As the Dutch city of the Hague celebrates 10 years as a self-appointed ‘impact city’ – supporting startups working to make a positive difference – Coos Santing tells us what’s working, what’s not, and why rivalry with other urban centres is softening.
Government says new ‘central point of contact’ for impact economy recognises the ‘untapped potential’ of the country’s social impact sector, while the movement welcomes ‘joined up’ support.
Small rural communities are discovering they can generate sustainable income without compromising their traditions and culture. Visitors from around the world discussed ideas at the Rural Social Enterprise Gathering 2025.
Ukraine posts second highest number of climate-focused, blended finance transactions in the world in 2024 – and enters top 10 countries for first time – as blended finance identified as “form of crisis financing” – new Convergence research.
Social investors are under fire for not meeting the needs of the social entrepreneurs they seek to support. Could a collaborative apporach to the creation of impact funds be the solution?
UK social investment industry still ‘designed to favour social bankers, not social businesses’, concludes Social Enterprise UK’s ‘report card’ on the Adebowale Commission.
BRUSSELS BRIEFING: The new European commissioner for jobs – whose role includes oversight of the social economy – has been announced. Our correspondent in Brussels, Euclid's Toby Gazeley, looks at the latest news from the EU.
Will “ESGI” be the acronym of 2025? And will the UK government modify employer tax changes announced in its recent budget? This week’s view from the Pioneers Post newsroom.
This week: UN launches International Year of Co-operatives, gender-lens impact investing funds treble in past nine years, £150m of lending capital announced for UK underserved small business, and more.
One third of social enterprises were pessimistic about new government’s potential impact on their business even before announcement of employer National Insurance Contribution increases, according to new report.
Big business has a dismal record when it comes to respect for Indigenous peoples and local communities. That’s starting to shift, as even the most profit-hungry CEOs see that our futures are all interconnected. Are we entering a new era of partnership?
The European Impact Investing Consortium’s latest data shows huge growth in impact assets under management, but flags that it represents only 2.5% of what could be invested for impact across Europe.
