Our work
The Finance Innovation Lab builds power to transform the financial system for people and planet
Why focus on finance?
Our financial system has become disconnected from the real needs of people, the environment, the wider economy and society. Dysfunction in the financial system lies at the root of many of today’s challenges, from climate change and economic crises to poverty, marginalisation and inequality.
It doesn’t have to be this way. People created the system – and people can change it.
What we do
At the heart of our work is our powerful community of changemakers. Together, we collaborate to change the story on finance, shift the power dynamics in the system, and build a financial system that is democratic, sustainable, just and resilient.
Our work targets the financial system impacts needed to meet this vision, focusing on four key areas:
Growing purpose-driven finance
Building the power of purpose-driven financial institutions to ensure they become mainstream in the UK.
Shifting mainstream finance
Equipping climate champions inside banks to align their institutions with Paris climate goals through financing a just and regenerative economy.
Influencing policy, regulation and law
Building the capacity of civil society to act as a powerful voice for social and environmental justice in financial reform.
Building a powerful community
A community of committed and connected systems-changemakers with the power to transform the financial sector.
Fellowship
Lab Fellowship is our unique incubation programme for people and ideas with the
potential to transform our financial system. We call this ‘systemic incubation’.
Each of our previous cohorts had a distinct focus, from financial health to embedding and advancing climate action within banking institutions.
Read more about Lab Fellowship, or find out more about our current fellowship – run in collaboration with the Climate Safe Lending Network.
Past projects
Find out more about our past projects.