The UK’s Social and Sustainable Capital is increasingly backing community renewable energy projects. SASC's Ben Rick explains why he’s excited about this overlooked part of the market – even if such projects aren’t always easy to implement.
PLUS: A first crowdfunded impact bond Israel and a new ‘career impact bond’ for American students; MacArthur Foundation’s catalytic capital investment; new climate fund from Aberdeen Standard and Big Issue Group, and more.
PLUS: New impact firm Engine No. 1 to ‘harness capitalism for positive change’; Turner Impact Capital closes $350m workforce housing fund; IIX launches $27m bond to help women rebuild livelihoods, December impact reports; and more.
Alternatives to traditional bank lending have scaled 20-fold to £3,388m from £169m in just eight years, with property funds and non-bank lending on the up, reveals annual market update from the UK’s impact investing wholesaler.
PLUS: Social Impact Ventures rebrands and doubles fund size; Save the Children Australia impact fund opens for business; UN’s first outcomes fund; the new $400m 'blank-cheque' sustainability company; and more.
Zamo Capital – the new company backed by Big Society Capital to scale up social investors – confirms its first deal, which will help Social and Sustainable Capital expand its team and raise more capital for its housing fund.
SASC's initial social investment offer was turned down by Hull Women’s Network trustee Lisa Hilder. But Ben Rick was determined to shape a product that worked. The result was an SE100 award-winning investment deal.
PLUS: Vital Capital creates emergency debt facility for Africa businesses, Cadent Foundation launches, Oddbox secures £3m for nationwide expansion, and Brazilian startup makes ‘sensational’ exit.
Bite-sized stories this week: the future 'S&P 500 index of social impact'; a new barista training academy; fundraising ambitions for a vulnerable housing fund; and community energy awards.
