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Equal-Invest Achievements

We can already provide an unofficial report on what has been achieved in terms of activities and outputs.

Six consultants completed initial 'healthchecks' on each of the enterprises. The thirteen documents identified what each enterprise needed to do to move towards investment readiness. Each enterprise revisited their outcome goals at the end of the programme to assess their progress.
Two one-day workshops were held to induct mentors and provide them with information and resources to achieve their own outcomes, and to effectively support them through the programme.
A website was developed and set up to support the work of the mentors and enterprises, with a range of features: adjustable progress indicators, online learning logs and feedback surveys, multiple discussion areas for mentors and enterprises, and resource pages, and planning and reporting tools.
Each enterprise also received an average of three full days of consultancy support in areas complementary to the mentors' expertise e.g. generating financial forecasts, refining legal structures, revision of business models.
Thirteen enterprises completed the programme, receiving support from thirteen voluntary mentors. At a very conservative rate, it is estimate that mentors and other volunteers provided more than £70,000 of voluntary support to social enterprise.
Ten 'action learning' conference calls were held, where groups of mentors shared the challenges their enterprises were facing and supported each other to find solutions.
All twenty six mentors and mentees engaged in a learning process, supported by completion of learning logs and a feedback survey to assess their engagement and maintain momentum towards their goals.
We hosted two major pitching events, where enterprises presented their cases to a panel of investors and experts. The first practice event was in October, with the 'Finale' in December, held at 'The Window' in Islington.
The seven enterprises that participated in the final pitch all produced business plans, financial accounts and forecasts, executive summaries and other supporting material for investment.
Five enterprises received a 'green light' from the panellists, which indicated their interest in exploring opportunities for them to invest. Panellists included leading social enterprise loan funders from London and around the UK: Big Issue Invest, Triodos, and London Rebuilding Society.

The Equal-Invest social enterprises are continuing to work on the follow-up from the recent Finale on December 6th. This includes addressing feedback, planning next actions, and having further meetings with investors. The programme team are also working through final interviews for the impact evaluation and ROI case study analysis and reporting.

A full report on the outcomes and impact of each part of the programme, including analysis of the return on investment of the resources spent, will be available in the new year.

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