Financing Social Enterprises

Big Issue Invest is a specialised provider of finance to social enterprises or trading arms of charities that are finding business solutions that create social and environmental transformation.

Part of The Big Issue group of companies, it is led by social entrepreneurs with any dividends paid to The Big Issue.

  • Providing Loan Finance

    We provide Loan Finance to social enterprises at competitive rates of interest based on future cash flow projections or supported by assets. The average size of Big Issue Invest's loans are around £200,000. The minimum loan size is £50,000.

  • Launching the Social Enterprise Investment Fund

    We will soon be launching a Social Enterprise Investment Fund to provide risk capital to social enterprises and businesses, that have the capacity for scale, profitability and significant social impact.

  • Rethinking Credit Scoring

    We are also developing an Alternative Credit Scoring Index, that may help increase access to mainstream credit for up to 1,500,000 low-income consumers.

  • An Experienced Team

    Big Issue Invest's Team is made up of a unique combination of social entrepreneurs, practitioners and financiers. Our Board and partners bring together a wealth of experience, innovation and success.

    Social Entrepreneurs say that they like dealing with a unique financial organisation that has had first hand experience of building and running social businesses in both good and difficult times.

Sister Organisations

Latest News

  • Big Issue Invest featured in The Times

    In an interview with Big Issue Invest chairman Nigel Kershaw, The Times newspaper examines the track record of Big Issue Invest and look.... more text here

    Read the Times article here >