Our stories | On Purpose

06 Sep 2017 My case for doing business more sustainably

Alex Watson, On Purpose Fellow, writes about the potential of companies, that put purpose before profit, to create social or environmental benefits and at the same time generate enough revenue to be financially sustainable.“We have four...

25 Aug 2017 Why social entrepreneurs won’t save us — building a better economy requires growing a movement

Tom Rippin is the CEO of On Purpose and writes about the hurdles that social enterprises need to overcome in order to have a global impact.The time of “heropreneurs” has past. Over the past decades there has been increasing glorification of the...

14 Aug 2017 Experiencing a Culture Shock

Jo Alexander, On Purpose Associate in the London April 2017 cohort, writes about the change in workplace culture she experienced when moving from a large multinational to a small charity. I used to work for a global oil and gas company, which was...

19 Jul 2017 Digital Tool Box for Social Enterprises & Charities

Marc Violo, London October 2016 Associate, summarises the digital tools for cost-effective and efficient marketing, sales and operation.In this day in age, all organisations should be digital by nature. Private, public, start-up or well...

13 Jul 2017 HCT Group making outstanding things happen

Sajni Shah, London April 2017 Associate, writes about how her current placement HCT group helps children with special education needs to get to and back from school.“Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at...

11 Jul 2017 Investing for Impact: The Economist Impact Investing Europe Conference

London Associates Katie Fish and Francesca Spoerry, who are currently in their placement with Big Society Capital, recently attended the Economist Impact Investing Europe conference, and here they share their three main takeaways from the...

23 Jun 2017 Changing the world, one hand wash at a time

Camilla Marcus-Dew, London April 2015 Fellow, works for CLARITY-The Soap Co., a social enterprise that creates employment for blind and disabled people, and writes about their newest range CLARITYeco.For any social enterprises, it’s important to...

20 Jun 2017 Powerless in London. Or not.

I lived in a number of cosmopolitan mega-cities in life, in Asia and Europe. London is the latest one I had to accommodate myself with and adapt to. I was very excited at the prospect of settling in one of the world’s most vibrant capitals. A...

20 Jun 2017 “I hope that (…) we show how important it is to provide good housing, and to do that in a way that…

Holly Budgen, London October 2016 Associate, in conversation with Katherine Hibbert, founder of , a different kind of property guardian company.A few weeks ago, I sat down with Katharine Hibbert: journalist, avid cyclist, trustee of , author of...

20 Jun 2017 What a difference a year makes

Mary Stevens, On Purpose London April 2017 Associate and currently in her placement with Collaborate , writes about how she made her way to the On Purpose Associate Programme and about a year full of change, exploration and reflection. Shhh… I...

16 Jun 2017 The 2017 On Purpose Fellows Weekend — an international affair

Andy Daly, London January 2012 Fellow, writes about the Fellows Weekend, which takes place once a year for all the Fellows of the On Purpose Associate Programme.As I write I have just come back to London tired but inspired from the 2017 On...

12 Jun 2017 Investing for good: moving into the mainstream?

Katie Fish, London October 2016 Associate, and Francesca Spoerry, London April 2017 Associate, write about the upcoming Impact Investing Summit on 15th June 2017 organized by The Economist.Our current placementsHow did we go from working in a law...