Shared Interest Society was launched in 1990 when it was found that the main challenge faced by fair trade producers was access to working capital. We now form the link between UK social investors and fair trade organisations needing finance to improve their livelihoods.

We provide loans and credit services to businesses across the globe that are registered with either Fairtrade International (FLO), members of the World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO), The British Association for Fair Trade Shops and Suppliers (BAFTS), Small Producer Seal (SPP) or the Fairtrade Federation. These businesses range from sole trader handcraft organisations to large scale cofee co-operatives and fair trade buyers.

We offer a variety of lending options that enable our customers to pre-finance orders, purchase essential machinery and infrastructure, make advance payments to farmers and artisans, finance the collection of harvests, and order new stock for fair trade shops.

By inspiring over 9,000 people in the UK to become members and invest over £33m in share capital, we are able to share the risk of unsecured lending to people living in even the most remote areas of the globe.

Click here to go to Shared Interest’s website and connect with them on Facebook and Twitter!