News

Sixteen game-changing projects to benefit from the Social Action Fund

Press Release For immediate release: Tuesday 31 January 2012 Over £9 million has been awarded in the first window the Social Action Fund which is managed by The Social Investment Business on behalf of the Cabinet Office.   Sixteen game-changing social action projects in England have...

Half a million vulnerable young people to access new online support service thanks to £1m from Social Action Fund

Thousands of children and young people will soon be able to access an online advice service to deal with issues such as bullying, racism, violence, truancy and unemployment as a result of investment from The Social Action Fund, managed by us on behalf of the Office for Civil Society. The Minister...

The Social Investment Business launch second phase of “ambitious” £20million Social Action Fund

A Fund supporting the creation of new social action opportunities opens its second applications window on Monday 9 January. Worth over £20million, the Social Action Fund managed by The Social Investment Business on behalf of the Office for Civil Society is offering grants of £100k and upwards to...

An interview with...Amanda Jones, SHINE

'An Interview with... Amanda Jones’:  the content curator of SHINE discusses Global Entrepreneurship Week, gives her tips for running social enterprise events and picks face-to-face meetings rather than online connections in the quick-fire quiz For immediate release: 16 November 2011 Amanda...

An interview with...Steve Wyler, Locality

An Interview with... Steve Wyler:  the Chief Executive of Locality discusses the challenge of getting more people involved in social action and picks ownership over renting in the quick-fire quiz 25 October 2011 Steve Wyler, Chief Executive of Locality, says the key to getting more people...

Communitybuilders begins search for six flagship regeneration projects

Friday 14 October 2011 Communitybuilders, a fund that supports community-based and community-led organisations in England, opens for applications at noon on Monday. Awards will be made to up to six of the most promising examples of sustainable, community regeneration projects who will become...

The Social Investment Business launches “ambitious” £20million Social Action Fund

Thursday 6 October 2011 A new fund to support the creation of new social action opportunities opens for applications today. Worth over £20million, the Social Action Fund managed by The Social Investment Business on behalf of the Office for Civil Society is offering grants of £100k and upwards to...

UK at watershed moment for social impact investing with potential to be global leader

Thursday 6th October 2011 Social impact investment has the potential to evolve from being an emerging market to a very large, mature investment market attracting mainstream investors, according to a report published today.  Making Good in Social Impact Investment: Opportunities in an Emerging...

The Social Investment Business response to Prime Minister David Cameron's speech

Wednesday 5 October 2011 Responding to Prime Minister David Cameron’s speech to the Conservative party conference in Manchester today, Chief Executive of The Social Investment Business Jonathan Jenkins said: “Today it was encouraging to hear David Cameron reiterate the government’s desire to see...

The Social Investment Business response to Labour leader Ed Miliband’s speech

Tuesday 27 September 2011 Responding to Labour leader Ed Miliband MP’s speech to the Labour party conference in Liverpool today, Chief Executive of The Social Investment Business Jonathan Jenkins said: “Ed Miliband today outlined his commitment to building a pro-business British society,...

Stop blaming the politicians for local services poll says

Monday 26 September Just over half of the public seem to support one of the key ideas underpinning the government’s flagship Big Society initiative, new polling data collected by Ipsos MORI for the RSA shows. Fifty two per cent agree people should stop blaming politicians for the quality of local...

An interview with... Simon Tucker, The Young Foundation

‘An interview with... Simon Tucker’:  the Chief Executive of The Young Foundation discusses the need for social enterprises trying to bring their product to market to focus on generating revenue streams and picks practice over policy 22 September 2011 Simon Tucker, Chief Executive...

The Social Investment Business to run the Social Action Fund

Wednesday 7 September 2011 The Cabinet Office announced today that The Social Investment Business has been chosen to run the Social Action Fund. The announcement features in the Cabinet Office press release below, which also includes news on the Innovation in Giving Fund and you can also...

The Social Investment Business response to the Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg’s speech

Wednesday 21 September Responding to Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg’s speech to the Liberal Democrat party conference in Birmingham today, where he said jobs and growth and doing more to get the banks lending are the government’s priorities, Acting Chief Executive of The Social Investment...

The Social Investment Business response to the Cabinet Office proposed Big Lottery Fund Policy Directions Consultation

26 August 2011 Responding to the Cabinet Office Consultation on the Big Lottery Fund Policy Directions, The Social Investment Business Managing Director of Investments Sue Peters said: "We welcome the Government’s recognition of the role social investment has to play in improving the...

Above and Beyond champions civil society organisations delivering public services and meeting local challenges

26 August 2011 Norcare, Jamie’s Farm and Mediation Leeds are just three of the civil society organisations changing the delivery of public services profiled in Above and Beyond: How charities, social enterprises and community groups are delivering public services and meeting local challenges,...

