With the chaos caused by the 2008 financial crash paired with continuing development in finance technology, more people have been moving away from traditional savings markets to explore how they can become investors. This session explored this shift towards “democratisation” through a range of different social investment platforms and initiatives. 

How can we make social investment more accessible to a diverse client base? The Encouraging New Voices session shone a spotlight on a number of initiatives addressing a lack of diversity in the social investment sector. The Diversity Forum, Voice4Change, Dartington Hall Trust and Hatch shared their perspectives on what needs to be done to move the sector closer to solving this issue. 

At a time of austerity in public services, there is an even stronger case to work collaboratively. How can we get local authorities to buy into what we do as investors? Who are the commissioners enabling positive change and what can we learn from them or do to support them?

What can social investors do to help develop a pipeline of social investment-ready social enterprises and community businesses?

Feedback prompts the social investment wholesaler to overhaul its brand – engaging a marketing agency that specialises in working with "complicated businesses".

Hiring your first employee? Or managing a team – and realise you haven’t taken time yet to put sound HR processes in place? Consult our checklist to get up to speed. 

A new body is to advance impact investing – including by monitoring policy and regulation and advocating for change – and to promote the UK as a world hub in this area.

Looking for previews, coverage and updates from this year's Social Enterprise World Forum in Addis Ababa? Head over to the Global Perspectives on Social Enterprise Collection.

PLUS: Generation Investment raises $1bn to invest in “sustainability revolution”, SIS Ventures makes first equity investment, North East Social Investment Fund invests £700k in employability and education, and more.