Our investments in social enterprises and organisations are sparking positive change for people across the Edinburgh and South East Scotland Region, while colleagues at Edinburgh Innovations are nurturing the next generation of social entrepreneurs. Our commitment Develop training and support for student social enterprises, and invest £8 million in social impact funds that help tackle social and environmental challenges. Edinburgh Innovations IntoUniversity Social investment As a socially responsible, civic institution, the University is investing in positive social and environmental initiatives, creating meaningful impact alongside a financial return. The University’s £8 million Social Investment Fund is the largest of its kind among UK universities, and since 2019 has supported positive social change across the Edinburgh City Region, Scotland and beyond. With the Social Investment Fund now fully committed, here are some of the ways our investments have supported key services and communities in 2024. Addressing poverty Offering financial support to those in need. Seven minute, 25 second video. In this film, Fair By Design hears from Catherine, Zahada and Caroline on why the poverty premium is an issue in their lives. Revealing Reality and The Poverty Alliance supported this project. Fair By Design Fair By Design aims to tackle the ‘poverty premium’, to make the cost of essential services fair for poorer people. Their new film, released in 2024, highlights the inequality of some payment methods, such as payments for energy, car insurance and access to cash.These stories, featuring individuals across Scotland, including here in Edinburgh, show that people in poverty are charged more for essentials because of the way they pay for them. Fair By Design works to address this issue through policy and engaging with businesses to help them understand and address the poverty premium. Ren Hooi, founder and CEO of Lightning Reach Lightning Reach Lightning Reach has supported over 110,000 users across the UK to gain financial support and advice, including Melba, a 65-year-old woman living alone in Edinburgh facing financial challenges. Managing her limited income is increasingly difficult through the cost-of-living crisis, but Lightning Reach has been able to help her to apply for a range of support options.In 2024, Lightning Reach was Highly Commended at the Pioneers Post NatWest SE100 Social Business Awards. Lightning Reach is supported by the Growth Impact Fund, managed by Big Issue Invest and UnLtd. “The response after submission was so quick, I didn’t expect it, I expected a response in three working days but got a response in an hour. I have told my friend that I am so happy that there are organisations that are there to help.” Melba, Lightning Reach user Homelessness and housing FourSquare Scotland FourSquare Scotland has seven locations across Edinburgh providing support, advice and accommodation to individuals at risk of homelessness.Supporting over 1,000 people each year, the organisation received a loan from the Scottish Growth Fund II to support its Edinburgh Furniture Initiative – which diverts used furniture from landfill to tenants instead.This year, over 27,500 items of furniture were diverted from landfill. Simon Community Scotland Following the success of the first Social and Sustainable Housing Fund (SASH), the University has invested a further £1 million into a second fund.The funds offer flexible finance to organisations with experience of managing housing.Simon Community Scotland (Edinburgh and Glasgow) received a loan to support housing schemes providing affordable accommodation for vulnerable adults, and hope to continue to build on their successful scheme with further investment from SASH II. Employment, training and educational opportunities Social Print and Copy Social Print and Copy CIC is a social enterprise providing printing and photocopying technology to the third sector, while offering apprenticeships, training and upskilling to third sector employees.After achieving recognition at the Social Enterprise Awards Scotland and partnering with major suppliers including Canon and Epson, Social Print and Copy is expanding to the Glasgow area – supported by a loan from the Scottish Social Growth Fund II. Prosper Social Finance Prosper Social Finance is the UK’s first student-led socially responsible investment fund. Prosper has trained over 305 Edinburgh students as responsible investment analysts and invests using an environmental, social and governance framework.Profits generated from Prosper’s portfolios are redirected to social enterprises in Edinburgh. For the last two years, Invisible Cities has received Prosper’s biannual Social Impact Grant, helping them to train people affected by homelessness to become tour guides here in Edinburgh. Wee Seeds Wee Seeds is a social enterprise aiming to improve mental health in childhood through online resources and training.It received support from Big Issue Invest’s PowerUp Scotland programme in 2021, and in 2024 announced a partnership with Edinburgh Leisure to support the mental health of Edinburgh Leisure Employees and their families. Partner organisations of the University's Social Investment Fund. Support for student social enterprise Number one Scottish university for student startups Did you know that the University of Edinburgh is top in Scotland and top of the UK Russell Group for student startups? Among these are a number of student-led social enterprises. A social enterprise is a business with social good as its core purpose, aiming to bring about positive social change whilst generating revenue to sustain itself. Through Edinburgh Innovations, the University offers a range of services for aspiring social entrepreneurs. Startup Basics - to kickstart students’ and graduates’ entrepreneurial journey Enterprise Portal - a new support hub launched in 2024 Techstars - a three-day intensive event, new for 2024 Adviser meetings, including “Know You More”, values-based coaching support. Students: book an adviser meeting This article was published on 2025-01-23
