Briefings

How are investors redefining long-term value in an era of geopolitical uncertainty and economic change? This roundtable brought together senior figures to explore why resilience is becoming a defining investment priority, how regulation can better support sustainable growth, and why the focus is shifting from disclosure to real-world implementation. Read the key insights and recommendations on how government and industry can work together to unlock investment, strengthen resilience and enhance the UK’s long-term competitiveness.

As geopolitical instability and fossil fuel price volatility reshape the energy landscape, this panel discussion of the Policy Liaison Group on Sustainable Growth examined how clean, homegrown power can strengthen energy security, economic resilience and long-term growth. Participants considered the importance of market reform, strategic infrastructure investment, consumer participation and clear policy frameworks capable of accelerating electrification while attracting long-term investment.

As investors increasingly look to credible transition strategies to inform capital allocation decisions, this discussion examined how transition planning can help unlock investment, improve productivity and reinforce energy security. Participants considered the importance of clear policy signals, stronger coordination across government and industry, and effective communication of the economic opportunities associated with the transition.

As the government pursues both airport expansion and the development of greener aviation technologies, the panel examined how the sector can decarbonise while continuing to support connectivity, productivity and regional development. Participants also considered the challenges associated with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), infrastructure investment and the need for a more integrated policy framework.

Against the backdrop of the government’s growth strategy and increasing demand for AI computing power, this Policy Liaison Group discussion considered the implications for energy security, grid capacity and long-term competitiveness. Participants also explored the governance challenges associated with AI deployment, including transparency, accountability and the environmental footprint of emerging technologies.

Drawing on the proposals set out in Martin Wrigley MP’s Company Directors (Duties) private members bill, this roundtable considered whether existing legal and governance structures provide directors with sufficient confidence to address material sustainability risks alongside traditional financial priorities. Participants also examined the relationship between effective stewardship, board decision-making and long-term competitiveness.

In this roundtable discussion, panellists explored the evolving relationship between ESG disclosures and corporate due diligence as the UK prepares to implement the UK Sustainability Reporting Standards (UK SRS). With ongoing reforms to the EU’s sustainability reporting and due diligence regimes, the discussion examined how transparency and accountability frameworks can support better business decision-making, strengthen investor confidence and contribute to long-term value creation. Participants also considered the importance of balancing robust reporting requirements with proportionality and practical implementation.

The Policy Liaison Group’s roundtable examined the growing role of private finance in supporting nature recovery and biodiversity restoration across the UK. The discussion explored the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework as well as the development of new biodiversity and transition planning policies, and looked at how governments, investors and businesses can work together to channel capital towards nature-positive outcomes. Participants also considered the challenges associated with valuing biodiversity, creating investable opportunities and establishing credible market frameworks.

The Policy Liaison Group’s first sector-specific Westminster roundtable examined how ESG principles can be more effectively integrated across the built environment. Building on discussions held at UKREiiF, the session explored the practical barriers preventing the construction and real estate sectors from translating sustainability ambitions into tangible outcomes. Amid growing pressure to decarbonise existing building stock, participants considered the need for clearer standards, stronger infrastructure and more coordinated policy delivery.

A panel discussion at UKREiiF 2025, hosted by Winvic Construction, explored how the UK can accelerate housing and infrastructure delivery while maintaining ambitious environmental and social objectives. The conversation examined the practical barriers preventing more sustainable development, including planning delays, fragmented regulation and constraints within the energy system. Participants also considered how greater policy coordination could improve both investment confidence and project delivery.

Ahead of the government’s Pensions Bill, following the Pensions Investment Review, roundtable participants explored how the UK’s £3 trillion pensions sector could better integrate environmental and social risks while helping to finance national priorities, including infrastructure and the transition to net zero. Participants also examined the importance of regulatory certainty, fiduciary clarity and stronger international alignment in unlocking long-term investment.

Participants of this virtual roundtable explored the implications of the European Commission’s Omnibus I package, which proposes significant changes to the EU’s flagship sustainability reporting and due diligence frameworks. As policymakers seek to balance environmental ambitions with concerns around competitiveness and regulatory burden, the discussion considered how reporting standards can be simplified without undermining transparency, investor confidence or long-term sustainability objectives. Particular attention was given to the practical impact on UK businesses operating across European markets and the role of proportionate frameworks for smaller companies.

This roundtable examined the government’s Invest 2035 green paper and the role that industrial strategy can play in delivering sustainable, long-term economic growth. As the UK seeks to strengthen its international competitiveness while meeting net zero commitments, the discussion explored how ESG considerations can be integrated into a modern industrial framework. Participants also considered the importance of policy stability, regional development and innovation in supporting the transition to a more resilient economy.

During this roundtable, the Policy Liaison Group panel explored the role of ESG and sustainable finance in supporting economic development across the Global South. Taking place in the wake of the COP29 climate finance agreement and against an increasingly uncertain geopolitical backdrop, the discussion examined how public and private capital can be mobilised more effectively to meet the needs of developing economies. Participants also considered the importance of locally informed decision-making, innovative financing mechanisms and stronger international partnerships in delivering a just and inclusive transition.

The Policy Liaison Group’s roundtable considered the findings of the government’s Transition Finance Market Review (TFMR), a major initiative designed to strengthen the UK’s position as a global hub for transition finance. At a time of increasing international competition for green investment, the discussion explored the barriers preventing capital from flowing towards decarbonisation projects and the policy measures needed to unlock long-term growth. Participants also examined the importance of credible transition planning, clearer market signals and stronger coordination between government and the financial sector.

In this Policy Liaison Group roundtable, the panel examined the findings of the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership’s (CISL) Competitive Sustainability report, which argues that the UK’s future prosperity will depend on better aligning economic success with environmental sustainability. The discussion explored how government policy, business leadership and financial markets can work together to encourage investment in the transition to a more resilient economy. Participants also considered whether existing ESG approaches are sufficient to drive meaningful change, or whether a more fundamental shift in incentives is required.

Following on from the 2024 King’s Speech, the Policy Liaison Group’s latest roundtable considered the implications of the new Labour government’s approach to ESG policy. With the government setting out an ambitious programme to drive the energy transition and stimulate green investment, the discussion focused on the role of sustainable finance in delivering these objectives and the policy measures needed to support long-term economic transformation. 

Amid a surge of escalating claim values and high-profile corporate controversies, the Policy Liaison Group on ESG evaluated how the rising threat of collective legal action pressures boards to fortify their risk management while navigating the counter-risk of corporate silence. The roundtable discussion examined the rapid expansion of class-action lawsuits in the UK and their shifting impact on corporate liability, funding ethics, and accountability.

The Policy Liaison Group’s panel examined the shifting landscape of ESG, focusing on how enterprises navigate mounting market confusion, align with evolving regulations, and identify genuine drivers of long-term commercial value. With a communication “vacuum” between corporate operators and financial markets, the session evaluated how leadership teams can transcend compliance-heavy mandates by focusing on highly specific material frameworks.

The Policy Liaison Group’s inaugural roundtable explored the role of corporate governance in supporting organisational resilience, accountability and long-term value creation. Against the backdrop of recent reforms to the UK Corporate Governance Code and wider debates around business competitiveness, the discussion examined how governance frameworks can strengthen trust, improve decision-making and underpin sustainable economic growth.