News and Views

  • ‘World’s first’ business standard for corporate purpose focuses on wellbeing

    The British Standards Institute hails new guidance on aligning a company's purpose with its actions as a 'watershed moment' for business leaders across the world.

  • Opinion: Directing dormant assets to social enterprise is an unparalleled opportunity to level up

    As decision time looms on where to allocate £700m of dormant assets, the MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central makes the case for social entrepreneurs – who "dare to think differently" and make a huge impact, especially in underserved areas of the UK.

  • Opinion: Social enterprises and local authorities can team up to overcome the ‘conservation deficit’

    As shops shut for good and historic buildings lie vacant – while local authorities remain strapped for cash – a new breed of ‘social enterprise developers’ is helping to repair, restore and convert properties into sustainable new uses.

  • ‘Landmark’ CDFI deal will provide lower-cost credit to thousands of UK key workers 

    Community development finance institution Salad Money says £40m commitment will help it meet “rocketing demand” for credit, and help NHS and other public sector workers to avoid payday lenders and loan sharks.

  • Macmillan launches £3.5m impact investment fund in first for 100-year-old charity

    Impact investing first sees UK's Macmillan Cancer Support back health tech startup as it kicks off two-year programme to support more innovation in cancer care.

  • The secret to sustainability #3: why uncertainty is key for sustainability assurance

    PART 3: Figuring out what to include in a sustainability report means accepting higher thresholds for uncertainty. That’s confusing for the user and more difficult for the auditor, writes our columnist – but there is a way to make it work.