Big Issue Invest
Big Issue Invest is the social-impact investment arm of The Big Issue Group, providing loans and equity to UK social enterprises and charities tackling poverty and inequality since 2005. The regulated manager, Big Issue Invest Fund Management Ltd (Companies House number 08658029), is authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority under firm reference number 610618 as a full-scope alternative investment fund manager. It has deployed over GBP 100 million through funds including the Social Enterprise Investment Funds I and II, the Growth Impact Fund and the Social Impact Debt Fund.
Key facts
Recent exits
No exits recorded yet.
Coverage notes
1 fund tracked, 14 portfolio companies (14 active · 0 realized). Verified weekly from public filings and deal announcements.
Funds & portfolio
Every fund Big Issue Invest has raised, with its portfolio companies. Hand-checked from public filings.
Growth Impact FundImpact2022 · 4yr€29M14 active
Unrealized
14 held| Company | Sector | Geo | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doing What Really Matters | Education | UK | 2023 |
| Generation Success | Education | UK | 2023 |
| Genius Within | Business Services | UK | 2024 |
| Harry Specters | Consumer | UK | 2023 |
| Inclusion Labs | EdTech | UK | 2023 |
| Kalda | HealthTech | UK | 2024 |
| Lightning Reach | Fintech | UK | 2023 |
| Living in Fitness | Consumer | UK | 2024 |
| Neuropool | HR Tech | UK | 2023 |
| Patchwork Hub | HR Tech | UK | 2024 |
| Ruka | Consumer | UK | 2025 |
| Sociability | Software | UK | 2025 |
| The Black Farmer | Consumer | UK | 2025 |
| Ultra Education | Education | UK | 2024 |
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About Big Issue Invest
Big Issue Invest is a UK social impact investor with more than £100 million deployed since 2005 (£9.4 million deployed in 2024/25, more than tripling year-on-year in its 20th year), headquartered in London. The firm was founded in 2005 by Big Issue Group entrepreneurs John Bird and Nigel Kershaw and operates as a social enterprise (a company limited by guarantee) part of the Big Issue Group, B Corp certified.
Investment thesis
Big Issue Invest deploys capital through multiple funds including the Growth Impact Fund and the Outcomes Investment Fund, targeting social impact investing via social impact loans (£20,000-£4 million), equity and quasi-equity and blended finance with grant support to social enterprises and charities. Sector focus spans affordable and precarious housing and homelessness, employment support, health and wellbeing, learning disability and neurodiversity support and social business. Geographic deployment is the United Kingdom, focused on the most deprived communities. The mission-locked investor targets capital at the UK's most deprived areas with each deal structured around social outcomes.
Recent activity
As a social impact lender, realisations are primarily loan repayments rather than equity exits and are not individually disclosed. Recent investments include an accessibility-tech social enterprise (Sociability) and a homelessness-focused hospitality and employment venture (2024-2025), plus an ex-Standard Bank CEO appointed Chair in January 2026. The platform continues active deployment across the UK social impact mandate. Detailed buyer names and multiple data available on Pro at €29/month.
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