Social Investment Funding Fair 2026

You're invited to our annual Social Investment Funding Fair, an opportunity to meet a wide range of social investors, funders and support providers under one roof. 

Come along to browse stalls covering grants, types of social investment and funding including: equity, loans, blended finance, crowdfunding, community shares, and much more. Experts will be available to talk to about new types of funding to grow your social enterprise or charity. It’s also a great chance to network with other social enterprise and charity leaders, so why not arrange to meet up with your key partners during the day.

You’ll find Brookfield campus easy to reach by foot, bus or car, on London Road, Leicester.

The Social Investment Funding Fair is run by a collaboration of partners including University of Leicester School of Business, Community Enterprise Engine, the Co-Operative and Social Enterprise Development Agency (CASE) and Voluntary Action LeicesterShire (VAL).

Agenda: Drop in any time between 10 am and 2 pm. Drinks will be available and and pastries/light bites at 12 noon.

Background: This event is organised as part of the Growth Accelerator for Social Entrepreneurs Programme, funded by UK Government via Leicester City Council, and designed to keep Leicester-based social entrepreneurs in business, protect and create jobs.

Eligibility: The Fair is open to all social enterprises, CICs and charities based in Leicestershire - you can represent any type of organisation trading for public benefit, including companies, cooperatives, and charities.

Stall holders: Latest stall holders to confirm attendance are continually being updated. Come along to meet with:

• Active Together
• Big Issue Invest
• Co-op Loan Fund
• Co-op & Community Finance
• East Midlands Chamber
• Federation of Small Business
• First Enterprise
• Good Finance
• Innovate UK Business Growth'
• The Key Fund
• Leicestershire and Rutland Community Foundation
• Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust 'Better Mental Health For All'
• Locality
• Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner
• NatWest Social & Community Capital
• The National Lottery Community Fund
• The Phoenix Way
• Severn Trent Community Fund
• Sir Thomas White Loan Charity
• University of Leicester Careers and Volunteering Teams
• University of Leicester School of Business (Help to Grow: Management, placements, internships, careers)
• Voluntary Action LeicesterShire Sector Support