- Social investor reports supporting 184 social enterprises in past year
- In turn, investees supported over 1 million people across the UK
- Social investor outlines new strategic direction with ambitious target to increase the assets under BII management and advisory to over £500 million by 2030
Today (Wednesday, 8th December) Big Issue Invest (BII) has launched its 2020-2021 Impact Report.
The report revealed that the social investment arm of The Big Issue, supported 184 social enterprises across the UK with £39.7 million Assets Under Management (AUM) at March 2021*.
The report detailed how, in turn, those 184 social enterprises were able to support over 1.16 million customers across the UK in the same period.
The organisation reported that, of BII’s total investment portfolio, over 62% of the 184 investees of the past year are based in areas of high deprivation**, where capital can have the greatest social and economic benefits, including London, the North East and North West. 20% of BII’s total portfolio is invested into organisations directly tackling inequality in the UK in order to improve health, education and job outcomes in deprived areas.
BII’s investments in Scotland, the North East, East Midlands and the East of England have significantly increased during the period. For example, £5 million was invested in Scotland- based social ventures with a major investment in the social lettings agency Homes For Good. £1.7 million of investment was made into social enterprises in the East of England, with a change in value percentage of 667%.
Of the total number of investments, 16% support people living in poverty and/or financial exclusion, 11% support people living in precarious housing or who are homeless, 12% support vulnerable young people, 11% support people experiencing unemployment and 9% support people with mental health needs and conditions.