Big Society Capital is asking for social investment ideas in the areas of outcomes finance, health, community and affordable housing.

This request is part of a market update and call for ideas that Big Society Capital (BSC) has published today, in which it details opportunities that have not been fully satisfied by the investment proposals it has received to date.

The speed that the payment-by-results market is developing has led BSC to look into options for an additional investment fund focused on outcomes finance, to supplement its original results fund.

BSC is also seeking ideas for investment in ‘health, ageing and social care’, under which it includes community health, personal care, and drug and alcohol rehabilitation services.

Thirdly, the organisation wants to know how best to utilise community enterprises and assets such as libraries and community centres once owned by state bodies, as well as pubs, local shops, sports facilities and heritage buildings that communities have taken over from private owners.

And finally, BSC wants to hear about opportunities surrounding affordable housing, especially ideas to help the smallest housing associations to embark on new housing development, and also to help scale-up community-led developments and empty home redevelopment models.

Eligible intermediaries with a proposal for BSC can apply by completing an expression of interest on the organisation’s website.

Part of a maturing social investment landscape

“We are saying to the market ‘here are some opportunities we can see - if you think you can shape an investible proposition here, we would love to hear from you,” said BSC chief executive Nick O’Donohoe.  “It marks a new phase for us in which we send strong signals about how we see the social investment market developing.”

BSCs head of strategy and market development, Matt Robinson, added: “Developing deeper expertise in specific sectors is part of a maturing social investment landscape. In 2012, with BSC’s help, the number of broad-based social investment funds will rise significantly.

“In 2013, as well as continuing to support such broad-based funds, we expect to see some specialization in specific sectors – including in health and in communities.”

BSC’s First Billion report, commissioned from the Boston Consulting Group into the future of the UK social investment market, suggests demand for social investment could reach £750m per annum by 2015 and shows how this demand is spread across different market sectors.

Last month BSC set out guidelines for investments which will be made into for-profit companies through intermediaries BSC supports.