In this second conversation with Matt Parfill, CEO and founder of Grace Enterprises, we explored in more detail his and his organisation’s approach to alternative finance or in this case, social investment.  

It feels like Matt is clear that whilst it's flexible and more equitable in terms of the power dynamic (you CAN call some of the shots), it's also not for the faint hearted. 

Matt is uncritical of his lenders, but recognises the inherent bias in the system that plays out in women-led and minority-led enterprises accessing less alternative finance than male-led enterprises. 

Like the East of England, where Matt is based (East Midlands) is a social investment ‘cold ‘spot’ - meaning it is not receiving anything like its fair share of investment.  

This podcast aims to tackle the conversation about what it looks like in reality to both raise awareness and dispel some myths.  

From the perspective of the investor and the wider eco-system of funding for the voluntary sector, social investment presents a uniquely compound impact opportunity - that of not just a social return, but an ever increasing financial return that can continue the virtuous circle of compounding impact on top of impact.  

For the right organisation and investor, we think it’s a no brainer.  

Matt’s business empire and further details can be found below:

https://www.graceenterprises.co.uk/ 

https://www.radiantcleaners.co.uk/ 

https://www.jubileeevents.co.uk/ 

https://www.halfthestory.uk/ 

We also mentioned social investment and social enterprise support, so here are some more useful links: 

⁠https://www.goodfinance.org.uk/case-studies/grace-enterprises⁠ 

⁠https://www.goodfinance.org.uk⁠ 

⁠https://www.sibgroup.org.uk/⁠ 

⁠https://www.socialenterprise.org.uk/⁠ 

⁠https://www.socialenterprise.org.uk/seuk-report/backbone-of-britain-state-of-social-enterprise-2025/⁠ 

My website: 

www.haslerwhite.com 

Our hosts: 

www.futureradio.co.uk 

The aim is to cut through the nonsense by having no nonsense open acronym-free conversations about all the things I wish I’d had support with when running my social enterprise.

It’s now my turn to bring some hope, new ideas and inspiration by speaking to people within my network.

More resources and all the podcasts can be found on my website. 

Find and follow me by heading to:

Instagram: Rebecca White

LinkedIn: Rebecca White 

Get in touch for inspiring podcast guests and please share them if you think they might be useful for someone else. 

The track on this podcast is called Funk from Icons8