<p>As a new social stock exchange launches, Pradeep Jethi explains the importance of developing the social impact investment market</p><p>The Social Stock Exchange aims to provide a single reference point for investors Photograph: Eric Piermont/AFP/Getty Images</p><p>The last few years have seen enormous growth in investments motivated both by financial return as well as social and environmental impact, what has come to be known as social impact investment. The recent financial crises have provided a catalyst for the sector and there are now increasing levels of support from across political parties.</p><p>Perhaps most importantly, the impact investment approach is increasingly attracting interest from ever greater numbers of investors on a global scale, as evidenced by the success of today's (Thursday's) social impact investment forum hosted in London by the UK government. It is a sector on the upswing and one that is set to change the way in which we regard access to capital for businesses in general. It's no longer enough to demonstrate financial success; many investors now also seek some evidence of social and environmental outcomes.</p><p><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/social-enterprise-network/small-business-blog/2013/jun/06/social-business-stock-exchange">Keep reading...</a></p>