Social Investment

Hubbub UK

We take an impact-first approach to social investment, shaping investment to support our aims.

We start with the social or environmental need and tailor the investment, offering complete flexibility. Co-design and learning are integral to our process. As well as making direct investments into organisations seeking to create impact towards our aims, we also invest into impact funds, which are managed by other social investors.

Apply for social investment
SASC, Winner, Preston Road Women's Centre

Explore our social investments

Since making our first social investment in 1997, we have approved over £80m in 200 plus social investments.

Find out more
Repowering London-community solar panel.png

Apply for social investment

Learn more about what we do and don't support, along with information about the application process.

Find out more

Learn more

For free tools and resources to help you navigate the world of social investment, visit Good Finance.

Insights and Learning

  • The Rivers Trust - Thames Rivers Trust, checking water quality (credit: Paul Colley)

    Understanding impact in social investments

    Understanding the impact of our social investments is critical for our learning and ensuring that we are an effective investor. In a new report, we outline how we assess the difference each social investment is intended to make, how we track its progress over time, and how that shapes our learning as an investor.

    Read more
  • FairforYou_2.jpg

    How our impact-first approach led us to our first Perpetual Bond

    We share our learning from our social investment into Fair for You and our first Perpetual Bond along with how it could open up finance options for social purpose organisations looking for equity-like investment.

    Read more
  • Investing for Good, Impact-linked finance report

    Impact-linked finance: what do we know about it so far?

    A new report by Investing for Good, and commissioned by Esmée, provides a global review of impact-linked finance and explores the potential for adaptability for the UK social and impact investment market.

    Read more
  • Social-Change-Home-Page-Highlight_560x560px.jpg

    Insights in Brief: Social Investment and COVID-19

    A new report sharing what we've learned from our social investments in light of Coronavirus, and how we could use this to inform the stages of rescue, recovery and revival.

    Read more
  • Emerging funding opportunities for the natural environment

    Emerging funding opportunities for the natural environment

    We are pleased to share a new report: Emerging funding opportunities for the natural environment, which we commissioned to review the current landscape for innovative funding of environmental enhancement across the UK.

    Read more
  • Insights from 10 years of social investment

    Evolution not revolution, 10 years of social investment

    To mark the 10th anniversary of our Social Investment Fund, we’ve written a report reflecting on the achievements, insights and lessons learned to date.

    Read more
Latest

You might be interested in

  • Green trees

    Consultant to assess high-integrity carbon markets in the UK: Invitation to tender

    We are seeking an external consultant (or organisation) to evaluate the financial and impact risks and opportunities of high-integrity carbon markets in the UK.

    Read more
  • The Ooooby team

    Environmental Finance and Learning Fund: increasing the supply of nature-first investment

    Jenny Sansom from Environmental Funders Network and Tom Colborne from Esmée share their reflections on the Environmental Finance and Learning Fund, a three-year initiative to build confidence and skills in environmental investing, and increase the amount of funding for impactful environmental projects.

    Read more
  • Tractor carrying bales of hay parked by a field with pigs grazing

    Financing the future of UK sustainable agriculture: from policy to investment

    After the Spending Review confirmed £2.7 billion a year for farming, food security and nature recovery, we asked Thomas Slattery and Hayley Mole, authors of our first investment deep dive into sustainable food and agriculture, how the policy landscape can enable the significant investment needed to transform the UK food system.

    Read more
  • Woodland Trust-Smithills Estate, Forestry school

    Invitation to Tender: Expanded Land Purchase Facility options

    Invitation to Tender: We're looking to work with a consultant to scope and design options for an expanded and collaborative Land Purchase Facility.

    Read more
  • Close up of hands patting soil down after planting

    Playing to our strengths: social and impact investing

    Jonny Page, Esmée's Director of Social and Impact Investment, writes about how we're working towards aligning our investments with our mission to drive social and environmental impact across key areas like social justice, conservation, and community development.

    Read more
  • Close up of hands patting soil down after planting

    A thematic approach to impact investing

    With the launch of Esmée Fairbairn Foundation’s first deep dive into thematic impact investing, our Head of Social and Impact Investment, Jonny Page outlines our thematic approach to impact investing.

    Read more