Bridges’ latest annual Impact Report looks to quantify some of the societal impact achieved across our funds in the last year.

For instance, in the last year, Bridges portfolio investments have:

• Helped learners gain over 4,000 qualifications
• Moved over 1,000 previously unemployed people into jobs
• Provided at-home care to over 1,200 individuals
• Avoided more than 85,000 tonnes of carbon emissions
• Prevented over 100 children dropping out of education, employment and training

Since its inception in 2002, Bridges has developed a number of different fund types to support impactful business models. Today the firm manages almost £500m across its Sustainable Growth, Property and Social Sector funds. Although the funds differ in the types of business models they back and the levels of risk-adjusted returns they generate, they all focus on the same four impact themes: Health & Well-being, Education & Skills, Sustainable Living and Underserved Markets.

Emilie Goodall, Director of Projects, Bridges Impact+, says: “By consistently focusing on the same four impact themes, our investment teams have been able to develop a good understanding of the structural issues behind a number of pressing societal challenges. This gives us a better sense of which business models will be most effective in addressing these challenges – be it a for-profit growth business that can generate jobs in an area of high unemployment, a social enterprise model that provides better care for the elderly and more rewarding roles for employees, or a property investment that can contribute to the regeneration of a deprived area. So developing a platform of funds has enabled us to deliver more impact across our portfolio – and better returns for our investors.”

View the report here.  (Screen view)   (Printer friendly)