Nesta has this week invested £1.4m into six social venture intermediaries, including ClearlySo and the Young Foundation.

The investment, which comes from Nesta’s Social Venture Intermediary Fund and Big Society Finance Fund, brings its portfolio up to £5m into 15 intermediaries.

Joe Ludlow, Nesta’s director of social ventures, said: “We know that for social ventures to operate on a scale that will make a sustainable difference to the UK, they need to be able to access investment capital and advice in an appropriate form and at the right time.”

There is a general recognition that  the intermediary market for social investment is an immature one. 

It has been highlighted by the European Commission this week - which has also announced proposals to boost the social investment market.

The six organisations receiving support are:

• Abundance
• ClearlySo
• Resonance
• Social Innovation Camp
• Participle
• The Young Foundation