Big Issue Invest

A Christmas letter from our Chief Executive Officer

A letter from our new Chief Executive Office, Danyal Sattar, and his thoughts on joining Big Issue Invest as we come into the holiday season

Christmas came early for me, as I started at the beginning of December. I’m absolutely delighted to join Big Issue Invest as CEO.

Across the board at Big Issue Invest we have in our portfolio a great group of social enterprises and charities delivering high quality services to the country’s most vulnerable communities. Behind the scenes you’ll find that we have great team of people here working hard to serve each Investee’s funding needs.

What I have particularly liked in joining Big Issue Invest is the range of interventions we have. From the Corporate Social Venturing programme that supports early stage businesses, through to our lending programmes that provide unsecured loans to smaller organisations and our larger scale investments on our regulated Fund Management side. We have a product to suit many of the investment needs of the social sector.

Big-Issue-Invest-Investees

Christmas falls just after the shortest, darkest day of the year and with the harder months of winter yet to come. Homelessness in the UK is steadily rising which is a grim indicator of a rise in poverty. Our Group mission to “dismantle poverty and create opportunity through self-help, social trading and business solutions” and backing organisations offering these solutions is needed now more than ever. That’s one of the best things about our investment role. Take a look at our investment portfolio and you will see people making a difference to poverty in the UK. That’s what we get to do every day when we come into work.

Looking ahead to the new year, one of the best things about the cold months for me is the speed at which the days become lighter and longer again. It’s a great time of year to be thinking about our forward strategy. Wherever the team sees demand, is where we are likely develop new offerings.

Finally, it’s a time to remember that our vendors are at the heart of our business. The social enterprises and charities that we support help people like them and help to prevent poverty in the first place. Seeing my regular vendor in The Big Issue Foundation’s 12 Days of Christmas rendition shows that we are heading in the right direction.

And if you hold a copy of The Big Issue bought in London, there is a good chance it will have been unloaded by me and my colleagues on the 5 am Saturday shift, as it is all hands on deck for our Christmas edition.

Have a very happy Christmas and great New Year!

Danyal.

Support the Big Issue

For over 30 years, the Big Issue has been committed to ending poverty in the UK. In 2024, our work is needed more than ever. Find out how you can support the Big Issue today.
Vendor martin Hawes

Recommended for you

View all
Growth Impact Fund backs Genius Within's mission to empower the UK’s Neurodivergent workforce
Press Release

Growth Impact Fund backs Genius Within's mission to empower the UK’s Neurodivergent workforce

Social investment arm of the Big Issue Group opens up applications for second cohort of social enterprises in London  
Press Release

Social investment arm of the Big Issue Group opens up applications for second cohort of social enterprises in London  

Mark Porter is announced as new Chair of Big Issue Invest 
Big Issue Invest CEO, Danyal Sattar with Mark Porter, newly appointed Chair of Big Issue Invest
Press Release

Mark Porter is announced as new Chair of Big Issue Invest 

How a school for kids with complex educational needs is changing lives: 'These kids can thrive'
Big Issue Invest

How a school for kids with complex educational needs is changing lives: 'These kids can thrive'

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Here's when UK households to start receiving last cost of living payments
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Here's when UK households to start receiving last cost of living payments

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know
4.

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know