We’re delighted to announce that Jen has taken up a part-time seconded role as Senior Place Advisor at the Office for the Impact Economy (OIE).
Launched last November, the OIE is designed to provide a ‘single front door’ for impact investors, philanthropy and purpose-driven businesses to partner with the government and grow their social impact. Led by Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, Darren Jones MP, its role is to unlock billions in private money to increase impact, with a remit that includes:
- Driving cross-government strategy on the impact economy
- Acting as a ‘front door’ for new impact economy relationships and general strategic relationships and coordinating the government’s engagement with the impact economy
- Driving capacity and capability building, supporting other government departments, and strategic and local authorities to work in partnership with the impact economy
- Identifying and supporting the development of partnerships
Kindred was proud to be one of the examples shared in the office’s launch announcement. Jen’s secondment – alongside BBRC’s Chief Executive Ed Rowberry – is a great opportunity to embed our learning and thinking in the Office for the Impact Economy. Their work is designed to support the development of a lasting national framework for the impact economy – a long-term approach that exists beyond individual funds or spending rounds, creating a policy and legacy for future generations.
Jen and Ed will support the OIE to develop the place partnerships offer, enabling place-based social and financial innovation to flourish across the UK.
Jen says: “Being seconded to the Office for the Impact Economy is a real privilege. It’s an opportunity to step into a space where collaboration really matters, to bring the lived, real-world insights of our communities into the heart of a national approach to grow impact. I’m incredibly proud to represent Liverpool City Region and to help carry our collective experiences, challenges and ambitions into this role, making sure they inform decisions, spark new ideas and, ultimately, help create a fairer, more inclusive future for everyone.
“In my first couple of weeks I have been focused on speaking to as many people working to grow impact in places around the country. Incorporating lessons learnt and hearing what places need to grow their impact will ultimately inform the OIE approach.”
Operationally, we’ve got a full team in place to make sure there’s continuity across Kindred on days that Jen is working with the OIE team. Nicola Higham has taken on responsibility for investment and impact decisions; Andrew Beattie will take a lead on all operational and engagement support.
Image: By Gene Hunt, Flickr, shared via CC BY 2.0 licence