Helping social business to thrive

Utilising our skills and expertise to empower individuals and organisations is at the core of our social impact work. For many of our people, this means using market-leading commercial experience to foster and develop businesses driven by a social purpose. Here are a few examples.

Refugees leading tech start-ups 

In Amsterdam, volunteers are supporting refugees building businesses in the Netherlands and across Europe. Partner Pieter Riemer sits on the firm’s global Corporate Responsibility Committee and leads this work. "For a long time now, the position of refugees in Europe has been so delicate and we wanted to show another side of the story," Pieter explains. "One where people don't have to feel sorry for refugees but can instead be impressed by the energy and the potential that they are bringing to their new homes."

To reach those who need support, the office has partnered with two forward-thinking NGOs. Last year the firm helped R-Ventures Foundation run a forum on how expertise from corporates and innovative technology can help refugees to overcome barriers in business. We also support Refugees Forward, which connects entrepreneurs like Shadi Alhakimi and Martijn Stegenga, co-founders of healthcare innovation platform Elanza, to crucial seed funding and to volunteers with the skills and knowledge to help them tackle problems and grow their reach.

For Pieter, these are the programmes where our people can have great and immediate impact. “Our financial contribution to this is marginal in its effect, I would say. What we can offer that is truly valuable is our advice, our experience and the opening-up of our network to people to show them how to go about creating a successful business."