Social Investment Business

Social Investment Business
Name	Social Investment Business
Type	Social investment intermediary
Founded	2002
Headquarters	United Kingdom
Key people	Neil Heslop, Sir Ronald Cohen, Dame Julia Cleverdon
Area served	United Kingdom
Mission	Support social enterprises and charities through investment, grants and advisory services

Social Investment Business is a UK-based intermediary that provides financing, grants and support to charitys, social enterprises and community projects. Founded in the early 21st century amid debates over Big Society initiatives and reforms to the welfare state, the organization has operated alongside institutions such as the Big Lottery Fund, Big Society Capital and the National Lottery Community Fund. It has engaged with policymakers, funders and delivery partners including the Cabinet Office (United Kingdom), Department for Work and Pensions, City of London Corporation and major philanthropic bodies.

History

Social Investment Business emerged after a period marked by the creation of the New Labour Third Way reforms and the expansion of third sector infrastructure in the United Kingdom. Its origins parallel developments such as the establishment of Home Office community programmes, the growth of the Community Development Finance Association and the creation of the Big Society Capital funding vehicle. During the 2000s and 2010s it responded to drivers including post-2008 Financial crisis of 2007–2008 recovery, austerity policies under coalition governments, and the launch of initiatives like the Social Impact Bond model piloted in Peterborough Prison and elsewhere. The body has been influenced by figures and movements such as Sir Ronald Cohen and the global social finance community centered around conferences like the Skoll World Forum and institutions such as the Young Foundation and the Nesta innovation charity.

Mission and Objectives

The stated aims include strengthening the resilience of charity and social enterprise sectors, increasing access to repayable finance and grant funding, and scaling models that deliver social outcomes. Its objectives align with broader frameworks promoted by actors like the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Nesta and Social Finance UK, focusing on sustainable delivery in fields such as homelessness services connected to organisations like Crisis (charity), employment programmes similar to Ingeus, and community asset transfers seen in partnerships with local authorities such as Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the London Borough of Hackney.

Services and Funding Programs

Programmes have included loan funds, grant-making streams, and blended finance facilities developed in cooperation with partners such as Big Lottery Fund, Big Society Capital, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Barrow Cadbury Trust and corporate funders like Barclays and HSBC. It has administered outcome-focused contracts comparable to Payment by Results pilots and participated in initiatives echoing the Social Impact Bond and Payment by Results experiments. Delivery channels have served a range of beneficiaries including community organisations involved with the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, affordable housing providers active in the Homes England ecosystem, and health-related voluntary organisations linked to the National Health Service (England).

Governance and Structure

Governance has typically included a board of trustees and executive leadership, drawing on expertise from the finance and voluntary sectors. Leadership and oversight practices have been informed by governance standards promoted by bodies such as the Charity Commission for England and Wales, the Institute of Fundraising, and sector guidance from the Association of Charitable Foundations. Its structure has enabled joint ventures, special purpose vehicles and funds worked on with partners including Big Society Capital and independent funders such as the Barrow Cadbury Trust and Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

Impact and Evaluation

Impact measurement has employed methods comparable to Social Return on Investment frameworks and evaluation approaches advocated by organisations such as What Works Centre for Local Economic Growth and the Cabinet Office evaluation units. Outcomes reported include job creation resembling outputs seen in programmes run by Tomorrow’s People and reductions in service demand similar to results sought by Turning Point (charity). Independent evaluations have drawn on academic research from institutions like LSE, University of Oxford and University of Manchester and been presented at sector conferences including the Social Investment Business Conference and forums hosted by Nesta and the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship.

Partnerships and Collaborations

The organisation has collaborated with national funders such as Big Lottery Fund and Big Society Capital, local government bodies including the Greater London Authority and regional combined authorities, and voluntary sector infrastructure organisations like the NCVO and CAF (Charities Aid Foundation). It has worked alongside intermediaries and investors such as Social Finance, Resonance (social investment) and Bridges Fund Management, as well as philanthropic foundations including Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Nuffield Foundation. Internationally, its practice has connections to the Skoll Foundation, Ashoka network and academic partners such as Harvard Kennedy School and the University of Oxford Saїd Business School.

Category:Charities based in the United Kingdom Category:Social finance