‘I don’t think it’s unreasonable to assume that everyone wants to feel safe and secure where they live.’

Laura Barrow is Finance Director at BBRC, a leader in place-based impact investment with a focus on the South West of England. BBRC invests in real estate, infrastructure, and businesses to deliver attractive returns for investors and strong social, economic, and environmental outcomes for local communities.

She is also on the Steering Committee of the Social Investment Forum and is a Trustee of Bristol Hospitality Network, a local housing charity working with destitute asylum seekers.

What’s the one thing that inspires you to get up in the morning?

It has taken hard work, ups, downs, and a few strokes of luck to be in the job I’m in today. Yet I’m still aware of my privilege, with my family background, relatively good health, and a great support network around me, which have made my career path a lot easier than it might have been for others. I’m lucky enough to have a job that I enjoy and that stretches my thinking every day. I don’t want to waste the opportunity to do something meaningful through my work. I like to think that it matters if I show up or not.

If you could pick one thing to change about Bristol, what would it be?

Bristol is a great city with a track record of innovation, creative thinking, and as a city, is ahead of national metrics on quality of life in a lot of areas.  But this isn’t the full picture. We still have massive inequality of opportunity, depending on where in the city you were born and live. Not everyone aspires to be a tech entrepreneur or a creative, but I don’t think it’s unreasonable to assume that everyone wants to feel safe and secure where they live. If I could change one thing it would be the affordability and availability of good quality homes for private renters, aspiring homeowners, and people on the social housing waiting list.

What does a Better Bristol mean to you?

I think of a city that is truly sustainable, commercially, socially, and environmentally. A Bristol where everyone can thrive, regardless of their background or where they live.

Key to this in my mind is better access to good quality housing, with security of tenure for private renters. Shelter and security are some of our most basic human needs, yet there are nearly 20 thousand people on Bristol’s social housing waiting list. Having a safe, secure place to live can lead to people feeling a sense of belonging and self-esteem. As a city of innovation, I believe we have the tools and financial resources available to us to tackle these challenges.

What action could you as an individual take?

I volunteer as a trustee with Bristol Hospitality Network, which provides hosted accommodation for people seeking asylum who are facing destitution in Bristol. The charity sector relies hugely on volunteers and it’s a great way to contribute if you can make the time for it.

What action could your company take?

BBRC’s mission is to improve the wellbeing of people, local communities, and the environment in the South West of England. We do this by raising capital from investors by offering both attractive risk-adjusted returns and strong impact outcomes, to invest in real estate, infrastructure, and businesses.

Through investment in housing, our commitment is the delivery of over 2,500 low carbon, affordable new homes in the South West of England by 2035, while enabling a further 2,500 homes via housing association partners.  We are focussing on how we can address the shortage of appropriate private rented housing for low-income working people and families, especially key workers.

We are also working with public and private sector partners on financially innovative ways to tackle climate change. We are raising capital for investment in businesses that are working toward NetZero goals in the South West.

What do you want to see from the Bristol business community in the next five years?

There are many inspiring businesses in Bristol seeking to tackle our region’s challenges including inequality, community & wellbeing, housing, and climate change.  It’s been great to support some of them already with investment from Bristol City Funds.

These challenges are too big for any one organisation to tackle alone, this is where I think local business networks and partnership-working across the business, charity, and public sectors have the power to make change at a transformative level. If we can relate to other businesses as co-innovators and co-conspirators rather than competitors, then I believe there is greater opportunity for both profit and positive societal impact. I’d love to see continued co-operation and collaboration across businesses and sectors in the city.

Main photo: First Avenue Photography

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