Banking giant pledges support for 2,500 social businesses

Banking giant RBS has launched a major commitment to support 2,500 social businesses in the next three years.

‘By the end of 2015,’ promised RBS, ‘we will support 2,500 social enterprises, working in partnership with the sector to improve access to expertise, markets and finance.’

To achieve this ambition the bank is launching its ‘Inspiring Social Enterprise’ programme and making a three-year commitment to help more social enterprises gain access to finance.

As part of the programme, the bank has pledged continued support for the Social Enterprise 100 Index – a unique market intelligence tool that tracks data on business and social impact for the UK’s social businesses. The RBS SE100 Index was launched three years ago and this month published its third annual Data Report and Awards.

RBS has also signed up to a further three years of support for Social Enterprise UK, and is continuing its financial backing for social enterprises through the RBS Microfinance Fund, which offers community business loans.

The bank also claims to be the only bank to have relationship managers in commercial banking who are trained and accredited by the Chartered Institute of Bankers and SEUK.

Inspiring Social Enterprise is part of the broader RBS Inspiring Enterprise programme, which also includes support streams Youth Enterprise and Women in Enterprise.

More information is available at www.rbs.com/inspiringenterprise.