Octopus Investments
Investing in the people, ideas and industries that will change the world
Institutional investment at Octopus
Octopus Investments was where it all began for Octopus Group – we are the first of eight entrepreneurially-minded businesses in the Octopus Group. Octopus Investments manages more than £13bn* on behalf of our institutional and retail clients, with more than 70% of these funds targeting investments that tackle climate change, improve people’s quality of life and address inequality. We are much more than a traditional asset manager. We build businesses to transform broken industries and create better outcomes for the customers they serve.
We take extra steps to be more deeply involved and committed to each of our investments. In turn, this gives us the information, knowledge and experience we need to yield better results for our investors and the markets we operate in. Our ability to create value from rapidly changing markets provides our investors with the potential for attractive and stable returns.
Renewable Energy
Octopus Energy Generation, part of the Octopus Energy Group, is one of the largest renewable energy investors in Europe.
Venture Capital
Octopus is home to one of Europe’s largest venture capital teams. We back early stage companies run by the world’s brightest minds.
Real Estate
At Octopus, we’re committed to reimagining real estate investment. From seeing opportunities to bring institutional capital to emerging or underserved sectors, to our relentless focus on those living in the buildings we finance and manage.
Sustainable Infrastructure
We are investing in sustainable infrastructure, helping drive the transition to net zero.
Insights
Opportunity and impact: how LGPS funds can unlock the value in affordable housing
Octopus Investments appoints Sian Roberts as Head of UK Institutional Distribution
What’s going to be big in 2024?
Octopus announces further investment and first acquisition by Affordable Housing Strategy
Sustainable Infrastructure: Going Beyond Renewables
In the news
Octopus funds development of new PBSA in London
March 2024
UK real estate investor and lender Octopus has provided a loan to facilitate the purchase of land for a new purpose-built student accommodation development in London.
Coverage in Property EU
Octopus and Acacia expand senior living portfolio with £35m investment
February 2024
Octopus is investing £35m, on behalf of its UK care homes strategy, to finance three elderly care homes as part of a partnership with operator Acacia Care. The homes, located across sites in Leicestershire and Norfolk, will provide over 200 beds to Octopus’ portfolio of more than 100 homes.
Coverage in IPE Real Assets
Octopus draws in Big Society Capital investment for UK affordable housing
February 2024
Octopus Investments, a UK-based investment manager, has raised a further £10m for its Affordable Housing Strategy from social impact investor Big Society Capital (BSC), which follows an initial £50m capital raise back in December.
Coverage in Impact Investor
The challenge ahead
January 2024
With so many changes to prepare for in the year ahead, Pensions Age asks Jonathan Digges, Chief Investment Officer at Octopus Investments: What do you think will be the biggest challenge for the industry in 2024?
Coverage in Pensions Age
Multiple Keys Needed to Unlock Social Impact
January 2024
Octopus Investments’ Jack Burnham, Head of Affordable Housing, and Mike Toft, Head of Care Homes, shed light on the UK’s significant funding gap in social infrastructure, and the role institutional investors like pension funds can play in bridging the gap.
Coverage in ESG Investor
Octopus holds first close for UK affordable homes strategy
December 2023
Octopus Investments, part of Octopus Group, has held a £50m first close of its affordable housing strategy, set up to accelerate the UK’s much needed delivery of good quality and affordable homes.
Coverage in Property EU
Affordable Homes, Family Businesses and Investment
October 2023
Jack Burnham, Head of Affordable Housing at Octopus Real Estate, is joined by Helen Keenan, Chief Executive of Grosvenor Hart Homes, in a recent podcast to discuss some of the challenges and possible solutions in the affordable housing market.
Podcast on Family Capital
New funding solution needed for UK affordable housing
September 2023
The UK affordable housing sector offers an opportunity for investors to close a funding gap, a new report by Octopus Real Estate says.
Coverage in Sustain
Deep Tech – What you need to know and why the sector is increasingly attracting family offices
August 2023
In Family Capital’s latest podcast episode, deep tech specialist Zoe Reich from Octopus Ventures highlights two promising deep tech businesses addressing water scarcity and biodegradable plastics.
