The Infrastructure Industry Foundation (IIF) has confirmed 21 April as the date for its gala dinner in support of new industry-wide social mobility initiative.

The IIF seeks to build on the success of its last gala dinner – in 2019 – which brought together some 400 members of the infrastructure investment industry.

This year’s in-person event will support the development of a new industry-wide social mobility programme, to help nurture a more diverse pool of talent into the infrastructure investment community.

While the infrastructure investment industry already plays a vital role in the communities in which it operates, the IIF was created to go one step further and facilitate initiatives at a more human level by uniting the industry in raising funds for charitable causes.

This year – working with the Sutton Trust, the UK’s largest social mobility charity – the IIF aims to build an initiative that increases social mobility across the infrastructure investment industry.

The gala dinner is being staged at the Londoner in Leicester Square – the same venue as IJGlobal Awards 2021, only a month later – and firms that have not already reserved a table should get in touch via info@infrafoundation.co.uk

IIF supporters include:

• Allen & Overy
• Antin
• Aviva
• Campbell Lutyens
• DWS
• EQT
• GIP
• Goldman Sachs
• Hermes
• iCON
• GIIA
• Infracapital
• KKR
• Macquarie
• PwC
• Stonepeak
• Weil

Infracapital co-founder Ed Clarke said: “We created the IIF for something very close to our hearts and were delighted with the incredible support that we received for our inaugural event.

“We are keen to build on the strong goodwill within the industry, to establish an industry-wide initiative that can deliver a positive impact within the communities in which we operate, through supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds as they progress through secondary education.”

Mark Crosbie, managing partner of Antin Infrastructure Partners, added: “We have worked with the Sutton Trust for many years and have witnessed first-hand the huge impact that it has had on so many young people’s lives. We are delighted the IIF has decided to work with them on a cross industry basis to develop and grow this initiative.”

Michael McGhee, founding partner of Global Infrastructure Partners, said: “With social mobility and inclusion at the top of GIP’s charitable program agenda, we are delighted to support the IIF and the Sutton Trust, with the aim of raising awareness in all communities of the career opportunities that infrastructure investment creates.

“Historically, these opportunities have not been well understood outside of the traditional breeding grounds. One of our objectives is to broaden the talent pool, attracting people from diverse backgrounds into this exciting and growing industry.”

Carolyn Pearce, managing director of Stonepeak, added: “It has been heartening to see the overwhelming immediate support of our latest initiative, recognizing in these challenging times it is more important than ever that our industry plays its part in making a positive impact within wider society.”