Growth Fund Evaluation

The first two reports from the independent evaluation of the Growth Fund have been published. Written by Ecorys and ATQ consultants, the reports focus on early lessons learnt from the programme, one from the set-up of the overall programme, and the other on evidence of delivery of loans from social investors to charities and social enterprises.

The report paints a positive picture of what the Growth Fund is achieving. Loans are reaching the right organisations (more than half turn over less than £250k); at the right sizes (median investment size is £50k); for the right purposes (to support the development of trading activity). At the time of writing, 166 charities and social enterprises had been supported with loans (this figure is now over 250).