Big Issue Invest

Big Issue Invest (BII) is the social investment arm of the Big Issue Group, founded in 2005 by John Bird and Nigel Kershaw. BII provides debt and equity finance — from £20,000 to £4 million — exclusively to social enterprises, social-purpose businesses, and charities working to dismantle poverty and inequality across the UK. Almost all investees are unable to access mainstream finance. BII's core focus sectors are Health & Social Care, Affordable Housing & Homelessness, Employment & Skills, and Community & Social Infrastructure, with a strong emphasis on organisations led by people with lived experience of poverty and those from underrepresented backgrounds. BII operates multiple funds including the Social Impact Debt Fund IV (secured loans of £500k–£4m to established organisations), the Growth Impact Fund (£200k–£1.5m equity and revenue-participation for diverse-led enterprises, co-managed with UnLtd), and the Outcomes Investment Fund (financing payment-by-results contracts). Since inception, BII has deployed over £100 million across more than 500 organisations, with £68 million currently under management. It is FCA-regulated (FRN610618) and measures impact through its proprietary Social Impact Charter.