Our History
For 35 years we have been providing bespoke financial services and a vital means of support to some of the most disadvantaged communities across the globe.
Click the years below to see how our business has evolved over time.
MEMBERSHIP
Shared Interest still boasts over 10,000 Share Accounts.
Share Capital
£51m Share Capital achieved
Awards
Patricia Alexander was named in the top 100 women leading social enterprise and impact investing in the UK in the NatWest WISE (Women in Social Enterprise) Awards.
20th Anniversary of the Foundation
Shared Interest Foundation celebrated it's 20th Anniversary
Share Capital
£51m Share Capital achieved
Awards
Patricia Alexander was named in top 100 women leading social enterprise and impact investing in the UK in the NatWest WISE (Women in Social Enterprise) Awards.
Awards
Shared Interest Society win the Special Recognition Award at the North East Charity Awards
Awards
Shared Interest Foundation win Charity of the year at the Charity Times Awards
Awards
Shared Interest Society shortlisted at the Third Sector Awards in the Enterprise category
Share Capital
£52m Share Capital achieved
Share Capital
£50m Share Capital achieved
Awards
Shortlisted at the Third Sector Awards in the Enterprise category
Awards
Named in the NatWest SE100 Top 100 Social Enterprises
Share Capital
£45m Share Capital achieved
Awards
Announced NatWest SE100 Impact Management Champion
Awards
Awarded Queens Award for Enterprise in the Sustainable Development category for a third time
30 years
Celebrate 30th anniversary
Awards
Managing Director, Patricia Alexander wins the Global Impact Award at the North East Times Impact Awards.
Membership
Shared Interest reaches 10,000 Share Accounts.
Share Capital
£43m Share Capital achieved.
Share Capital
£41m Share Capital achieved.
Share Capital
£40m Share Capital achieved.
Award
Won International Impact Award at the UK Social Enterprise Awards
Share Capital
£39m Share Capital achieved
Share Capital
£36m Share Capital achieved
Awards
Won Enterprise at the UK Private Business Awards
Won Money award at the PEA (People, Environment, Achievement) Awards
Awards
Won Third Sector Excellence Award in Enterprise
25 years
Celebrate 25th anniversary
Share Capital
£33m Share Capital achieved
Share Capital
£30m Share Capital achieved
Awards
Won Guardian Sustainable Business Award and Big Tick in the Responsible Business Awards
Strategic Review
Five year Strategic Review undertaken
Awards
Awarded Queens Award for Enterprise for the second time
Regional Offices
Office opened in Ghana, West Africa
Awards
Won Sustainable Finance Award and awarded Highly Commended in the Culture for Success Awards
Our lending
Share Capital of over £26m, lending money to 101 Fairtrade businesses in 36 countries
Staff
Staff recruited in Lima, Peru
Awards
Awarded Queen's Award for Enterprise
Shared Interest Foundation
Our charitable arm were awarded a large grant by the Big Lottery Fund to train fair trade producers in Rwanda
Strategic Review
First Strategic review undertaken
Shared Interest Foundation
The first producer training project undertaken by our charitable arm
Share Capital
£20m Share Capital achieved
Staff
New Managing Director appointed and first overseas office staff recruited in Kenya & Costa Rica
Social Accounts
First set of social accounts prepared
Share Capital
£18m Share Capital achieved
Awards
Won the best revenue model in the Upstart Awards
Charity arm
Charitable arm, Shared Interest Foundation set up
Awards
Shortlisted in the Enterprising Solutions Awards
Mission
Mission statement revised
Member newsletter
50th edition of Quarterly Return published
Share Capital
£17m Share Capital achieved
New lending in handcrafts
Community Aid Abroad (who later became known as Oxfam Australia Trading) become a Shared Interest customer
Fairtrade
Shared Interest extended its Clearing House products to FLO certified Fairtrade producers
Customers
Pilot study into lending more to coffee producers prepared which led to a collaboration with the World Bank’s International Task Force
Board
Founder Mark Hayes steps down from the Board
Share Capital
Members reach 8,500 and Share Capital £16m
Clearing House
Within a year of establishing the Clearing House, nine producers had drawn on their account and borrowed £57,000
Awards
Shared Interest receives a Worldaware Business Award, given to small businesses contributing to viable economic development.
New offices
New offices opened in Collingwood Street
Council
The Council introduced a system of random nomination of 4 of its 9 members from the membership
New lending
A facility was approved for Candela Peru who work with Brazil nut gatherers and their families.
Share Capital
£10m Share Capital achieved
Share Capital
£5m Share Capital achieved
Share Capital
£1m Share Capital achieved
Staff
First representatives appointed to work in Newcastle office
Founded
Shared Interest founded and registered as an Industrial and Provident Society. At the end of its first five months, £350,000 had been invested to support 13 new projects in the developing world
Shared Interest
Mark Hayes employed by Traidcraft, developed a plan for an alternative investment organisation
Shared Interest
Mark Hayes contacted Traidcraft with a proposal for a Development Bank