Blogs and media

Last week we had the second meeting of the steering group for this project to develop improved information services for charities and social enterprises exploring their options for finance and investment.

A growing number of charities and social enterprises are beginning to use social investment as an additional tool to fund their organisations and support their social missions.

I've worked for Big Society Capital for nearly three years now, and one thing that we keep hearing is that social investment (and indeed all types of finance and investment) remains pretty complicated for many charities and social enterprises.

The team set out to work with investors and funders to prototype a range of concepts and ideas to improve the social investment field for ventures and strengthen the overall effectiveness of the ecosystem.

This handbook provides a general overview of social investment and of the nature and shape of the UK social investment market. It is intended to provide contextual information only and is not intended to promote, recommend or endorse any particular investment opportunities

The aim of this guide is to give you an overview of the UK’s social investment market and help you to work out whether and how it’s relevant to your organisation - it’s for anyone involved with a voluntary and community organisation or social enterprise (VCSE), be they a trustee, chief executive or...

The third edition of the ClearlySo Guide for the Ambitious Social Entrepreneur is a mine of industry information that is free to access for all emerging social entrepreneurs and individuals with an interest in the sector.

In the emerging and fast growing market for social finance, ventures seeking investment can struggle to identify and obtain the funding and support that is right for them.

This UK-wide report into the social investment market, commissioned by the Big Lottery Fund and carried out by NPC and ClearlySo, is based on survey responses from 1255 organisations. NPC and ClearySo also interviewed over 40 investors, intermediaries and support providers.

Social investment has attracted huge attention in the UK in recent years, with support coming from a growing number of investors, including philanthropists and grant-making trusts. The Labour government stimulated the development of this market, through its Social Investment Task Force and The...

Co-operatives UK is the national trade body that campaigns for co-operation and works to promote, develop and unite co-operative enterprises. Co-operatives UK has a unique role as a trade association for co-operatives and aims to bring together all those with a passion and interest in co-operative...