Responsible finance providers all over the UK lend to people, businesses and social enterprises. They provide finance that is fair to customers alongside support and advice, and in 2017 lent over £235 million to 61,163 customers, supporting 5,072 small businesses, 363 social enterprises and over 55,000 individuals.
In the Responsible Finance podcast we meet some of these providers and their customers. We hear about how responsible finance builds hope, creates opportunity and changes lives – that’s responsible finance.
Listen to the podcast through the stream below, or via iTunes – and please do spread the word and leave a review or rating in itunes so other people can find it and get to learn more about the crucial work of responsible finance providers.
Episodes 1, 2 and 3 are now available featuring Matt Smith, Karen Davies and Duncan Parker:
Episode 1 features Matt Smith, chief executive of Key Fund, which invests in and lends to community and social enterprises which have traditionally been excluded, particularly in disadvantaged areas. Matt describes his approach to supporting clients, leadership and facing challenges.
Listen to episode 1 on iTunes or click to play, below.
Karen Davies, founder and chief executive of Purple Shoots Business Lending (“Purple Shoots”) is our guest for Episode 2. is a not-for-profit microfinance organisation, set up to tackle unemployment and economic problems in the areas where it operates.
Listen to episode 2 on iTunes or click to play, below.
In Episode 3, Duncan Parker, chief executive of Fredericks Foundation is interviewed. He covers the Foundation’s Women’s Loan Fund and their work to reduce unconscious bias on lending panels; talks about his background in international development; and a worry that excessive concern for profit in microfinance, and the demands of some funders, is leading some providers away from poor clients to serve better-off clients who want larger loans.
Listen to episode 3 on iTunes or click to play, below.
What next?
Please share the podcast, tell others about it, and ideally leave a rating or review on iTunes so other people can learn about the work and impact of responsible finance providers. And if you’re a responsible finance provider or a client and you’d like to put yourself forward to be on the show, get in touch – email podcast producer, Jamie Veitch.