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

Prepared by the UK Social Investment forum

Catalyst launches social investment website

Socialinvestments.com is designed to provide the public with information about investing in UK social businesses and enterprises. It currently lists information on nearly 100 businesses.

Equity Plus social business angel network launched

Following government-funded research, Equity Plus has been launched as an investment organisation. It plans in the next year to have 75 ‘business angels’ on board and to help eight to ten social enterprises with deals ranging between £750,000 and £1m.

Social Finance Ltd launched to help accelerate social investment market

Social Finance has been launched to connect the third sector to capital markets. Using financial innovation, it will support the raising and deployment of capital and research markets and opportunities.

Charity Bank launches new look and new financing services for charities

At its annual general meeting, Charity Bank launched an asset finance service for charities and emerging social enterprises, as well as two new deposit products. It also announced a new look to better communicate its ethos and values.

Triodos Bank announces 23% growth in 2007

Triodos has announced that its balance sheet rose to £1.4 billion in 2007. Triodos attributes this growth to growing public concern about climate change and other ethical and environmental issues.

Co-operative share issues being developed in Somerset

The Somerset Co-operative Services CIC is presently working on three share issues. These are for The Ecological Land Co-operative to support small sustainable farms, The Good Fuel Co-operative to expand its biodiesel production and Lightweight Community Transport to revive local rail services.

cdfa annual report shows 59% growth in community banking sector

The Community Development Finance Association finds that investment and loans in the sector at end of March 2007 was £287m. CDFA’s annual conference, Money For Change, will take place 25th-27th June in Leeds.

Ethical Property Company outperforms commercial property sector

The Ethical Property Company’s 2007 financial returns of 10.6% outstripped the average return for the commercial property sector while also improving its environmental and social performance.

Unity Trust Bank provides £2m loan to Action Housing and Support

AHS provides support to socially excluded people to combat homelessness issues. The loan will help fund a property portfolio expansion.

Gordon Brown announced plans to develop microfinance in Africa

The Department for International Development will work with the Grameen Group and seek matched funds of £500,000 from private sector partners to help build skills and knowledge to develop microfinance in Africa.

Social investing pioneer Nigel Kershaw honoured

Nigel Kershaw, CEO of Big Issue Invest, has been honoured by Director Magazine as Good Director for Enterprise for his outstanding contribution alongside Sir Stuart Rose of Marks & Spencer and Lord Bilimoria of Cobra Beer. www.biginvest.co.uk.

If you require further information on these stories or have a social investment news item, please contact Adam Ognall, UKSIF Deputy Chief Executive.