Investec is built on the spirit of entrepreneurship and creating enduring worth. That is why we’re proud to support entrepreneurs who want to make a positive impact in the local community by building sustainable business.
Our award-winning Investec Beyond Business programme provides mentorship and capital to founder led businesses which are having positive impacts in their local community.
The Investec Beyond Business programme, which operates in East London, is run in partnership with the Bromley by Bow Centre. Each year it identifies up to five new social enterprises and provides them with an ongoing business support package and funding of up to £24,000.
These enterprises tackle a variety of social issues, including youth unemployment, social exclusion, vulnerable families, community cohesion, homelessness, mental health, rehabilitation of ex-offenders and food poverty. We also look to encourage engagement from under-represented groups such as women and ethnic minority applicants.
The entrepreneurs receive intensive support, including training and expert advice through the Investec Beyond Business College, which is run by volunteers from across the company.
When Investec became the sole funder of Beyond Business in 2011, the programme changed its name to Investec Beyond Business. Since then, it has launched 64 social enterprises*, many of them female-led and from diverse backgrounds. Investec also supported four additional successful businesses between 2008 and 2011, in its role as a junior partner in the programme.
The success rate of these social enterprises is impressive: 67% of them are still in operation after three years, whereas national statistics indicate that 60% of new businesses cease operations within the same timeframe.
Each year numerous entrepreneurs apply to take part in the programme and after an initial interview, a shortlist of 10 enterprises is chosen to pitch to the judging panel. The panel comprises Ruth Leas, CEO of Investec Bank plc and senior Investec colleagues and Beyond Business alumni.
* Data provided by Bromley by Bow Centre
This year, an unprecedented 148 inspiring entrepreneurs applied to the Investec Beyond Business programme, run in partnership with the Bromley by Bow centre. The entrepreneurs aim to build sustainable enterprises that can make a positive change in their community and 11 have been selected to move forward in the process. Over the coming months, these social entrepreneurs will work with volunteers from Investec to develop a business plan to pitch at the Dragons’ Den style panel where up to five will be awarded seed funding of up to £24,000.
Round Retail sells quality, preloved, mid-luxury branded items online and at pop-up stores. The sustainable clothing solution provides sellers with one third of the sale price and uses the balance to fund local charities and fund expansion.
Uplift Ventures was founded in 2024 to empower stay-at-home women to
start a home-cooking food business which will assist in providing
employment and simultaneously build their self-confidence.
Feeling Social’s young and engaging team of experts provide flexible
in-person and online mental health first aid training to help
organisations build a happier, healthier and more productive workforce.
TrailFam aims to improve the lives of young people across the UK through trail running. Its programmes foster a love of movement while building a community of young people ready to connect with each other and the outdoors.
Eudemonic AI is an artificial intelligence powered educational analytics
platform which assists secondary and higher-level academic
organisations support student mental health and engagement by providing
actionable insight reports.
Looply transforms hard-to-recycle plastic waste into reusable products using low-tech, community powered solutions. Building local, closed-loop systems reduces environmental harm and makes sustainability more accessible and inclusive.
Bamboo Mobility reconnects excluded learners with education by delivering hands-on, industry-relevant, accredited programmes in sustainable design and mobility to open pathways into further study, employment or enterprise.
Mobile Maths Department aims to improve understanding and attainment in maths for students aged 10-13 by providing scalable solutions including paid-for additional classes and professional development for maths departments.
Potenix is a clean-tech startup which helps business reduce landfill use, energy costs and carbon emissions. Its portable system digests organic waste and converts it into on-site renewable electricity and nutrient-rich biofertiliser.
Palette and Plate is a community hub comprising a café and events space which provides local students and graduates paid work experience and the opportunity to showcase their talent through events or exhibitions.
Cammi is an app which provides support to improve self-efficacy for the neurodivergent community. It is designed to align with the cognitive processes, planning strategies, and motivational factors of its user base.
Investec Group sustainability report 2025
Learn more about our commitment to sustainability in the past financial year.
Do you have an idea for a new social enterprise?
Project grants for charities
We support small and medium-sized charities through grants for specific projects. In the last financial year 2024/25, we allocated £68,322 to 20 charities for initiatives supporting their local communities. These projects included empowering young people to secure long-term employment and implementing financial education programs in primary schools. If you represent a charity that falls under our focus areas – education, entrepreneurship, and/or environment - and are local to one of our UK offices, you may be eligible to apply for a grant. Please read the full criteria below to find out more and get in touch.
Get in touch
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We aim to help young people in communities local to our offices to achieve their goals in life, beyond academic study.
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