Governance

Big Society Capital exists to make a difference. To help create a fair society by improving the lives of people in the UK, and the lives of generations to come.

Big Society Capital’s object is to act as a social investment wholesaler and to promote the development of the social investment marketplace in the UK. It also seeks to achieve and maintain financial sustainability. Find out more in our Articles of Association

  • Big Society Capital gets its funds from two streams: English dormant bank account (invested via The Oversight Trust – Assets for the Common Good, previously known as The Big Society Trust) and four major UK high street banks: Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group and Natwest Group.

    The Oversight Trust – Assets for the Common Good acts as the majority shareholder of Big Society Capital to ensure that it remains true to its mission. The four main UK high street banks (Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group and Natwest Group) are also shareholders and have collectively contributed £200 million by way of equity investment.

    Big Society Capital is an independent financial institution authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

    Read our key documents

  • Committees

    The Big Society Capital governance structure includes a number of committees which have key roles.

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  • Shareholders

    The Oversight Trust – Assets for the Common Good (previously known as The Big Society Trust) acts as the majority shareholder of Big Society Capital to ensure that it remains true to its mission.

    The four main UK high street banks (Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group and Natwest Group) are also shareholders and have collectively contributed £200 million by way of equity investment.

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  • History

    Our history stretches over two decades, successive governments and involves all major political parties. It shows the efforts made to help build an investment ecosystem that supports enterprises to improve people’s lives.

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Independent Review of Big Society Capital

The Oversight Trust – Assets for the Common Good (previoulsy known as The Big Society Trust) has published its first independent Review of Big Society Capital and its effectiveness. The Quadrennial Review is the result of a new process commissioned by The Oversight Trust – Assets for the Common Good to be carried out every year (on rotation) on one of the four companies it oversees.

The Review concludes Big Society Capital has made “substantial progress towards its challenging and ambitious objectives" through our investments over the last eight years but also sets out the broad areas where we agree we can do more and improve further.

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Big Society Capital Board

The composition of the Big Society Capital Board reflects its purpose and includes directors with financial and/or social sector experience. The Board comprises non-executive directors (including one who is nominated by the shareholding banks) and the CEO of Big Society Capital.