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 This argument is outdated, says GSG Impact chair Nick Hurd.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.
Social business Catch22 – itself the product of a merger between two organisations – has announced a string of tie-ups in recent years, including at least one that didn't quite go to plan. CEO Chris Wright shares what he’s learned from the experience.
Do investors care about impact? Often, no: they're more focused on the warm fuzzy feeling of 'doing good'. But some are accepting moderate returns for more impact, and they're crucial to the growth of early-stage social enterprise.
The transition to sustainable business models, if done properly, requires letting go of so much that it is actually a form of grief, writes Amina Ahmad. How, then, do we support business leaders through discomfort and loss?
How do you fight India’s deadly wave of Covid-19 cases – and the widespread poverty expected in its wake? By doubling down on decentralised energy, says Harish Hande – speaking to Pioneers Post from a Bangalore ‘war room’.
Independent review finds the social investor, which provides a mix of grants and loans to small charities and social enterprises in the UK, has had a major impact – but both its large legacy and its small team are under pressure.
Eight years after it was created amid a buzz of optimism, the Global Social Entrepreneurship Network has shut for good. Its closure has stark lessons for those supporting social enterprises, writes GSEN co-founder Krisztina Tora.
“Everything starts with imagination,” the Nobel prize laureate says, calling on social entrepreneurs to follow the lead of science fiction creators – and advising budding intrapreneurs to be “outrageously bold” in their ideas.
PLUS: Pioneering revenue-based fund launches in Scotland; Back Market raises $335m in “bullish” circular economy market; AU$8m boost for Queensland social enterprises; Dutch trio backs “truly disruptive” AI firm Envision – and more.
Learning how to sell is a challenge most social entrepreneurs don’t anticipate. Read this exclusive extract from Dr Roy Whitten and Scott Roy's new book Sell Well, Do Good. PLUS: Get a free copy of the e-book.
