Neighbourly, the pioneering Bristol-based community engagement platform, has secured funding to support its growth and accelerate its embedded AI capabilities.
Launched in in 2014, Neighbourly helps businesses deliver employee volunteering programmes, provide financial support and donate surplus products to thousands of vetted local charities and good causes across the UK and Ireland. 
The platform enables businesses to maximise the positive local impact of their own giving programmes, address specific community needs, engage their employees and measure the social value for ESG (environmental, social and governance) reporting purposes.
Its technology platform measures activities in real time and provides evidence of the social and environmental value delivered.
Since its launch it has facilitated nearly £1bn of impact into local communities and counts Sainsbury’s, RSA Insurance, M&S, Virgin Media O2, Aldi and Lidl among its clients.
Neighbourly, which is based at Bristol’s Engine Shed innovation hub, was one of the UK’s first B Corporations.
Its new funding, details of which have not been disclosed, has come from Palatine, the private equity firm with offices in London, Birmingham and Manchester.
Neighbourly CEO Steve Butterworth, pictured, said: “Neighbourly is thrilled to have Palatine’s support as we look to accelerate our growth and leverage the benefits of AI to further increase the impact of our partner programmes across our good cause network.” 
The investment has come through Palatine’s Growth Credit Fund, which has been raised to support maturing, high-growth companies in the UK regions with double-digit, year-on-year revenue growth.
It supports firms in the cyber, fintech, SaaS, healthtech, medtech, AI and advanced manufacturing sectors in the burgeoning technology ecosystems of the South West, North, Midlands and South East.
The fund sits alongside sustainably driven investor Palatine’s established Buyout and Impact private equity funds.
Palatine Growth Credit managing partner Wiiliam Chappel said: “Neighbourly is a wonderful business with a sharp focus on ESG and as a fellow B Corp, its values align perfectly with our own at Palatine.
“As a fast-growing, regionally headquartered, tech business with a top-class management team and VC-backing, Neighbourly is a perfect fit with the Growth Credit Fund’s mission to support ambitious businesses outside of London with tailored growth capital.”
