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.
We talk with some of Europe's most forward-looking corporate foundations at the EVPA Business of Impact conference. Plus other highlights from this week in the Pioneers Post newsroom.
We need to halt economic growth to save the planet, but sustain growth to meet society's needs. Impact investing can help overcome this paradox, says the co-founder of Astanor Ventures, by focusing on three key principles.
Cross-sector collaboration – and government money – are needed as funding gap left by mainstream investors prevents the social economy from reaching its full potential, shows first in-depth study of catalytic capital in UK.
Women-led businesses – particularly those in the global south – are still struggling to recover after the pandemic. And they have a key role to play in boosting their local economies.
Reporting from Madrid, where Fi Forum attendees discuss the feelgood factor of impact investing; fighting inertia when it comes to understanding investors' true impact; and breaking glass ceilings – this week from the Pioneers Post newsroom.
Expanding healthcare through AI in Africa, publishing city-guides for impact entrepreneurs or boosting inclusion in the startup scene – we bring you some stimulating social business ideas from the Impact Shakers Summit in Brussels.
INTERVIEW: Investment firms can affect people and the planet in many ways – and not just through the businesses they back. The leaders of a new project seeking consensus on ‘investor contribution’ tell us why their work is breaking new ground.
Women workers outnumber men in social economy organisations; leadership and pay gaps are also lower than in the wider economy. But a “considerable glass ceiling” persists. The OECD argues this needs to change.
The Mumbai slum romanticised in the film Slumdog Millionaire is to be redeveloped – but current plans ignore its function as a hub of enterprise and creativity. Sustainability-linked finance could unlock an alternative future.
