approach on stage, demonstrating how openness can drive collaboration and sector-wide progress.
From bold ideas on collaborative philanthropy to actionable steps for adapting to AI, the day was full of insights that matter. NPC is grateful to everyone who contributed and attended.
You are what makes Ignites worthwhile. Here’s to continuing the conversation.
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