Supporting extraordinary entrepreneurs
Our social enterprise incubator
Our roots are based in the spirit of entrepreneurship, and we’re proud to support budding entrepreneurs who want to make a sustainable, positive impact in the local community. We do this through the award-winning Beyond Business programme.
Beyond Business
Beyond Business is a social enterprise incubation programme which we run in partnership with the Bromley by Bow Centre. It aims to help promising entrepreneurs who are committed to creating sustainable, profit-making businesses which also generate social outcomes. The programme operates in Tower Hamlets, Newham and Hackney.
Every year, successful candidates receive intensive support in business planning as well as training and expert advice through the Beyond Business College, which is run by volunteers from across Investec. These entrepreneurs also receive funding of up to £17,000 each, to launch their new enterprises.
Every year, successful candidates receive intensive support in business planning as well as training and expert advice through the Beyond Business College, which is run by volunteers from across Investec. These entrepreneurs also receive funding of up to £17,000 each, to launch their new enterprises.
254
jobs created
£4.4m
collective turnover
60%
female leadership
Since Investec became the sole funder of Beyond Business in 2011, the programme has launched 41 social enterprises, most of them being female-led. These businesses have created 254 jobs so far, as well as 54 work experiences and 76 volunteer placements in the community. They have also generated a total turnover of £4.4m.
The rolling success rate of these social enterprises is 82%, when the national average is 50%.
Investec also launched four additional successful businesses since 2008, when we were a junior partner in the programme.
The rolling success rate of these social enterprises is 82%, when the national average is 50%.
Investec also launched four additional successful businesses since 2008, when we were a junior partner in the programme.
Awards
Investec is crowned Business of the Year at the Business Charity Awards, as well as winning the award for Community Impact.
Winners of Business in the Community's Experian Building Stronger Communities Award for our Beyond Business programme.
Investec won the National CSR Award in 2017 for Beyond Business, in the Best Community (Legacy) Project category.
The Bromley by Bow Centre won the Lord Mayor's Dragon Award for its partnership with Investec, announced on City Giving Day in 2017.
In their words
Beyond Business entrepreneurs share their inspiring stories and community impact.
Elroy Powell, founder of Diverse Music Solutions
Elroy ‘Spoonface’ Powell talks about his social enterprise: “One agency, one project, one song, feed a hundred smiling children. It’s that simple”.
Do you have an idea for a new social enterprise?
Project grants for charities
Apart from our partner organisations, we also support small to medium charities through small project grants. If you represent a charity that works in our focus areas – education, entrepreneurship and/ or environment – and is local to one of our offices, you can read the full criteria below to find out more, and get in touch.
Get in touch
You may also be interested in:
Our education programme
We aim to help young people in communities local to our offices to achieve their goals in life, beyond academics.
Environment initiatives
Learn more about Investec's work to reduce our environmental footprint, promote preservation and improve our local communities’ experience of their environment.
Our community work in South Africa
We strive to create economically active citizens that contribute to socio-economic growth in South Africa.