Neighbourly, the innovative Bristol-based internet platform with the ambition of revolutionising corporate social responsibility, is to expand overseas just a year after its official launch.
The fast-growing firm, which connects community projects with companies wishing to make a difference, is to set up a team in the Dutch city of Utrecht to build and grow Neighbourly’s presence in the Netherlands.
It will use a localised version of the Neighbourly platform which has already signed up blue-chip organisations such as Marks & Spencer and Starbucks, as well as many small and medium-sized businesses active in their local communities. 
Since its launch, clients of Neighbourly, which is based in Bristol’s Engine Shed innovation hub and also has a base in Bath, have pledged some more than £1.85m and 7,660 volunteer days and already backed 246 causes.
The move overseas represents a key milestone for the firm, which raised more than £1m from angel investors in July.
The day-to-day operations of Neighbourly in the Netherlands will be led by managing director Berend Maten, who has a successful track record in establishing and running community projects and an extensive background in IT-related businesses.
He is joined by Dirk van der Beek, an expert in growing brands with purpose and a co-founder of Innate Motion, the leading corporate social responsibility consultancy, and Xander Coolen, co-founder of De Hollandsche Meesters, who has a wealth of experience managing the marketing and sales operations of technology and social media businesses in the Netherlands.
Berend Maten said: “Dutch companies have long understood that making a commitment to the community is essential. Corporate citizenship and giving are deep rooted in Dutch businesses but we have lacked access to a single platform that could help businesses to connect with causes and collaborate to help local projects succeed. The Netherlands needs Neighbourly.”
Neighbourly chairman Luke McKeever added: “This is an important milestone in Neighbourly’s growth. The Netherlands platform will launch with an expert local team in place, fostering local relationships and making a positive impact on a national scale in a country that is committed to corporate responsibility.
“The growing culture of corporate giving means the Dutch market is perfectly aligned with our mission, and a successful launch will pave the way for future expansion.”
Neighbourly is the brainchild of entrepreneur Nick Davies and is the first digital platform to be created for the largely unstructured corporate giving sector within the UK, which is worth an estimated £800m.
It allows causes of all types and sizes to publicise and gain community support for their purpose and needs. Businesses can easily find causes that matter to them, manage their contributions, generate and receive authentic content and measure the value of their participation, at both a local and a national level.
