Our Causes
The IIF makes grants to charitable causes close to the hearts of people in the infrastructure investment industry. The vision was to create a permanent cross industry foundation, recognising that the industry plays an important role providing essential infrastructure and related services to a wide range of communities. The IIF therefore aims to help make a positive impact within the communities that the industry serves.
Members of the industry are invited to come forward with ideas as to which causes the IIF should support, which are relevant to people in the industry or it’s communities and where the Charity’s contribution can make a meaningful impact.
The Ella Project
Ella Pinney, and her husband, both worked within the infrastructure industry at the time of her diagnosis with Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma (ACC), a rare head and neck cancer.
Due to it’s rarity, there hadn’t been much research into ACC. Cancers like ACC are difficult to treat and this means ACC patients often have limited treatment options. After Ella’s ACC diagnosis in March 2017, her whole life changed. From that point on, she was determined to make sure the next generation of ACC patients have more treatment options.
The industry played a key role in raising funds for The Ella Project, a UK-wide study, led by Dr Rob Metcalf based at The Christie hospital, focused entirely on ACC.
Ella tragically died in December 2021. Because of Ella’s determination and the industry’s support the project was launched and the world is now looking to The Christie for answers about how to successfully treat ACC.
The project is already making crucial steps towards finding more effective drug treatments for ACC. Any donations you can give for The Ella Project will make a huge difference.
The Social Mobility Initiative
With a mission to both empower and equip those from least advantaged backgrounds and to inspire young people through greater awareness and understanding of the industry – to attract a greater array of talent to the industry.
The IIF has selected a portfolio of partners which offer a complementary set of capabilities and foci to address barriers young people face and widen access to the infrastructure industry. With different theories of change, these partners together should deliver maximum impact by having broad reach alongside deep engagement to equip, empower and inspire least advantaged students. We have decided to focus our initial attention on school bracket, recognizing the first challenge for many talented young people is access to top universities and a lack of empowerment about their career opportunities.
The ambition is that the Social Mobility Initiative becomes a permanent feature of our industry. There are a variety of ways for organisations or individuals to get involved and positively impact the life of a young person.
A diverse portfolio of charity partners with different theories for change
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Career Ready
A national social mobility charity at the heart of a network of employers and educators .
Career Ready boost social mobility by delivering a structured programme of mentoring and a paid internship, masterclasses, and workplace visits for young people from under-represented backgrounds.
In 2024 Career Ready supported 4,238 young people across its programme cohorts, providing them with the skills, self-esteem, and social capital to kickstart their futures.
Our partnership with Career Ready offers the opportunity for industry members to support students through mentoring, provide insight sessions and hosting work experience.
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Speakers for Schools
Speakers for Schools aims to close the opportunity gap and level the playing field for all 11-19-year-olds from state schools and colleges by providing fair access to inspirational talks and fully funded work experience that will motivate and inspire and help them to reach their full career potential.
Speakers for Schools have supported more than 1.6 million young people by partnering with educators, speakers and employers from across the UK.
Our partnership with Speakers for Schools offers the opportunity for industry members to raise awareness of the sector and inspire students through either recorded broadcasts or live in person presentations.
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The Access Project
The Access Project helps talented young people from under-resourced backgrounds gain access to an education at one of the UK’s top universities through a unique programme. The Access Project is recognised as an industry leader in the education and widening participation field.
The Access Project works with more than 40 schools across the country, supporting over 2,000 young people aged 14-18.
Our partnership with The Access Project supports the charity in it’s within school delivery. Industry members can also assist with mentoring and insight sessions.
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The Sutton Trust
The Sutton Trust utilises rigorous and extensive research to shine a light on barriers to opportunity from the early years to the workplace, to influence national policy change with evidence-based solutions. The programmes focus on high attaining students from low income families.
Together with university and employer partners, the Sutton Trust support over 10,000 young people each year.
Our partnership with the access project funded research into the barriers for students in accessing the industry and supported the Sutton Trust in taking it’s program delivery online during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ways to Get Involved
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Becoming a mentor is an inspiring, flexible way to help a young person (16-18) unlock their true potential and discover the right career path for them. It’s also a fantastic way for employers to provide rewarding volunteering opportunities for their team.
It involves one hour meetings approximately once a month - typically in your workplace. Career Ready provides suggestions for content for each meeting, however often it is simply experience and perspective on the world of work that can be invaluable.
Mentoring starts in January each year so please register interest now should you wish to help in 2026.
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Through both recorded and live presentations we are looking to educate and inspire young people about a career in infrastructure private equity.
We’re flexible in how the industry can get involved.
Senior industry leaders would be welcomed for our live presentations - and can focus on an inspire angle (ie individual path into a sector) or simply provide insights on a sector.
Our webinar series needs people from all levels across the industry who can share detail on their role - or the thematics impacting our industry. Even just a few minutes of recorded content is incredibly helpful!
Commitment wise it should be painless for senior leaders to give their time in support of young people, by providing a concierge-style service. It should simply involve travelling to a school – on a date of your convenience - this year.
Webinar content can be recorded in less than 30 minutes in your office or through video call facilities.
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Nothing has the same potential to transform young lives and boost social mobility as paid work experience.
We appreciate the barriers that exist for organisations to facilitate this, so the IIF is designing a work experience month for students that allows the industry to work together and pool resources to contribute to the delivery of a month that exposes candidates to the industry, the roles within and the essential skills needed to be successful.
We will provide further details imminently however involvement could include providing office space for use for a week, personnel to present for a few hours, facilitating site visits at assets in or near London.
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For those with an interest or ability in communications there are several ways we could benefit from support, including demystifying the world of infrastructure for students through to driving industry engagement.
Communications assistance is welcome across any of the following areas; presentation materials, webinar videos, promotional videos, website and online content and press engagement.
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The Social Mobility Initiative exists as a result of donations received through the Gala Dinner.
Assisting with fundraising ensures we can make multi year commitments to our charity partners - providing them with the necessary visibility to deliver their critical activities.
Fundraising support could be in relation to sourcing prizes for the Gala Dinner Auction, or helping with other fundraising events across the year.
2025 Causes
We look forward to announcing the causes the 2025 Gala Dinner will be in aid of shortly.
Nominate a Cause
Should you wish to nominate a charity for consideration for our next Gala Dinner please get in touch.