For the 14th consecutive year, Impact has been named a Training Industry Top 20 Leadership Training Company.
Our Story
In 1980, around a kitchen table in the English Lake District, David Williams and two friends used their passion for inspiring and developing people using experiential learning to create Impact.



New logo, new visual identity and clearer brand identity and story. Impact is a human brand rooted in nature, adventure and learning.

Following an award-winning program with CPP Investments, Impact recreated their immersive installation rooms with a game-changing virtual alternative named Inscape Rooms.

Impact launches air™, a unique learning application designed to transform the effectiveness of virtual and blended learning solutions.

With an impressive line-up of headline acts, practical workshops to build and apply skills, and a stack of exciting fringe activities…in only its fourth year, Learnfest sold out!

Our commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals and CSR activities - embedding them into our programmes and embracing them internally - was recognised in 2015 with a Gold Standard from EcoVadis.

Impact continues to expand in North America, adding two new offices.

After sixteen conferences we broke the mould… Learnfest combines professional and personal development into an action-packed three day festival of inspiration, collaboration and adventure!

Partnering with Cumbria University, we created the Institute for Leadership and Sustainability, a global hub enabling the transition to more fair and sustainable societies.

Impact continues to grow internationally.

Highlighting our dedication to shaping a sustainable future, Impact became a signatory of the UN global compact, the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative.

In our 25th year, Impact dedicated 25% of its profits to a huge HIV project in Zambia, with manpower from every global office. Our entire Asia team also rallied in Phuket for a post-tsunami project.


Impact established a relief and development group to support relief efforts around the world. This has now grown into a separate sister organisation, Wasafiri.

In response to client demand for Impact’s unique approach, our first Impact Americas office opened in New York in 2001.


We launched the first of 16 annual conferences at our Lake District Headquarters – bringing together inspirational guest speakers with leaders, HR and L&D professionals to discuss emerging trends and topics.

Passionate about supporting a diverse range of democratically selected charitable causes, our team has raised over £100,000 for 200+ charities since Impact Aid began in 1996.

Impact UK has run an action-packed residential holiday for disadvantaged children since 1994. This is now being replicated around the world, giving a confidence boost to those who need it.

Bustling Bangkok has been one of Impact's homes since 1993.

Opening an office in Tokyo led to 17 offices worldwide. Combining our unique approach with multicultural leadership best practice helped us to become a global industry frontrunner.

Using all of our savings and more, we purchased Cragwood Country House. This base on the shores of Lake Windermere is an inspirational place for outdoor activities and personal reflection.

Around a kitchen table in the English Lake District, David Williams and two friends used their passion for inspiring and developing people using experiential learning to create Impact.