The world's wealthiest increasingly seek to use their money for good

The World Wealth Report finds that the number of high net-worth individuals (HNWI) has grown by 15% over the past 12 months and the overwhelming majority seek to use their money to have a positive social impact. HNWI’s are those that have £0.6 million or more worth of investable assets. 92% of the HNWIs included in the research said that investing their time, money or expertise was important to them and just over 60% described it as extremely or very important. 

Capgemini and RBC Wealth Management’s report is available here.

Wales sets about a nation-wide analysis of the social enterprise sector

The Wales Co-operative Centre has launched its 2014 survey to conduct a detailed analysis of the social enterprise sector in Wales. They hope to use the data collected to develop their understanding of the sector and ensure they can continue to assist in its sustainable growth. 

The Centre is offering those who take part the opportunity to enter a prize draw of five £50 prizes to be contributed to a local charity of the winners’ choice. For more information click here.

Switzerland gets chatting about social good

The fifth Zermatt Summit entitled ‘The Courage to Dare’ gets underway today, bringing together business leaders who are committed to making the world a better place. Around 200 participants will listen to lectures and take part in discussions around the subject of demonstrating courage and commitment to unusual solutions. 

Calls come from Paris to make retail giants pay out for factory collapse in Bangladesh

Leading European Governments demanded that brands with connections to the Rana Plaza factory building, which collapsed in Bangladesh last year killing over 1,130 factory employees, pay up on compensation. The calls for compensation action came after UNI Global Union’s General Secretary Philip Jennings urged governments to pressurise brands during the opening ceremony of the OECD’s Global Forum on Responsible Business Conduct in Paris yesterday. 

The Netherlands, France, Denmark, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy and Spain have all spoken out on the issue and have demanded that brands who sourced from Rana Plaza should donate generously to the compensation fund for the Raza Plaza factory collapse victims and their families.

Arabian Gulf supports young people venturing into social enterprise

The Emirates Foundation for Youth Development announced the launch of the Emirates Award for the Arabian Gulf Youth on Monday. The competition is aimed at promoting the social enterprise projects of Arabian Gulf Nationals between the ages of 18 and 35. The foundation is working towards tackling three key areas – social inclusion, community engagement and leadership.

UK Social enterprises are getting big

UnLtd announced 32 of the UK’s leading social entrepreneurs as the Fast Growth Award Winners for 2014. The Fast Growth programme works in partnership with Santander and the Cabinet Office. Among the winners are Michael Sani of Bite the Ballot, a youth-led organization which promotes better engagement and participation in politics amongst young people. 

Moves in the UK to make affordable credit available to all

Report published today maps out the six steps that are needed to ensure everybody has access to affordable credit. Ethical lending trade body, the Community Development Finance Association, is calling for; banks to work with community lenders and refer on decline customers; investment in infrastructure to link up community lending, saving and support; and also a £150 million capital fund to expand the community lending network. 

The Just Finance report is available here.

Co-operative economy hits string of bad news with progress

Report shows that despite 2013 being the worst year on record for The Co-operative Group and the Co-operative Bank, the UK’s wider co-operative economy has delivered a strong and steady financial performance. The Co-operative Economy 2014: Untold Resilience report finds that since 2009, co-operative businesses have produced growth of 13.5%, which is significantly higher than the UK economy at large, with GDP growth of 6.6%.

Ed Mayo, secretary general of Co-operatives UK, said that despite the negative headlines which have dominated press coverage of The Co-operative Group and Bank, “behind the scenes, the rest of the co-op sector was putting in a more than impressive financial performance”. Download the full report here.

Charity Bank encapsulates "capitalism as it will need to be" says Jonathan Porrit

Jonathan Porrit writer, broadcaster and commentator on sustainable development, judged  Charity Bank’s annual Impact Awards last week. "This was all about capitalism as it will need to be" he said. "Capitalism that recognises the contribution of social and human capital. Charity Bank uses financial capital to build social capital."

Social Value Act report shows delivering social value has led to better service delivery

The largest and most comprehensive survey since the introduction of the Social Value Act in January 2013 reveals wide-ranging benefits for local authorities and housing associations seeking to create social value in communities across the UK. More than two-thirds of local authorities and housing associations say delivering social value has led to better service delivery and community relations. 

The ‘Communities Count: the four steps to unlocking social value’ report is available here.