Big Issue Invest (BII) is partnering with the Ulster Community Investment Trust (UCIT) in a move that will allow the organisation access to a £10m Social Enterprise Investment Fund.

The partnership will see UCIT acting as BII’s local partner for Northern Ireland, providing intelligence and making introductions, according to a spokesman from BII. The move has allowed BII to fit within the Social Enterprise Investment Fund’s boundaries of “providing investment to help existing social enterprises grow and improve their services”.

Nigel Kershaw, CEO of BII said: “We are very proud to be working with UCIT in Northern Ireland. Together we can bring financial innovation to support social enterprises that are delivering business solutions that seek to dismantle poverty.”

BII currently offers social enterprises finance between £50,000 and £500,000 or more in the case of partnerships.