Big Issue Invest

Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion at Big Issue Invest

Diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) are principles at the heart of the Big Issue Invest and Big Issue Group’s mission.

Diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) are principles at the heart of the Big Issue Invest and Big Issue Group’s mission.

At The Big Issue, our mission is to Build a world that works for everyone. Challenging, innovating and creating self-help and sustainable business solutions, that dismantle poverty now and for future generations.

We need to engrain the principles of DEI into our everyday business activities in order to be actively aware of where we need to improve and how we can better listen to those we are seeking to serve. It is important for us now and for future generations that DEI is built into the way we do business.

As a social investor, it is important that we are ensuring our funds are accessible and inclusive of different communities and individual needs. This means Big Issue Invest needs to do more. We need to take extra steps to ensure that marginalised and disadvantaged leaders of social purpose organisations, and the individuals within these communities, are able to access our funds. We also need to critically assess ourselves and where we have, unwittingly or not, placed structural, financial or social barriers for people in accessing investment, dismantle these.

We must take positive action to measure ourselves against these commitments. This is why we are developing an Implementation and Policy Action Plan which will outline the concrete steps that we will be taking to truly embed DEI into our actions. This includes:

  • monitoring the diversity of our investment portfolios;
  • setting targets on DEI in our outreach, investment and recruitment activities;
  • embedding DEI principles and lessons into all future products;
  • creating space for people with lived experience, disabilities, from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, and using our platform to bring these voices to the forefront; and,
  • learning from and sharing best practice as a social investor

We are currently undergoing a data monitoring exercise to benchmark the diversity of our portfolio. We will hold ourselves accountable to these commitments and publish how we are doing internally and externally in future annual impact reports.

If any of our key stakeholders; investees, investors, friends or advisors are reading and would like to input into the design of this plan, or make a comment on anything discussed above, please get in touch with impact@bigissue.com.

If anyone is interested in reading the full BII DEI policy document, please get in touch with us at impact@bigissue.com

Additional resources:

The Diversity Forum: The Diversity Forum for Inclusive Social Investment

Connect Fund & The Young Foundation: Nothing About Us, Without Us – Lived experience insight & social investment:

CharitySoWhite: Impact of Covid on BAME communities

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