Fund Feature

Community Investment Enterprise Fund (CIEF)

Many micro and small businesses (MSMEs) across the UK are unable to access mainstream finance and face barriers to growth.

About CIEF

While they can sometimes access finance from socially motivated lenders, such as Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs), the CDFIs themselves face barriers to achieving long-term sustainability and securing significant capital at scale to meet the demand of small businesses.

  • The Fund

    The Community Investment Enterprise Fund (CIEF) was established in 2018 to provide CDFIs with the capital they need to meet demand; to help increase understanding of the financial and social impact of CDFI lending; and to attract other mission-driven investors to help achieve long-term stability.

    2024 saw the launch of a new £62 million investment fund to help small businesses across England and Wales access finance to support local jobs and economic activity.

    Funded by Lloyds Bank, Big Society Capital and with contributions from the three participating CDFIs - BCRS Business Loans, Business Enterprise Fund and Finance For Enterprise - CIEF provides these CDFIs with the capital they need to meet demand from small businesses.

  • Deployment

    Working with cornerstone funders, Lloyds Bank, Big Society Capital and three CDFIs, SIS is responsible for deploying £62 million of new CIEF funding, providing growth capital to MSMEs who are unable to access mainstream funding.

Partners

Bef Logo
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Big Society Capital
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Responsible Finance (1)
IMPACT INVESTING INSTITUTE LOGO
BCRS Business Loans (2)
CIEF Logo Small (1)

Providing growth capital to MSMEs

For more information about the Community Investment Enterprise Fund (CIEF)

Click here