Our social investment arm, Big Issue Invest, is targeting a jobs boost in areas where it’s needed most with the new UK Equity Impact – Employment Opportunities Fund.
Big Issue Invest has teamed up with Aberdeen Standard Investments (ASI) to invest in businesses offering good employment opportunities across the UK, including companies located in deprived areas, paying the living wage or offering training or jobs for young people.
The collaboration with @ASInvestmentsUK will help @BigIssueInvest advance its mission to dismantle poverty and create opportunity right across the UK https://t.co/ovGgrddfsS #GlobalGoals https://t.co/DOM8knhA1S
— John Bird (@johnbirdswords) February 5, 2018
The fund aims to generate a financial return over the long term for the companies, which will be assessed to make sure they are committed to delivering sustainable employment opportunities. Nigel Kershaw, chair of The Big Issue Group, said: “The collaboration with Aberdeen Standard Investments will help Big Issue Invest advance its mission to dismantle poverty and create opportunity for people and communities across the UK.
“A percentage of the Fund’s management fee will go to The Big Issue Group, enabling the organisation to deliver this mission by continuing to finance social enterprises and charities offering business solutions to social problems, across sectors including employment and training, health and wellbeing and financial and social inclusion.”
ASI’s Lesley Duncan, who will be managing the fund, said: “The strategy of the UK Equity Impact – Employment Opportunities Fund is designed to meet the dual objectives of strong financial returns, while supporting good employment opportunities and practices. By investing in quoted UK companies the Fund seeks to harness equity-market returns while also helping to direct significant capital in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goal 8 – full and productive employment.
