Investment funds & programmes
We understand the challenges faced by the social impact sector and therefore offer wrap-around support to many of our investments, which can include a dedicated account manager understanding your organisation, grant funding supporting your organisation to become investment-ready and mentoring expertise.
Big Issue Invest provides loan finance to England-based social enterprises and charities. Since 2005 we have made over 550 investments to the value of £80 million. We currently manage £39.7 million in funds in over 184 organisations. We offer social enterprises and charities a range of repayable finance options, from loans as small as £20,000 to larger investments of up to £3.5 million as well as corporate mentoring and investment programmes designed for early-stage social businesses.
Find out more about our programmes and funds currently open to new applications
Power Up London is an accelerator programme and grants scheme for early-stage socially trading organisations supporting underrepresented communities in Greater London.
- Funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund
- Non-financial business support services valued at £10,000
- Access up to £22,000 grant funding on successful completion
This fund lends to established socially impactful organisations in the UK, with a history of profitable growth and assets to support secured debt. The fund will lend to organisations in Health and Social Care, Affordable Housing and Homelessness, and Community and Social Infrastructure.
The fund provides loans with the following characteristics:
- Loan sizes of £1m to £4m for asset-backed growth
- Competitive interest rate (vs. comparable providers) with 3 to 5-year terms
- Loan to Value ratio of up to 80% subject to sector
- Big Issue Invest to be the sole lender
- A single set of loan terms replaces alternative two-tranche senior and junior loan structure
Big Issue Invest provides loan finance to England-based social enterprises and charities through various programmes, with finance provided by partners including Access, the Foundation for Social Investment, The National Lottery Community Fund and Big Society Capital.
- Loan finance from £20,000 to £200,000
- Flexible term
- Loans are unsecured
Big Issue Invest, UnLtd and Shift partnered to create a £25M fund designed to address the structural barriers that diverse social enterprises face. The Growth Impact Fund, has invested in 50-60 ventures, focusing on diverse-led social enterprises tackling inequality in the UK.
- Loans, equity and equity-like investment
- With wrap-around support
- Typical investment range £50,000 to £1.5M
- Flexible term
- Loans can be secured and unsecured
Make big savings from small loans.
At Big Issue Invest, we have a long track record of providing loans for energy efficiency and renewable energy installation. We offer finance for a range of projects, from insulation and door and window upgrades, through to renewable energy installation.
- England-based organisations
- Loans from £20,000 to £200,000 (smaller loans available by exception)
- Flexible repayment terms
- Loans can be unsecured