Social enterprise

The Growth Impact Fund developed by Big Issue Invest and UnLtd announced second close after raising £1.75m (€2m) from the Macquarie Group Foundation and BD Giving.

Lending by some microfinance institutions has had bad press in recent times, but the vast majority of those surveyed say the credit the sector provides, along with the associated wraparound services, are improving their lives.

The UK’s Big Issue Invest has opened applications for its fourth social impact debt fund. We meet with investment director James Potter to understand how it works.

The IB Deuda Impacto España will invest in 40 high-impact social projects across Spain and aims to raise €150m over the next year. 

The investment has been made via the jointly developed Growth Impact Fund and will help social enterprise Doing What Really Matters in its aim to support 25% of the UK’s prison population into higher education by 2030.

Christian Nielsen discusses the issue of correlation between impact and financial performance with Machtelt Groothuis and Willemijn Verloop, co-founders of Rubio Impact Ventures.

Founded by a former prisoner, UK-based social enterprise New Leaf provides intensive resettlement support to serving and ex-prisoners, helping them to find employment.

The capital will go to social enterprises providing support to those struggling with the cost of living crisis and back energy saving solutions. Local communities will have larger say over spending priorities via new community wealth funds. 

Serial social entrepreneur Verloop, founding partner of Rubio Impact Ventures, explains her approach to identifying and investing in entrepreneurs with potential to generate systemic change.

The Growth Impact Fund invests in UK social enterprises and organisations from underrepresented backgrounds and has secured £8m investment from leading social investors