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 This argument is outdated, says GSG Impact chair Nick Hurd.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.
Traditional funding is often too restricted and can encourage dependence. Grants that focus on boosting traded income can help social enterprises to grow on their own terms and become more sustainable.
At The Gathering for Social Investment last week, we took aside a few of the UK’s social investment leaders to explore what they think are the best aspects – and the biggest challenges – about the movement today.
By experimenting with AI tools – in an ethical and human-centred way – social entrepreneurs have an opportunity to expand both their business and their impact. The MovingWorlds CEO shares four routes to explore.
Social enterprise Carefree offers unpaid carers a break by tapping into the power of tech and vacant hotel rooms. It has proven its business model, yet cannot access the finance it needs to grow. What could investors do differently?
ANALYSIS: Dormant assets and €1bn of innovation funding are in the spotlight as Germany unveils long-awaited first strategy for social enterprise and innovation – but the clock is ticking to make progress before an expected change of government.
Concerns about virtue-signalling and purpose-washing are widespread – and sometimes justified – in the conference circuit. Big claims or good intentions are no longer enough: sponsors must do all they can to prove their commitment.
SEWF23: Verification scheme launched at this week's Social Enterprise World Forum aims to overcome cultural and language differences, to provide clear identity for businesses focused on positive purpose.
