Social enterprises are not only needed, but wanted. They can’t be ignored if the government really plans to build a country that works for all, reflects Social Enterprise UK’s Jovan Owunsu-Nepaul after the Labour party conference.
Impact assets under management keep growing but yearly investment volume drops as impact investors report economic headwinds – while they move towards 'safe' investments in mature companies and developed markets.
Sixth annual meeting of SpainNAB in Madrid sees government reinforce its commitment to backing the country’s growing impact investing movement, as the €400m 'Fondo de Impacto Social' marks its first year of investments.
Ahead of Impact Week in Malmö, Leslie Johnston talks about how the impact community needs to work with ‘unlikely allies’ if it is to tackle today’s existential challenges – and why impact investors need to listen to the voices of social innovators on the ground.
In the wake of foreign aid cuts, and in its drive to become a world leader in impact investing, Asia needs to find its own sources of catalytic capital to attract more private investment to impact. Where will it come from, and how do we get there, were key questions at the AVPN conference 2025.
INTERVIEW: Social enterprises too often slip into ‘charity talk’, so how can they be taken seriously as an economic force by the UK government? The chair of Social Enterprise UK discusses his meetings with Keir Starmer, his impatience for change in social investment – and racism.
Social Enterprise World Forum was founded in Scotland. Now, the country’s government is backing a delegation to head to Taiwan to promote its social enterprise ecosystem to the world.
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.
SEWF23: The impact economy is the future. Or is it? In a debate at this week's Social Enterprise World Forum in Amsterdam, progressive economy heavyweights Erinch Sahan and Katie Hill squared up to test the strengths of their theories.
Social enterprise is a significant force in the UK economy – but available data is still incomplete and even contradictory. Tim Thorlby pinpoints three questions to explore, and calls for robust, detailed data-gathering by the government.
Blended finance is no magic wand – and there's little reason to use it in most of Asia, one expert says. Plus, more positive sentiments from speakers at this week's gathering in Spain – but a plea for “more African representation” next time.
SAP, Johnson & Johnson and Siemens among six big-name backers of campaign delivered by SEUK-backed startup Telos – which aims to highlight the “opportunities rather than risks” of supply chains.
Low-key government announcement of latest £350m dormant assets funding allocation falls short of what social investment leaders had been campaigning for, as money will be evenly split between four ‘good causes’.
Fondo de Impacto Social – or Social Impact Fund – is announced at the GSG Global Impact Summit with an aim to further boost Spain’s thriving impact investment market.
Nigerian entrepreneur calls for boldness and ‘deliberate action’ to address inequality – and urges GSG Summit audience to consider how their actions affect Africans, including those fleeing the continent on a ‘journey to nowhere’.
