A Hand Up, Not a Hand Out with Nigel Kershaw OBE

When The Big Issue launched in 1991, it didn't just introduce a new publication; it fundamentally changed the face of homelessness. By offering a "hand up, not a hand out," it turned vulnerable individuals into micro-entrepreneurs and challenged the traditional charity model. In this inspiring episode from the archive, Andy Lopata speaks with Nigel Kershaw, Chairman of The Big Issue Group, about the incredible 30-year journey of this iconic social enterprise. Nigel shares the origin story—sparked by an encounter on the streets of New York—and the initial pushback they faced from both the homeless community and established charities. Discover how The Big Issue built a powerful, interdependent relationship with its vendors, the critical pivot they made overnight during the pandemic lockdown, and how a "mad idea" to start a social merchant bank led to managing £300 million in impact funds. This is a masterclass in leading with purpose, scaling impact, and proving that business solutions can solve social crises. What you will learn in this episode: The Origin Story: How a chance encounter with a "two-time loser from upstate New York" inspired the creation of one of the world's most successful social enterprises. The Business of Prevention: Why The Big Issue was strictly structured as a business, not a charity, and the initial resistance they faced from both charities and homeless individuals. The Interdependent Relationship: How the dynamic between The Big Issue and its vendors differs entirely from the traditional "giver and receiver" charity model. Actionable Insights: Build Interdependent Relationships: Move away from purely transactional or paternalistic relationships with your stakeholders. The Big Issue succeeds because the business needs the vendors to sell, and the vendors need the business for stock. Create structures where your success is directly tied to the success of your partners. Incubate Radical Ideas Separately: When you have a disruptive or highly innovative idea, don't force it onto a core team that is already busy managing day-to-day operations. Like The Big Issue did with their investment arm, incubate these ideas outside the main structure to allow them space to grow without facing immediate resistance or resource constraints. Use Crises to Force Digital Transformation: When the pandemic wiped out their street sales overnight, The Big Issue didn't just ask for donations; they accelerated a planned digital pivot, introducing cashless sales and digital wallets. Use major disruptions as a catalyst to push through necessary innovations that might otherwise take years to implement. SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE Connect with Andy Lopata: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | X/Twitter | YouTube Connect with Nigel Kershaw OBE: Website |LinkedIn | The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring Episode 173 Featuring Nigel Kershaw OBE