For business

Purpose before profit

Values and purpose are at the heart of good business. Organisations are taking up the challenge to evaluate their impact on people and the planet, to commit to responsible leadership, and transform their operations to achieve a better future for all. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are widely taken up as a framework for business impact. In the UK the Public Services Act requires consideration of social value in the award of government contracts. The Social Value Model, released in 2021, is focused specifically on the SDGs.

Research-based solutions

The SDG Impact Lab works with industry partners to develop innovative, research-based initiatives to advance the SDGs through their operations. Leading graduate students, recruited as Lab Fellows, are trained to work with business, applying research expertise to test and translate creative ideas into actionable proposals that have real-world impact.

While the scale and scope of the global goals is unprecedented, the fundamental ways that business can contribute remain unchanged. The UN Global Compact asks companies to first do business responsibly and then pursue opportunities to solve societal challenges through business innovation and collaboration.

- United Nations Global Compact

easyJet holidays

The Lab’s founding partner is easyJet holidays, a new and forward-thinking travel company that has taken on the mission of making sustainable travel accessible to everyone. By working with the Lab, easyJet holidays is seeking to be the industry leader in sustainable tourism that has a positive impact on the environment and local communities.

“When it comes to sustainability, we want to lead the industry, integrating sustainability into every aspect of our business. We’re so pleased to be joining forces with the University of Oxford, combining our deep industry expertise with some of the brightest minds in the country, to help us identify where we can have a real impact and make meaningful change on the people and places that make our destinations so special.”

– Matt Callaghan, Customer Director, easyJet holidays.

Get in touch to explore opportunities to work together

Get in touch