How Big Issue Invest is working to beat rising unemployment

Government figures revealed that unemployment has risen at the fastest rate for five years this week – highlighting the need for creative business solutions to get people back to work.

The total number of jobless Brits grew by 46,000 to 1.47 million people, pushing the percentage of the population out of work up to 4.4 per cent.

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

Unemployment had been sitting at the lowest level since the mid-1970s before the spike, which has been put down to an increase in the number of young people under the age of 24.

Big Issue Invest is hoping to turn the tide by continuing to invest in businesses that boost skills and training to create opportunity for some of the most marginalised young people in society.

The recently-announced Equity Impact Fund is just one of the ways that our social investment arm dismantles poverty and improves work prospects.

The aim of the fund, run in collaboration with Aberdeen Standard Investments, is to create good employment opportunities by investing in listed companies that are assessed for their potential to support job creation, offer fair wages, promote gender equality, create opportunities for young people, and tackle regional deprivation.

The fund manager, ASI’s Lesley Duncan, identifies companies for their potential to grow and sustain strong long-term financial returns and then they will be assessed to determine if they are committed to delivering sustainable employment opportunities.

It is hoped that the fund will generate a financial return over the long term by investing in companies which promote and implement good employment opportunities and practices.