News and Views

  • Why social enterprises should be at the heart of the UK Labour government’s ‘national renewal’ ambition

    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.

  • Global volume of capital invested in impact deals in 2024 falls by 30% compared with previous year – GIIN survey

    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. 

  • Spain positions itself among world leaders in impact investing

    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.

  • ‘We need all hands on deck’ – Impact Europe chair on how the impact community can shine a light in dark times

    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.

  • Finding catalytic capital: Asia’s big challenge

    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. 

  • ‘I don’t believe in the social economy, I believe in one economy’ – Lord Adebowale

    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.

  • From Scotland to Taiwan, and back again? How SEWF 2025 can be an ‘engine for change’ in delegates’ home countries

    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.

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How impact investors can support democracy to thrive

Autocracy is on the rise, freedom of speech is under threat and trust in institutions is declining. But impact investors could play a bigger role in defending democracy. This was the topic under discussion at last week’s Impact Fire Talk, hosted by FASE.

Laura Joffre