Our Purpose

Making Impact Count

We exist to accelerate the transition to a good economy where financial systems deliver not just returns but better outcomes for society.

We work with investors and institutions to align real-world social goals and sustainable development priorities with how financial capital is deployed, managed and communicated.

From defining what good economy investing should look like, to building the systems that measure progress and the frameworks that report it, we support clients across the full investment lifecycle, turning ambition into clarity, consistency and accountability.

Through strategic advisory, assessment, reporting and convening, we help shape a more transparent, outcome-driven investment ecosystem. One where finance delivers both a return and a contribution to society.

Approach

Our Philosophy

Business, financial and political leaders say it is time for a new model of capitalism that delivers ‘inclusive growth’ and ‘shared prosperity’. The notion of ‘inclusive capitalism’ is an old idea, traceable to Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679). It may be an idea whose time has come, but to make it a reality is something else altogether.

The Good Economy embraces many diverse elements of economic theory and practice that champion innovation, productivity, entrepreneurism and inclusion. We seek to create a broad church, a highly inclusive community of interests from a broad range of partners from the public and private sectors as well as from wider civil society.

We have varied economic development and social impact investment backgrounds, covering innovative policy, practice and research in every region of the world. The Good Economy is a ‘borderless’ concept with universal relevance, and we are aligned with partners globally and locally.

Download BrochureGet in Touch

Values

Our Way of Working

We each play an important role in delivering on TGE’s purpose to facilitate the emergence of a Good Economy. Our work really matters and therefore it is important that we hold ourselves and each other accountable for living our values.

Our values and behaviours are:

Leading With
Authenticity

We live for what we stand for, not just as an idea, but as a standard for how we work, think and collaborate. We bring clarity, care and conviction to every challenge, and we help show the path to a better way of doing things. Clients feel part of something bigger, because they see we are as committed to meaningful change as they are. And we follow through with integrity and authenticity.

Clarity & Conviction: Communicate directly and with purpose, sharing your perspective with courage to create a clear path forward for everyone.
Integrity & Accountability: Build trust by aligning your actions with your words, taking full ownership of your commitments and outcomes.
Care & Collaboration: Act as a true partner by listening with empathy and fostering an inclusive environment where clients and colleagues feel empowered.

How does our behaviour shape this?

Collaborative
by Instinct

We don’t work in silos. We build relationships, connect the dots and convene the right people to move things forward. Collaboration isn’t a tactic for us, it’s how change happens, and it’s baked into how we operate because we believe that social and spatial inequality are part of a web of systemic issues that require collaborative efforts to effect systemic change.

Build Bridges, Not Silos: Actively break down silos by seeking diverse perspectives and openly sharing knowledge across teams to ensure work is always connected.
Convene & Connect: Move things forward by convening the right people, facilitating connections and creating an inclusive space for effective collaboration.
Embrace Shared Ownership: Foster a spirit of true partnership by co-creating solutions and ensuring that both the responsibility and the success are shared by everyone involved.

How does our behaviour shape this?

Rigorous &
Reflective

We take our role seriously. That means slowing down to think well, making space for complexity, and committing to evidence and care in how we work. We take all available information into account and take the time to consider the issue from all angles, possible solutions, best course of action, etc rather than just rushing into delivery. We thoughtfully provide practical solutions by being rigorous in our approach, meticulous in our work and transparent in our actions.

Make Space for Deep Thinking: Slow down to think well, deliberately pausing to consider challenges from all angles and reflect on potential consequences before choosing a course of action.
Embrace Evidence & Complexity: Commit to a rigorous, evidence-based approach, grounding your work in data and acknowledging complexity rather than resorting to easy answers.
Execute with Meticulous Care: Deliver practical, high-quality solutions by being meticulous in your work, transparent in your methods, and attentive to every detail.

How does our behaviour shape this?

Independent,
Trusted Thinkers

We’re not aligned to shareholder interests or political agendas. That independence gives us clarity, credibility, and space to challenge. We think systemically, act objectively, and bring thoughtful challenge when it matters.

Objectivity & Impartiality: Ground all analysis in objective evidence, ensuring your advice remains free from political agendas or personal bias.
Systemic Thinking & Clarity: Think systemically to understand the full context of any challenge, distilling complexity into clear and actionable insights.
Courageous & Thoughtful Challenge: Leverage your independence to challenge assumptions constructively, offering thoughtful alternatives that enhance thinking and build credibility.

How does our behaviour shape this?

Our Customer Commitments

At The Good Economy, we’re passionate about delivering outstanding service and are committed to upholding ethical and responsible business practices in all that we do. As a proud signatory of the Good Business Charter, we pledge:

Fair Compensation: We are an accredited Real Living Wage employer and believe in fair compensation, ensuring our team have a wage they can live on.

Employee Wellbeing: Respecting work-life balance is key; we know that having a happy and healthy team contributes to the high-quality service and impactful solutions we provide.

Inclusive Decision-Making: We involve our team in our decision making, valuing every voice to foster innovation and continually enhance our offerings.

Embracing Diversity: Our commitment to a diverse and inclusive environment allows us to bring a wider range of perspectives, leading to more creative and effective solutions.

Environmental Stewardship: We embed our dedication to reducing our ecological footprint into every service and operation, aligning with global sustainability efforts.

Paying Fair Tax: Our financial integrity, including full and timely tax payments, ensures a stable and trustworthy business you can depend on.

Customer Focused: We are dedicated to treating our clients fairly, providing solutions precisely aligned with their needs, and maintaining clear, honest communication.

Responsible Sourcing: We extend our high ethical standards to our suppliers, ensuring all our services are built on a foundation of responsibility and fairness.

Get in Touch

Sign up for our newsletter

"*" indicates required fields

Governance

Responsible Business

We believe that businesses have a crucial role to play in building a sustainable world and that good governance is as important as integrating positive environmental and social impact practices into one’s operations.

As a growing business we are mindful of our responsibilities to all of our stakeholders and to society at large. We are proud of our Living Wage Employer and Good Business Charter accreditations and we are members of the Better Business Act Coalition.

Team

Our Founders

Our People

Sarah Forster
CEO & Co-Founder

Sarah is CEO and Co-Founder of The Good Economy. She has worked at the forefront of finance for positive impact for more than 25 years, working in the fields of sustainable economic development, development finance, and impact measurement and management both internationally and in the UK.

Mark Hepworth
Co-Founder & Director, Research and Policy

Mark is a multidisciplinary economist and entrepreneur whose international career spans academia, public policy and business consulting. Mark’s work over 30 years has focused on innovation and new paradigms for economic development. He directs The Good Economy’s research and policy work on inclusive and sustainable development.