Ten years

Social impact investment has come a long way in the last decade.

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We have learned what can work

Over the past decade, we have developed a track record for the ways ideas, capital and expertise can be united to scale investment to tackle entrenched social challenges.

Social inequalities are clearer than ever as society responds to the devastating effects of the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis. There is an urgent need to grow social impact investment and channel private capital to help enterprises tackle these challenges at scale, improving people’s lives.

We have big ambitions for the future of the market

  • £0.8bn

    2011 size of social impact investment market

  • £7.9bn

    2021 size of social impact investment market

  • £10-£15bn

    2025 goal size of social impact investment market

Ten years building social impact investment

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    Ten years of Big Society Capital

    Big Society Capital is celebrating ten years since its launch in 2012. Explore the timeline to follow our journey as we continue to grow the social impact investment market in the UK.

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    2012

    Big Society Capital is established and £600 million initial capital committed from the Reclaim Fund and shareholder banks.

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    2013

    World’s first social impact bond fund launched, managed by Bridges Investment Management, including £10 million from Big Society Capital.

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    2014

    Social Investment Tax relief becomes law after influencing by Big Society Capital and partners. It was used for the first time, by FareShare South West.

    Fareshare volunteer redistributing food
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    2015

    Launch of Access Growth Fund with £45 million from Big Lottery Fund and Big Society Capital to offer blended small loans and grants.

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    2016

    Fair By Design Fund co-developed by Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Big Society Capital to eliminate the poverty premium.

    Wagestream Fair by Design team members
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    2017

    Good Finance launches helping social enterprises and charities navigate the world of social impact investment.

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    2018

    Launch of CBRE UK Affordable Housing with £10 million cornerstone from Big Society Capital attracting £250 million of institutional investment.

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    2019

    5,000 social impact investments made in the UK since 2012.

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    2020

    Launch of Resilience and Recovery Loan Fund, managed by the Social Investment Business. Established by Big Society Capital and partners within weeks of the start of the pandemic, to support social enterprises and charities whose businesses were disrupted by the pandemic.

    Respondents from St John's Ambulance service at work
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    2021

    Schroder BSC Social Impact Trust raises over £85 million following a successful IPO and additional round of fundraising.

    West London Zone benefactors and volunteers in discussion

Creating positive change together

By working together with our partners, we have been able to create funds, bring other investors alongside our capital, and have made more than £2.6 billion of investment capital available to social enterprises and charities. It’s the hard work and dedication of these enterprises that helps people to create positive change.