Trio of Scottish 'mission-led' businesses step up fight against Covid-19

A Scottish social investor has hailed the efforts of some of the country’s “brightest mission-led businesses” in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

Craft beer brand Brewgooder has responded to the coronavirus emergency by launching One On Us, enabling customers to donate a round of drinks and a message of support to NHS Champions.

SIS Ventures, which invests for “financial, social and environmental and impact creation”, said Brewgooder, Talking Medicines and Good-Loop had all risen to the challenge of adapting their businesses to support those affected by the outbreak.

The three businesses all received investment in the past year from SIS Ventures’ inaugural Impact First Fund.

SIS Ventures was set up by Social Investment Scotland, which was established in 2001 to provide a new finance model for Scotland’s charities and social enterprises. Since then it has invested more than £70 million across the country.

Craft beer brand Brewgooder has responded to the coronavirus emergency by launching One On Us – enabling customers to donate a round of drinks and a message of support to NHS Champions. In just four weeks, more than 6,000 four-packs of clean water lager have been paid by the public for NHS staff to claim.

Edinburgh-based Good-Loop connects viewers and brands through “ethical, high-quality formats”, while giving 50 per cent of revenues to charities.

The business has responded to the pandemic by launching a “watch and donate and beat Covid-19” campaign. Viewers of online brand content are able to donate 50 per cent of the advertising revenue from that view to high-impact charities which fall within three frontline action areas – protecting the vulnerable, supporting local foodbanks and funding international research.

As brands look to advertise sensitively during the crisis, Good-Loop has seen a 100 per cent uplift in like-for-like revenue in April 2020, compared to the same time last year.

Meanwhile, one of Talking Medicines’ offerings is an app that allows patients to better manage their medicines at home. To date, more than 85,000 patients have downloaded the app in the UK.

The firm has been engaged in regular consultation with its community to capture their voices during lockdown and learn about the impact of Covid-19, particularly for those shielding and self-isolating. It is also supporting carers within the home care sector by launching a new dedicated app.

Alastair Davis, chief executive of SIS Ventures, said: “It’s reassuring to see all three of these businesses harness their purpose-based approach to support the wider pandemic effort during these unprecedented times. I truly believe that businesses with a mission to benefit people and the planet can play a much more central role in the rebuilding of our economies worldwide.”

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