A brief round-up of developments from the social investment world

Prepared by UKSIF

Bridges Social Entrepreneurs Fund and Big Issue Invest announce first joint investment

Bridges has invested £500,000, the first investment from the fund, and Big Issue Invest has invested £350,000 in Call Britannia, a new UK social enterprise call centre.
www.bridgesventure.com

Triodos Bank launches second green business fund

The Triodos EIS Green Fund II will invest in high-growth businesses operating in sustainability sectors such as renewable energy, sustainable living and low carbon products.
www.triodos.co.uk

Social investment profiled in National Ethical Investment Week 2009

Social investment opportunities were highlighted at events held as part of NEIW09 (8th -14th November). Organisations and investment highlighted included Triodos Bank, Clearlyso, social impact bonds and a number of pro-development finance opportunities.
www.neiw.org

Social Finance publishes report on social bonds

The report outlines Social Finance’s work in developing a Social Impact Bond.
www.socialfinance.org.uk

Good Deals 09 Conference hears call to create £30bn investment market

In his keynote address to the Good Deals social investment conference, David Blood, Al Gore's business partner at Generation Investment Management, proposed that social entrepreneurs and social investors should aim to create an investment market worth £30bn in the UK.
www.socialenterpriselive.com

Venturesome publishes report on UK social investment market

‘Access to Capital’ highlights key characteristics a strong social investment market requires and the barriers that stand in its way.
www.cafonline.org

Third sector minister Angela Smith launches Social Investment Almanack

The Almanack, published by Social Enterprise Magazine and supported by the Office of the Third Sector and NESTA, is designed to help investors access social investment opportunities.
www.socialenterpriselive.com

Gates Foundation plans $400m programme-related investment scheme

The Foundation plans to finance new low-interest loans, loan guarantees and equity investments to non-profit organisations and social enterprises.
www.gatesfoundation.org

If you require any further information on these stories or have a social investment news item please contact Adam Ognall adam.ognall@uksif.org