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 This argument is outdated, says GSG Impact chair Nick Hurd.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.
New Zealand company CoGo, which launched in the UK last year, will use the investment to fuel ambitious growth – with aims to sign up another 400 businesses by year end.
Companies limited by shares can drift away from their social mission when commercial pressures bite. Purposely helps them create a legally binding commitment that reflects their values.
Despite good intentions, it's still not that easy for ordinary people to invest ethically. What needs to happen next? Ethex CEO Lisa Ashford calls for four changes.
Still a child but growing fast: landmark study estimates global impact investing market to be $502bn – based on data from 1,300 impact investors from around the world.
PLUS: Record profits for Belu and Unity Trust Bank; innovative finance for community land trusts; new blended finance for tech companies in emerging markets, and more.
The CEO and co-founder of CoGo, a platform that connects ethical businesses with consumers, juggles time zones and bedtime stories while leading a start-up the second time round.
For all the potential benefits of impact investing, major questions are still to be resolved. A round-up of thoughts from industry insiders across Europe – plus a handful of solutions.
Bristol & Bath Regional Capital, set up in 2015 to connect investors with promising community projects in south-west England, is launching its own fund for the first time. Pioneers Post finds out why.
