CEO Alastair Davis awarded OBE for services to social enterprise and to charity in Scotland.

We are delighted to announce that our CEO, Alastair Davis, has been made an OBE in The King’s Birthday Honours List 2024.

Alastair received the honour for his services to social enterprise and to charity in Scotland.

Alastair has just celebrated 15 years at Social Investment Scotland (SIS), 13 of which he has been CEO.

Throughout this time, Alastair has led the significant growth of the organisation, taking SIS from a CDFI with a loan balance of £5m, to one which has deployed over £150m to more than 550 social enterprises. He has had unwavering commitment and motivation to anticipate and respond with the support that social enterprises need. SIS activities, through investees, now benefit over 5 million people every year, across all of Scotland’s local authority areas, in parts of England and Wales, and globally.

In 2021, Alastair was recognised for his efforts by the Institute of Directors and was named the 'SCVO Director of the Year – Third Sector'.

SIS has won the 'Growth and Recovery Award', for two years running, most recently at the 2023 Scottish Financial Services Awards.

Alastair was fundamental in leading the delivery of the Community Investment Enterprise Fund, a £62m fund that brought together Lloyds Bank, Better Society Capital (BSC), alongside three CDFIs (BCRS Business Loans, Business Enterprise Fund and Finance For Enterprise). Through the utilisation of this fund, SIS will provide capital for around 800 small businesses,  supporting around 10,500 jobs in England and Wales. Using his influential voice, Alastair has publicly called for mainstream lenders to support the CDFI sector in Scotland.

Alastair has also been a key driving force in convening the Financial Inclusion for Scotland group. Currently managed by SIS, this group brings together leading policymakers and professionals from the private, charity and not-for-profit sectors who have come together to tackle financial exclusion.

In our latest impact report, we announced that SIS activities benefited 5.4 million people in Scotland, England and Wales – an increase of more than 20% (1.1 million) compared to 2021-22.  This announcement reflected Alastair's plan to 'Turn up the Volume' on our aim to be bolder and more confident in the articulation of our impact economy vision, in which social entrepreneurs, businesses, consumers, investors and governments are aligned for the common good, working towards positive social and environmental goals and always considering the impact of their actions.

“Having just celebrated my 15th year with SIS, this recognition belongs to the entire team, our board members and the various partners, funders, and community organisations we've had the privilege of collaborating with over the years. Their dedication and belief in our mission of community development through investment is what has allowed us to drive sustainable change.

“While I’m very mindful of the connotations of empire associated with the honours system, I also believe it can play an important role in shining a light on areas of civil society which aren’t so well understood by the wider public. In receiving this OBE, I hope it can shine a light on the essential role CDFIs and social investors play as catalysts for revitalisation in disadvantaged communities. We help to connect affordable capital with communities, supporting the growth and sustainability of social enterprises, charities and organisations, which provide vital services for many people and families who are most in need. Income and wealth inequality remain staggering issues holding back too many people and places. I’m still as passionate now as I was 20 years ago about the role which finance can play in creating opportunity and prosperity for all."

George Walker, Chair of Social Investment Scotland, said:

“We are delighted that Alastair has been recognised for his services to social enterprise and charity in Scotland. He has led the significant growth of the organisation with an unwavering commitment to anticipate and respond with the support that the sector needs. I join the SIS board and team in passing on our congratulations to Alastair."