How public expectation is redefining business impact in the UK

In recent days, the UK government has been positioning the country as a place of stability and capital, where business is expected to help drive economic momentum.  

With the launch of SEC Newgate UK’s Impact Monitor last week, expectations around business impact have come into sharp focus. Our research shows that people across the UK hold businesses to a high standard. This paired with recent political commentary suggests that the national mood is shifting, with a focus on what businesses will deliver, rather than on their ambitions.  

How businesses can deliver sustainable impact in the UK is far from straightforward. Our new research shows that the public approach the idea of business impact from very different angles. For some, financial stability and pragmatism matter most; for others, authenticity, visibility in local communities, and a willingness to speak out about social and environmental issues are non-negotiable. We also see clear differences in generation and voting intention, as you might expect.   

Research is meant to help us make sense of that complexity, taking large datasets and turning them into something that can guide decisions and create lasting change. But when you look closely at how differently members of the public think about business impact, you start to appreciate the scale of the challenge.   

Even organisations that never interact with consumers feel the ripple effects of public mood, because public opinion filters through the political system, the media environment, and the expectations of employees and investors. These layers create a landscape where businesses are navigating not just operational pressures but also the weight of public sentiment.   

And yet, despite all these differences, people across the UK are strikingly aligned in what they want to see change. They want to see meaningful economic growth, improvements to daily life, a job market that feels stable and full of opportunity, and wages that keep pace with the real cost of living. Importantly, they want to feel things are moving in the right direction and that both government and business are doing their part.  

The divides we see in the data are there, but they are very much shaped by economic pressures, shifting geopolitical dynamics, and differences in what people expect from organisations. For me, this comes back to what research and insight are for. Research should ideally help us understand people, rather than only flatten them into categories. It’s important that insight is used to help businesses and policymakers navigate this moment, highlighting division where it is pertinent, but also points of unity too.