The Social Investment Business ‘An interview with…’ podcast series released on iTunes

24 August 2011 The Social Investment Business has made its monthly ‘An interview with…’ podcast series, which talks to leaders throughout the civil society and non-profit sector, available to download on iTunes. The series has posed a mixture of provoking and fun questions to CEOs throughout the...

An Interview With...Cliff Prior

An interview with...Cliff Prior‘An Interview with... Cliff Prior’:  the Chief Executive of UnLtd discusses the opportunities for social ventures within health and social care, the dangers of a purely competitive market in health and picks oranges over apples 16 August 2011 Cliff Prior,...

Department of Health’s Social Enterprise Investment Fund launches new Capital Growth Fund

10 August 2011 A new Capital Growth Fund offering grants and loans to social enterprises providing health and social care services in England is opening for applications on Thursday 11 August 2011.   A total of £12million capital has been made available via the Social Enterprise...

Good that The King’s Fund recognises benefits social enterprises can bring to NHS

Thursday 4 August Commenting on the latest report from The King’s Fund Social enterprise in healthcare published today, The Social Investment Business Chair Sir Stephen Bubb said: “It’s great to see an organisation with the authority of The King’s Fund recognise the benefits that social...

The Social Investment Business appoints Jonathan Jenkins as new CEO

Wednesday 3 August 2011 The Social Investment Business has appointed Jonathan Jenkins as its new CEO.  As the largest social investor in the UK, The Social Investment Business works to support social enterprises, charities and voluntary organisations to become stronger and more financially...

Big Society Bank board announced

29 July 2011 This morning the Cabinet Office announced further developments in the Big Society Bank. Now to be named ‘Big Society Capital’ (BSC), two expert boards have been announced, one of which features our Chair Sir Stephen Bubb.   The BSC will act as a wholesale investor for social...

An Interview With...Lord Victor Adebowale

'An Interview with... Lord Victor Adebowale’:  the Chief Executive of Turning Point shares his experiences of being part of the NHS Future Forum and reveals he prefers tennis to cricket  19 July 2011 Lord Victor Adebowale, Chief Executive of the national social business Turning Point,...

White paper presents great opportunities to innovative CSOs – The Social Investment Business

Monday 11 July 2011 Responding to the government’s publication today of the Open Public Services White Paper, The Social Investment Business’s Managing Director of Investments Sue Peters said: “David Cameron’s acknowledgement that charities, social enterprises and voluntary organisations are able...

An Interview With...Nick Temple

‘An Interview with... Nick Temple’:  the co-founder of POPse aims to provide recommendations on the Big Society Bank and NHS spin outs and reveals he prefers blogging to twitter 13 June 2011 Nick Temple, co-founder of POPse, the social enterprise think tank that ‘popped up’ for a week...

An Interview With..Kate Bull

‘An Interview with... Kate Bull’:  the co-founder of The People’s Supermarket shares her frustrations that the voluntary sector does not learn more from the private sector, and reveals she prefers fair trade over organic For immediate release: 17 May 2011 Kate Bull, co-founder of The...

News on our funds

Communitybuilders endowmentUp until 1 April 2011 the Adventure Capital Fund (ACF) managed the Communitybuilders Fund in partnership with The Social Investment Business and Community Alliance (made up of the Development Trusts Association and bassac - now merged to become Locality) and Community...

The Social Invesment Business is awarded the Social Enterprise Mark

The Social Investment Business has been awarded the Social Enterprise Mark. The Social Enterprise Mark shows our committment to a thriving and well capitalised civil society.We join other ethical businesses that have been recognised by being awarded the Mark such as the Age UK, Eden Project, Big...

An Interview With...Rodney Schwartz

‘An Interview with... Rodney Schwartz’:  The CEO of ClearlySo is positive about the future of social investment and the Big Society agenda, and reveals he prefers business over charity 13 April 2011 Rodney Schwartz, CEO of ClearlySo, voices concern that capacity that will be lost in the...

Health and social care services opened up to big society

At least £10 million more to fund Social EnterprisesNHS staff and patients will get more control of their services thanks to a package of measures announced by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley at the social enterprise conference, VOICE 11 in London today. The measures all put into practice the Big...

Boost for voluntary and community groups as funding is extended

Decentralisation Minister Greg Clark has confirmed that funding for vital community projects through the Communitybuilders scheme will continue into the next financial year, thanks to a £27m endowment fund. The endowment fund will ensure that groups can develop their proposals at their own speed...

An Interview With...Sam Conniff

‘An Interview with... Sam Conniff’:  The co-founder of Livity predicts rise in young people creating socially-led businesses and reveals a preference for Facebook over Twitter 8 March 2011 Sam Conniff, co-founder of socially responsible youth communications agency Livity, describes the...

