Concerns about the ability to measure the results of impact impacting is holding back its implementation, it has been suggested.


Speaking at the PLSA Investment Conference, HSBC UK Pension Scheme CIO, Mark Thompson, warned that concerns about not being able to have the “exact measurements all the time” can result in no action being taken by pension schemes.


“With the measurement of impact investing, if you’re waiting until everything is perfect you won’t get going,” he said. “My philosophy is to learn by doing and to move in the right direction.”


In terms of communicating to pension scheme members, “people like stories”, Thompson added. “So if you can tell them what things their pension scheme money may be used for that encourages them and moves the whole thing forward.”


Allianz Global Investors senior adviser Elizabeth Corley also highlighted the need to “be honest” about what can and cannot be measured and for pension schemes to “be comfortable with that”.

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