Bridges Fund Management Ltd. (or Bridges) (Previously Bridges Ventures) is a

fund manager Fund may refer to: * Funding is the act of providing resources, usually in form of money, or other values such as effort or time, for a project, a person, a business, or any other private or public institution ** The process of soliciting and gathe ...

that specialises in sustainable and

impact investing Impact investing refers to investing, investments "made into companies, organizations, and funds with the intention to generate a measurable, beneficial social or environmental impact alongside a financial return". At its core, impact investing is ...

. It invests in business, properties and

social sector The voluntary sector, independent sector, or civic sector is the realm of social activity undertaken by organizations that are Non-governmental organization, non-governmental nonprofit organizations. This sector is also called the third sector, co ...

organisations, with a focus on four impact themes:

health and wellbeing Health, according to the World Health Organization, is "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity".World Health Organization. (2006)''Constitution of the World Health Organiza ...

education Education is a purposeful activity directed at achieving certain aims, such as transmitting knowledge or fostering skills and character traits. These aims may include the development of understanding, rationality, kindness, and honesty. Va ...

and skills,

sustainable living Sustainable living describes a lifestyle that attempts to reduce the use of Earth's natural resources by an individual or society. It is referred to as zero wastage living" or "net zero living". Its practitioners often attempt to reduce their e ...

and under-served markets.

History

Bridges was founded in 2002 by Michele Giddens, Philip Newborough and

Sir Ronald Cohen Sir Ronald Mourad Cohen (born 1 August 1945) is an Egyptian-born British businessman and political figure. He is the chairman of The Portland Trust and Bridges Ventures.Klion Forum with Sir Ronald Cohen: "Why Do We Need Social Capital Markets ...

. Bridges was founded following the recommendations of the Social Investment Task Force, which was established by the

UK government ga, Rialtas a Shoilse gd, Riaghaltas a Mhòrachd , image = HM Government logo.svg , image_size = 220px , image2 = Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government).svg , image_size2 = 180px , caption = Royal Arms , date_es ...

in 2000. Bridges has an advisory arm, Bridges Impact+. It has a dual function: to maximise the social and environmental impact of Bridges’ own investments, and to work with external clients on projects that help to develop the sustainable and

market as a whole. Bridges Impact+ also runs an educational programme in partnership with the

Wharton School of Business The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania ( ; also known as Wharton Business School, the Wharton School, Penn Wharton, and Wharton) is the business school of the University of Pennsylvania, a private Ivy League research university in ...

’s Social Impact Initiative called MBA Impact Investing Networking & Training (MIINT). The programme takes place annually and has historically included US graduate schools. Social enterprises represented by the winning team are ultimately awarded a seed investment. Bridges won FT/IFC Sustainable Finance Award 2012 awarded by the ''

Financial Times The ''Financial Times'' (''FT'') is a British daily newspaper printed in broadsheet and published digitally that focuses on business and economic current affairs. Based in London, England, the paper is owned by a Japanese holding company, Nik ...

''.

References

{{reflist Private equity Social finance Social entrepreneurship Financial services companies based in London Financial services companies established in 2002 2002 establishments in England Private equity firms of the United Kingdom