Podcast on Family Capital
UK venture capital: spinning out for success
July/August 2023
Academic research produces excellent technology and medical firms, but the funding is not always available to take things further.
Coverage in IPE
The road to zero-emission transport in the UK
July 2023
The transition to electric is most welcome – but in the UK, there is a major hurdle: infrastructure, says Lukasz Michalak at Octopus Investments.
Coverage in Funds Europe
What’s New In Investments, Funds? – Pacific Asset Management, BNP Paribas, Others
June 2023
The latest news in investment offerings, financial products and other services relative to wealth advisors and their clients.
Coverage in Wealth Briefing
Octopus Investments launches deep tech strategy
June 2023
Octopus Investments has launched a deep tech venture capital strategy that will back pre-seed startups in the UK and Europe.
Coverage in UK Tech News
People Moves 23 June: Who is hiring who within the industry?
June 2023
An overview of this week’s most important hires and departures within the net zero investment community.
Coverage in Net Zero Investor
Electric cars: Investment boost for charging network firm Weev
May 2023
An investment company has bought a significant stake in Weev, a firm which is developing an electric car charging network in Northern Ireland.
Coverage in BBC News
£50m investment will see thousands more electric vehicle charging points across Northern Ireland
May 2023
Electric vehicle charge point operator Weev has received £ 50 million worth of funding for its plans to address the shortage of charging infrastructure in Northern Ireland.
Coverage in ITV News
Australia’s hydrogen potential and what it means for Asia
May 2023
Octopus Investments CIO Jonathan Digges sits down in the studio with ESG Clarity to discuss Australia’s hydrogen potential and how this can benefit Japan and Korea.
Coverage in ESG Clarity
Invest with care
March 2023
Social care investment has a troubled track record, but more sustainable models are now meeting strong appetite from asset owners.
Coverage in ESG Investor
Octopus Investments launches UK Affordable Housing strategy for institutional investors
January 2023
Octopus Investments has announced it has launched an Affordable Housing strategy for institutional investors, to accelerate the delivery of genuinely affordable homes in the UK.
Coverage in Institutional Asset Manager
Real estate investor outlines £300m affordable housing strategy
January 2023
Real estate giant Octopus Real Estate has launched an affordable housing strategy for institutional investors with a target of £300m in commitments throughout the year.
Coverage in Inside Housing
Proud to be a B Corp
We’re thrilled to be one of the UK’s first financial services companies to meet the strict criteria to become a B Corp. To gain B Corp certification, a company needs to meet high standards and prove it has a positive impact not just on its workers and customers, but also on the wider community and environment.
We are fully committed to Responsible Investment:
It’s key to who we are and how we invest. We make bold commitments with transparent reporting.
Members of the UN PRI are unified by belief that responsible investment forms part of our duty to act in the best long-term interests of our beneficiaries. Octopus is a signatory to the UN Principles.
The Impact Principles provide a framework for investors to ensure that impact considerations are purposefully integrated throughout the investment life cycle. Octopus is a signatory to these Principles created by The International Finance Corporation / The World Bank.
The Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures releases disclosure recommendations to help companies provide better information to support informed capital allocation. Octopus follows these recommendations to ensure transparency, efficiency and resilience.
GRESB benchmarks the sustainability performance of real assets, to provide standardised in capital markets. Octopus Real Estate uses GRESB data and analytical tools to monitor ESG opportunities, risks and impacts.
BREEAM is a leading sustainability assessment method for real estate assets and Octopus Real Estate aims to develop its new buildings to a high BREEAM standard.
Octopus is a member of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board which guides us in the disclosure of financially material sustainability information to our investors.
IMP is a forum for building global consensus on how to measure, assess and report impacts on people and the environment. The IMP’s 5 dimensions of impact are used across our impact products to ensure that impact is considered at all stages of the investment process
Impact Reporting and Accounting Standards (IRIS) metrics are used across our impact products to standardise an approach to impact measurement.
Want to find out more?
Contact us to find out more about our institutional offering.
* Source: Octopus as at 30 September 2023
Funds Under Management data includes undrawn commitments, funds under advisory mandates and funds monitored. It also includes funds under the management of Octopus Renewables Limited.