Big Issue Invest

Until three years ago Mahesh was working for a blue chip company in south London.

Birmingham vendor Paul worked with us for a few months and has now left for full time employment. Read how he got back onto his feet.

Richard I was working as a security guard and doing an HND in Engineering Design. But it was too much. I was working too hard and my marriage broke down. I had a nervous breakdown, dropped out of work and college, and moved to London.

Growing pains affect any business looking to mature and expand, but small and medium ventures committed to social impact often face unique struggles when looking to develop; by the very nature of their mission goals, funding can often be hard to come by.

Investment programme is managed by Big Issue Invest, the social investment arm of The Big Issue Programme is funded by project partners, including Aberdeen Standard Investments, University of Edinburgh and the Scottish Government and supported by Brodies LLP

Aberdeen Standard Investments and Big Issue Invest collaborated to launch the UK Equity Impact – Employment Opportunities Fund, managed by Lesley Duncan.

Big Issue Invest launched Impact Loans England, a £5 million scheme for social enterprises to borrow between £20,000 and £150,000, funded by Access, Big Lottery Fund, and Big Society Capital.

The UK's number one street paper and social enterprise, giving people who are experiencing homelessness or who are vulnerably housed a hand up, not a hand out.

These are the standard Terms & Conditions which apply to Big Issue competitions. Please note: specific T&Cs may also apply to individual competitions.