Social investment arm of the Big Issue Group opens up applications for second cohort of social enterprises in London

Big Issue Invest (BII), the investment arm of the Big Issue Group (BIG), has opened up for applications to the second round of an investment programme, aimed at up to 20 new and early-stage social enterprises in London.  Power Up London is an accelerator programme for London-based, diverse-led, early-stage socially impactful organisations addressing social and/or environmental issues and providing services to underrepresented communities.   The programme is delivered by BII with funding by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda to invest…

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Big Issue Invest calls for applications from social ventures and charities across England from its £15M Impact Loans England programme

Big Issue Invest (BII) has called for applications from social ventures and charities across England from its new £15M Impact Loans England programme. The investment arm of the Big Issue Group’s new Impact Loans England programme (ILE) is a competitive blended loan/grant product which is designed to provide an inclusive, flexible and patient loan offering that can help social organisations and charities grow. ILE will provide early-stage ventures with loan products that can help social businesses deal with seasonal fluctuations in income and the uncertainty inherent to the UK’s post…

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Social investment arm of the Big Issue Group releases Impact Report showing support for 1.5 million people in need in UK

Big Issue Invest (BII) has launched its 2022-2023 Impact Report. The report revealed that the social investment arm of The Big Issue supported 140 social enterprises across the UK and had £45 million Assets Under Management (AUM) as of 31 March 2023. The report detailed how, in turn, those 140 social enterprises were able to support 1.5 million customers across the UK in the same period. 94% of investments made by BII contribute to core solutions to poverty, extending the mission and work of the Big Issue Group. The organisation also…

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Social investment fund tackling UK social inequality hits the £1m mark with latest investments

A social impact investment fund developed by Big Issue Invest (BIIFM) and UnLtd, has provided a further £500,000 in investment to two social purpose organisations, taking the Fund’s total investments made to £1m. The Growth Impact Fund is a £25m evergreen fund, investing in early and growth stage organisations, delivered by UnLtd: The Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs and BIIFM, to help create a more equitable Britain. The Fund has attracted close to £10 million of capital so far, including grant capital from cornerstone investors Access – the Foundation for Social…

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Pioneering Fund focused on supporting Social Enterprises and alleviating poverty releases final Impact Report

Big Issue Invest (BII), the investment arm of the Big Issue, has released the Social Enterprise Investment Fund (SEIF I) 2022/23 Final Impact Report, highlighting the success of the Fund in driving social and economic change for people affected by poverty in the UK. Established in 2010, SEIF I has prioritised social impact over profits, while still delivering a financial return. SEIF I invested in organisations with innovative, socially-driven, and sustainable business models that improved the lives of the most disadvantaged individuals and communities. By 2022, SEIF I had recovered…

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