Leading voices from UK social enterprise, co-operatives and social investment have raised concerns over a “landmark” definition of the ‘impact economy’ that risks alienating a number of impactful organisations.
Impact Europe today revealed the name of its new chief: Angela Wiebeck, praised for “building bridges” between mainstream finance and impact over her two decades at UBS and Aquila Capital. She speaks to Pioneers Post from Brussels.
OPINION: There’s a message blowing across the Atlantic that the business of investment is to maximise return, and considering people and planet is woke nonsense. This argument is outdated, says GSG Impact chair Nick Hurd.
INTERVIEW: Putting a price tag on a company’s social and environmental impact is the only way to demonstrate its true profit and loss, believes Sir Ronald Cohen, who is now focusing on driving forward the next accounting revolution.
EXPERT INSIGHT: New legislation puts social enterprises, co-operatives and other inclusive businesses at the centre of an economy that works for people, communities and the planet. And it’s part of a wider global conversation.
In a world "steeped in trade-offs", is it unrealistic to say investors can have it all – impact plus market-rate returns? A recent webinar challenged that narrative to discuss what the true cost of impact-first investing is, and why it's worth it.
Social investment intermediaries that support Black and ethnically minoritised-led social enterprises in England are now able to apply for investment from a £5.5m funding pot from the wholesaler, as it opens the ‘Wave 1 Portal’ with a place-based approach.
NPC's valuation of an impact economy worth £428bn is a useful provocation, not a policy plan, says Peter Holbrook. If we let investor-friendly definitions set the rules, we will bake in the very inequalities we claim to fix.
In Pioneers Post this week, our columnists argue that impact conferences could achieve much more by changing models. Many in the sector privately agree with them; thanfully some events are already showing what bold innovation can achieve.
This week: Better Society Capital’s new 2030 strategy; B Lab announces new board and shift towards “globally integrated” structure; Impact Shakers launches new initiative to spotlight diverse-led startups, and more.
OPINION: Bonnie Chiu and Peter Ptashko have been to hundreds of conferences, yet still struggle to identify their value. Is there a more effective way to get capital moving for positive impact?
“There is still some work that we as humans need to do as ourselves” – Pioneers Post reporter David Lyons brings you insights and discussions on ethical AI from the Euclid Summit in Amsterdam.
