Big Society Capital has launched a strategy that aims to help the social investment market grow by up to £10bn over the next four years.
BCS announced its plans as it marks its 10th anniversary with a revised strategy that will focus on scaling capital across four priority investment markets: social and affordable housing, impact venture, social lending and social outcomes contracts.
The social investment wholesaler said it hoped to help double the size of the UK social impact investing market by 2025.
BSC said this should see the market grow to between £10bn and £15bn, up from £5.1bn at the end of 2019.
It promised to continue to work with partners in the innovation strand of its work, where it works with frontline organisations and investors to create new social impact investment solutions.
The social investment wholesaler also announced it would launch the Schroder BSC Social Impact Trust, which will offer investors on the London Stock Exchange high-impact investments that contribute to solving social challenges for the first time.
Stephen Muers, chief executive of BSC, said: “It is an extremely significant time for social impact investing. The pandemic has highlighted the need for sources of capital to address entrenched social challenges and inequalities.
“We are seeing more investors than ever – from individuals to private institutions and public bodies – wanting to achieve social impact alongside financial returns.”
Since it was set up in 2011 with £625m from dormant bank accounts and four high street banks, BSC has committed £780m alone, and £2bn alongside partners, to supporting more than 1,500 social enterprises and charities.