Better Society Capital has unlocked £4bn in social investment over 12 years, proving how public-private collaboration can tackle the UK’s most complex challenges – from housing to healthcare. Here’s why it’s time for more investors to step up, says James Chew

In 2011, the UK’s four largest banks – Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds and NatWest – invested £200m to support the creation of Better Society Capital alongside £400m from the Government using money reclaimed from dormant bank accounts. As the representative of these banks on BSC’s Board, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing its evolution firsthand.

The ambition was bold yet simple: to transform the UK’s social investment landscape by creating an institution dedicated to growing investment into tackling complex social issues in the UK. At the time, it was uncharted territory.

Twelve years later, the results speak volumes. BSC has committed over £1bn to social investment schemes, unlocking a total of £4bn for mission-led organisations tackling everything from homelessness to healthcare and affordable housing across the UK.

Yet BSC’s true innovation extends beyond the figures – it lies in its willingness to use or create new investment models where complex social challenges demand financing solutions that traditional models can’t always........

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