“For socially-trading organisations (STOs), the right building is more than an overhead,” says Hold Co’s Mark Lawler. “It’s where they grow and build their community. Too often, STOs are held back by short leases, rising rents and buildings that don’t meet their needs – and the value they create in a place ends up leaving with them.
“Hold Co exists to change that. By acquiring, developing and holding property for the social economy, we can give STOs affordable, secure space where they can grow, share services and support one another. Where it suits them, we can also help them into ownership, in their own right. Either way, the asset and its value stays in community hands.”
That thinking shapes the three areas Hold Co will focus on. The first is to acquire and develop buildings and hold them in perpetuity for STOs. The second is to acquire, develop and hold a building – then sell it to a partner STO within the term of its lease, which opens a route to ownership for organisations that want one. The third is a property advisory service.
The work is already taking shape, with Hold Co in property discussions with 31 STOs and active discussions with three local authorities. Its first acquisition is planned for the first quarter of 2027, with a pipeline of £12m of investment for the next three years.
For Mark, the case for all of this comes down to what a secure building makes possible. “Property is one of the most powerful tools we have for building a fairer local economy,” he says. “When social enterprises have a stable home, they can plan for the long term, employ more local people and reinvest in the places they serve.”