Social investment intermediaries that support Black and ethnically minoritised-led social enterprises in England are now able to apply for investment from a £5.5m funding pot from the wholesaler, as it opens the ‘Wave 1 Portal’ with a place-based approach.
EXPERT INSIGHT: New legislation puts social enterprises, co-operatives and other inclusive businesses at the centre of an economy that works for people, communities and the planet. And it’s part of a wider global conversation.
OPINION: Bonnie Chiu and Peter Ptashko have been to hundreds of conferences, yet still struggle to identify their value. Is there a more effective way to get capital moving for positive impact?
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.
Access to funding for diverse entrepreneurs is not a "pipeline problem", we hear at this week's Impact Shakers Summit in Brussels. Plus: new backers for Suzanne Biegel's legacy fund and why a UN resolution on the social economy matters.