Two new projects will build sector capacity to provide children’s services

Monday 7 March 2011 Two new two year projects for The Social Investment Business that aim to increase the involvement of charities, social enterprises and voluntary organisations in the provision of children’s services have secured funding from the Department for Education (DfE). ‘Foundations for...

Fantastic to see government’s commitment to growing UK social investment market

Monday 14th February 2011 Responding to the Cabinet Office’s publication today of ‘Growing the Social Investment Market: A vision and strategy’, The Social Investment Business Chief Executive Jonathan Lewis said: “It’s fantastic to see this government’s commitment to growing the UK’s social...

Extra funds for Big Society Bank is very welcome news – The Social Investment Business

Responding to the government’s announcement today that banks will be contributing £200 million to the Big Society Bank which is due to launch later this year, The Social Investment Business Chief Executive Jonathan Lewis said: “Today’s announcement is a very welcome move which ensures that when...

An Interview With...Sophi Tranchell

‘An Interview with... Sophi Tranchell’:  The Managing Director of Divine Chocolate calls for Cadbury to convert all their remaining brands to Fairtrade and reveals a preference for dark chocolate Monday 7 February 2011 Sophi Tranchell, Managing Director of Divine Chocolate, praises chocolate...

Civil Society Wishes for 2011 reveal sector leaders’ hopes for the New Year

Rt Hon David Blunkett MP, ACEVO chief Sir Stephen Bubb and the head of the RSA Matthew Taylor are among the top sector leaders who have contributed their hopes and ambitions for the sector in Civil Society Wishes for 2011, published online today by The Social Investment Business. Leaders of...

Government consultation: Tackling Child Poverty and Improving Life Chances

In late December last year the Government launched a new consultation focussing on child poverty.The joint consultation, ‘Tackling Child Poverty and Improving Life Chances’ is being carried out by the Department for Work and Pensions, Department for Education and HM Treasury and seeks to help...

'An Interview With...' podcast series speaks to Jonathan Lewis

‘An Interview with... Jonathan Lewis’:  The Chief Executive of The Social Investment Business says CSOs can deliver great services if they receive the right support and picks wrestling over boxing. Monday 10 January 2011 The Social Investment Business Chief Executive Jonathan Lewis tries his...

Modernising Commissioning green paper

The Government are consulting on how to improve the way they work with civil society organisations and what this means for public sector commissioners at all levels.On Monday 6 December the Office of Civil Society published a consultation document called Modernising Commissioning: Increasing the...

The Social Investment Business responds to the Localism Bill

  Monday 13 December 2010 Commenting on the publication of the Localism Bill by the Department for Communities and Local Government today, The Social Investment Business Chief Executive Jonathan Lewis said: “This Bill will remove barriers and give local authorities greater opportunity to...

Second in The Social Investment Business' 'An Interview With...' podcast series speaks to Matthew Taylor

‘An Interview with... Matthew Taylor’:  the Chief Executive of the RSA discusses the need for ‘citizen centric’ change in society and admits he prefers Strictly Come Dancing to X Factor Wednesday 8 December 2010 Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of the RSA reflects on the way spending cuts are...

The Social Investment Business hosts SE Alley in November

The Social Investment Business is delighted to be co-hosting SE Alley in November. Taking place on Wednesday 24 November at Nineteen Twenty from 6pm onwards, SE Alley is a monthly, informal gathering of people interested or active in social entrepreneurship and social enterprise, which...

The Social Investment Business launches new podcast series and resources section

‘An Interview with... Stephen Bubb’:  The ACEVO chief says he aims to be controversial, wants social investors and commercial lenders to work more closely together and prefers Digestives over Hobnobs Monday 8th November 2010 Stephen Bubb, Chief Executive of ACEVO and Chair of The Social...

The Social Investment Business secures place as approved provider on OCS Framework Agreement

Friday 22 October 2010  The Social Investment Business has been chosen as one of six organisations approved by the Office for Civil Society to bid for tenders for grant management contracts issued by seven central government departments. Over the next four years if any of these departments...

The Social Investment Business response to the Comprehensive Spending Review

Wednesday 20 October 2010  Responding to the Comprehensive Spending Review and details of the Cabinet Office settlement relating to the Office for Civil Society both published today, The Social Investment Business Chief Executive Jonathan Lewis said: “The Chancellor’s commitment to shifting...

Department of Health’s Social Enterprise Investment Fund launches capital grants campaign

Thursday 14 October 2010  A new capital grants campaign has been launched offering support to existing and start-up social enterprises working in the areas of health or social care. Grants of £50k to £450k are being made available from the Social Enterprise Investment Fund which The...

