# Foundation Scotland sees surge in enquiries for social investment opportunities

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/09/10/foundation-scotland-sees-surge-in-enquiries-for-social-investment-opportunities/
- Published: 2021-09-10T09:45:00+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Foundation Scotland, Scotland’s community foundation, has seen unprecedented levels
of interest in social investment opportunities from social organisations, receiving
a typical year’s worth of enquiries in just four weeks.**

The surge in enquiries followed the launch of the new blended grant and loan product‘
Investing in Enterprise Fund’ in May. The fund was created by [Foundation Scotland](https://www.foundationscotland.org.uk/apply-for-funding/social-investment)
following its integration with Resilient Scotland.  

The fund can invest up to £500,000 in social enterprises, community organisations
and charities. Up to 50% of this can be in the form of a grant and the remainder
as a repayable loan. It has an interest rate of 6.1%, and Foundation Scotland invests
all returned funds for additional social investment.   

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Before integrating with Foundation Scotland, the team at Resilient Scotland had 
already distributed over £11.6 million in blended grant and loan packages to over
100 organisations since 2012. Foundation Scotland has retained the experienced social
investment team from Resilient Scotland, building on this through the new ‘Investing
in Enterprise Fund’. 

Chris Holloway, Head of Social Investment at Foundation Scotland, said: 

> “We’ve received a phenomenal level of interest in our new Investing in Enterprise
> Fund since launching in May. It has exceeded all our expectations and can only
> be viewed as a hugely positive sign as organisations seek to move beyond Covid.
> We are in the process of recruiting a new Investment Executive to increase our
> team’s capacity and help manage the growing demand.
>  
> “Through our assessments, we are witnessing a clear sense of optimism, diversity
> and drive for development.  Social enterprises are coming to Foundation Scotland
> for our partnership approach.  We offer knowledge, support and experience in addition
> to the funding, and flexible repayment periods for all funded groups, which has
> never been more important in current circumstances.  We are encouraging interested
> groups to get in touch to discuss the potential support available.”

Glasgow-based Community Interest Company Agile City has been announced as the first
investment for the Foundation in 2021.  Agile City creates space for work, events
and learning and received £150,000 in combined loan and grant funding to support
the opening of its Civic House premises in the centre of the city.  

Rob Morrison, Director of Agile City CIC, said:

> “The support we’ve received from the team at Foundation Scotland has been instrumental
> in enabling us to plan, develop and launch our new central premises due to open
> in Glasgow later this month. The team have offered a real partnership approach
> to the finance. They have taken the time to understand our business, the challenges
> and the opportunities presented.
>  
> “Together we have worked through scenario planning, discussed key issues we had
> not considered ourselves, and this relationship support continues beyond the funding
> decision – they continue to offer support through the length of the partnership.”

Foundation Scotland currently offers new social investment opportunities across 
13 of the most disadvantaged local authority areas across Scotland. The Foundation
expects to extend the service to the whole of Scotland at a later date, and interested
applicants can contact Foundation Scotland to discuss potential opportunities available.

Main image: Foundation Scotland and Agile City. Chris Holloway, Abigale Neate-Wilson
and Rob Morrison