Ecosystem
We aim to build a thriving investment ecosystem, connecting capital with social enterprises, charities and social purpose organisations.
A growing range of social issues from homelessness to childhood obesity can be tackled by enterprises that deliver impact alongside revenue, but they need investment to start and to grow.
We work with fund managers and other intermediary organisations, to invest in their funds, help grow their products and services and attract more investment. Together we are building sustainable, diverse markets for social impact.
Beyond investment, we offer support from advice for enterprises seeking investment, to best practice for fund managers and investors as well as helping government develop policy. Ultimately our impact will be seen through the success of enterprises and those who invest in them – together they are the real impact makers.
- £5.1bn Size of the social impact investment market – All data from Big Society Capital's market sizing analysis
- 6x Growth of market from 2011 to 2019
- 5000+ Number of investments
Fund Managers, Social Banks and other Intermediaries
At the heart of connecting capital to the organisations improving people’s lives are the fund managers, social banks and other intermediaries, like crowdfunding platforms. We invest through these intermediaries and support them to raise more capital, deliver more investments, and create more impact.
Investors
The scale of the UK’s social problems is far larger than the capital we have to address them. Just tackling the shortage of housing for homeless people in the UK, would require an estimated £24 billion. Therefore we must unlock much larger pools of capital by working systematically with different types of asset owners, from individuals to institutional investors, to spur new types of investment and scale more proven models.
Financial product types
A diverse range of financial products is vital for a successful investment ecosystem. We support fund managers to design and develop financial products that bring together the needs of enterprises and investors to deliver impact.
Innovation
Many entrenched social challenges call for new approaches to tackle them, and innovative investment products to finance them. To capture new ideas and drive innovation, we work closely – and in different ways – with a range of partners, who put their critical expertise and resources towards solving these challenges. This lets us test and learn from new approaches, so we can then scale the enterprise solutions and investment models that deliver most impact.
Policy development
We want to unlock the greatest impact, by helping to create a supportive policy environment in which social impact investment can help improve the way public services are delivered and tackle significant social issues. We do this by working with and influencing government at every level.
Sector standards
We want a high-quality and equitable investment ecosystem that supports social enterprises, charities and social purpose organisations to improve people’s lives across the UK. Therefore, we aim to develop structures and practices that are diverse and inclusive as well as effective at delivering impact.
Responding to COVID-19
The global pandemic is the greatest challenge we’ve faced in generations. The impact is being felt across the world, as people fear for the health and economic wellbeing of their loved ones and themselves. It leaves social enterprises, charities and social purpose organisations facing an unprecedented challenge.