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Corporate Sponsors and Social Investors

Breakthrough is one of the leading UK funds specifically supporting established social enterprises. 

The information here is aimed at Corporate organisations looking to invest in social enterprises.

Our model of investment is a high-engagement grant providing permanent, unrestricted capital into carefully selected enteprises. The funding is combined with strategic support and projects to deploy specific business skills where appropriate, by a model developed with co-founders Permira.

Investing for Impact

The primary partnership between Permira and CAN delivered the following tangible impact:

1. Invested €1m (£700k) into the UK social enterprise sector to date.
   
   
2. Showcased social enterprise best practice and captured insights relevant to other practising social enterprises and also messages across sectors regarding leadership, innovation and overcoming barriers to growing social enterprise.
   
   
3. Demonstrated a broad range of social and environmental needs that social enterprises tackle, and supported a portfolio of four industry-leading social enterprises to increase their impact (see case studies).
   
   
4. Funded and supported significant and complex change within these organisations. The objective of this work has been to manage growth, to become more sustainable and to build capacity in the organisation to scale up. In particular we have tackled some of the growth obstacles by:
   
   
   • Providing and advising on appropriate finance to meet growth needs
   • Providing an external sounding board and stimulus to growth
   • Challenging strategy and supporting organisation development
   • Augmenting management skills (through recruitment, mentoring and consultancy advice)
   • Providing specific capacity building support, particularly in communications, marketing and business development
   • Supporting change management in the organisation
     
     
5. CAN uses the experiences of the social enterpreneurs to promote the needs of the whole of the social enterprise sector. CAN is represented on all the major boards and institutions within the social enterprise sector. It is also voicing the barriers to growth and contibuting to policy development as a partner of the Cabinet Office. 

Seeking Partners in Growing Social Enterprise 

CAN and Permira are interested to develop this model with partners interested in funding or co-investing in high-quality, industry-leading social enterprises.  

If you are interested in participating in the Breakthrough programme, by contributing funding, co-investment and/or relevant expertise, we would like to discuss your specific needs and interests please please complete the Corporate Enquiry Form.