ABSTRACT
A look at the political and charity sector press over the last two decades would suggest that social finance and social investment are a modern phenomenon. In the UK, the passing of the 2012 Social Value Act – originated by Chris White MP as a private member’s bill – is one of many reflections of the emergence of a social and environmental awareness in public spending which has contributed to the focus on social finance and its growth. The social investment landscape evolved with UK trusts and foundations starting to earmark part of their endowment for social investment – notably the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and Tudor Trust. Many organisations have grown using social investment and have made a great success of using it. The corporate venturing market is also developing, with private sector corporates looking beyond investing in pure innovation and instead re-purposing existing investment models to enable mission-aligned social and environmental change.
