Ontario has begun mirroring successful tactics first implemented in the UK to improve Social Investment within its own borders.
In March, at the MaRS Centre for Impact Investing’s Impact Ontario conference, Katie Hill, the Social Investment Advisor to the City of London Corporation and highly successful social entrepreneur, and her colleagues, were invited to share their experiences on social investment in the UK with Canadian investors, policy makers and implementers, and social entrepreneurs. Katie Hill uses her experience and knowledge to show insights into the Canadian Social Investment world, and how it is drawing on the UK for inspiration.
Social Enterprise organizations in Ontario and the UK stand to gain a great deal from each other. Both UK and Canadian Social Enterprises list access to finances as a driving barrier to continual growth. A new demonstration fund has been announced in Ontario, similar to funding currently available to UK enterprises. The fund is intended not only to assist with finances for organizations, but also to encourage private investment from the finance sector, something that the UK has quite a bit of experience with already.
By looking to similarities and differences between the UK and Canada, and the globe as a whole, there is a great deal of knowledge to be gained from sharing experiences. Building off of knowledge gained through trial and error will help social business to grow, and in turn help address the growing needs our societies face.
Click here to read the article Katie Hill wrote for the Guardian…