New report calls for dramatic changes to commissioning of local services to unleash potential of Big Society

Thursday  7 October 2010 A report by the think tank ResPublica published today calls for bureaucracy to be slashed and commissioning improved dramatically if David Cameron’s vision of a Big Society is to be realised. The Civil Effect: Bringing efficiency, innovation and community capability...

The Social Investment Business response to the Prime Minister David Cameron’s speech

Wednesday 6 October 2010 Responding to the Prime Minister David Cameron’s speech to the Conservative party conference in Birmingham this afternoon, The Social Investment Business Chief Executive Jonathan Lewis said: “Today David Cameron reaffirmed his commitment to the Big Society vision, putting...

Majority of voters still don’t know what the ‘Big Society’ means

Tuesday 5 October 2010  Fifty-five per cent of people have not heard of the Conservatives Big Society policy according to an RSA commissioned survey. A recent Ipsos MORI poll of 512 adults shows that 64% of people believe that in recent years public services have tried to do to much and...

The Social Investment Business response to the Labour Party leader Ed Miliband’s speech

Tuesday 28 September 2010  Responding to the Labour Party leader Ed Miliband’s speech to his party’s conference in Manchester this afternoon, The Social Investment Business chief executive Jonathan Lewis said: “Ed Miliband today outlined his commitment to a society where people are...

The Social Investment Business response to the Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg’s speech

Monday 20 September  Responding to the Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg’s speech to his party’s conference in Liverpool this afternoon, The Social Investment Business chief executive Jonathan Lewis said: “Nick Clegg reaffirmed his commitment to devolving more...

The Social Investment Business launches Interim Management Solutions

Wednesday 28 July 2010 The Social Investment Business today launches Interim Management Solutions, a trial programme working with civil society organisations to meet their short-term experienced personnel needs. The programme will work to assess organisations’ needs and support them in...

New report explains role of social investment in realising Big Society vision

Friday 23 July 2010 Following Prime Minister David Cameron’s speech setting out his vision for the Big Society, a new report outlines how social investment can help make charities, community groups and social enterprises meet the financial challenge of taking on this larger role in delivering...

The Social Investment Business response to the Budget

Thursday 22 July 2010 Responding to today’s Budget in which Chancellor George Osborne announced numerous cost-cutting measures, including that most government spending departments will see 25 per cent reductions in their budgets over the next 4 years, The Social Investment Business Chief Executive...

Puzzling that Ministers don't plan to continue a successful model of investing

Wednesday 9 June 2010 Responding to an exchange between Minister for Civil Society Nick Hurd MP and his Shadow, Rt. Hon Tessa Jowell MP, at Cabinet Office Questions this morning at which the Minister stated plans to divert returns from Futurebuilders investments to create a new infrastructure to...

Independent evaluation prompts major rethink on how to support third sector organisations

Friday 23 July 2010 Community sector organisations in receipt of patient capital grow faster than general charities, according to an independent evaluation of the impact of the Adventure Capital Fund. Published today by the Centre for Social Evaluation Research at London Metropolitan University,...

The Social Investment Business response to The Queen's Speech

Wednesday 26 May 2010 Commenting on plans to strengthen charities, co-operatives and social enterprises announced by the government in today’s Queen’s Speech, Jonathan Lewis chief executive of The Social Investment Business said: “We welcome the new government’s ambitious plans for growing and...

New government must recognise third sector's vital role - The Social Investment Business

Wednesday 12 May 2010 Commenting on the formation of a coalition government of the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties Jonathan Lewis, chief executive of The Social Investment Business said: “We look forward to working with Prime Minister David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Ministers in the new...

The Social Investment Business, fund managers of the Futurebuilders Fund response to David Cameron's 'Big Society' Speech

Thursday 1 April 2010 The Social Investment Business welcomed David Cameron’s speech on the ‘Big Society’ with its support for the third sector, but expressed disappointment at the suggestion that the Futurebuilders fund is performing poorly. The National Audit office report that Mr Cameron...

Independent research confirms positive impact of Futurebuilders Fund

Successful fund proven to build capacity of third sector organisations to deliver public sector contractsThe Social Investment Business, fund manager for the Office of the Third Sector’s Futurebuilders Fund, welcomes Sheffield Hallam University’s positive Evaluation Report on the Futurebuilders ...

The Social Investment Business Report shows high demand for social investment

The Social Investment Business, the UK’s fastest growing social investor, unveiled its first impact report on Wednesday 24th February. ‘Investing in the future’ provides an overview of the organisation’s activity over the last 18 months and concludes that the demand for social investment is...

Case for Social Investment proven as Futurebuilders Fund reaches capacity

We are closing the Futurebuilders Fund to new applicants following huge demand from the third sector for social finance. We have been receiving up to £90m worth of enquiries per month. Stephen Bubb, Chairman of The Social Investment Business said: “The Futurebuilders Fund has...