Big Issue North
Big Issue North is a UK registered charity (1056041) and social enterprise operating in North West, Yorkshire, and Humber, providing approximately 350 self-employed vendors with dignified income through The Big Issue magazine and supporting merchandise. Part of The Big Life Group.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersManchester, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Big Issue North does
Big Issue North is a registered charity (charity number 1056041) and social enterprise operating in the North West, Yorkshire, and Humber regions of England. It is part of The Big Life Group, a larger charitable parent organisation. The core function is providing approximately 350 self-employed vendors with opportunities to earn an independent income through the sale of The Big Issue magazine, which vendors purchase for £2 and sell at £4 RRP, keeping the £2 profit per sale. The model is designed to address poverty and homelessness by offering dignified self-employment rather than traditional charity, with no fixed time limit on how long individuals can work as vendors. Approximately 300 active pitches are maintained across city centres and out-of-town areas, established through relationships with local shopkeepers, city centre management teams, and local agencies.
Big Issue North firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Big Issue North
- Legal name
- Big Issue North Trust
- Website
- https://bigissuenorth.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Big Issue North is a UK registered charity (1056041) and social enterprise operating in North West, Yorkshire, and Humber, providing approximately 350 self-employed vendors with dignified income through The Big Issue magazine and supporting merchandise. Part of The Big Life Group.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Big Issue North industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Social Enterprise Magazine Publishing
- NAICS
- Book Retailers and News Dealers (459210)
- SIC
- Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Retail-Variety Stores (5331)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Newsstands & Periodicals Retail (Newspapers/Magazines) (CRALAAAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Consumer Lifestyle & Fashion Magazines (MPAJAEAA), Magazine & Newspaper Subscriptions / Delivery Retail (CRALAAAH)
Keywords
Where Big Issue North is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Manchester
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Big Issue North business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Magazine Sales Revenue Share: Vendors purchase magazines for £2 each and sell for £4 RRP, keeping £2 profit per sale. During Christmas bumper issues, vendors purchase for £2.50 and sell for £5, earning £2.50 profit per sale.
- Product Sales (Merchandise): Sale of branded merchandise including calendars (£10), Christmas cards (£6 for pack of 10), wrapping paper, socks (£12.99/pair), t-shirts, books, and records. All profits support vendor support programs.
- Magazine Subscriptions: Subscription revenue from The New Issue quarterly magazine (£40/year) and potentially main Big Issue magazine subscriptions. Subscribers save £1 per magazine on postage compared to newsstand.
- Charitable Donations: Donations to Big Issue North Trust (registered charity 1056041) supporting vendor services including housing assistance, skills training, ID provision, and breakfast clubs. Text giving: BINORTH to 70970 to donate £5.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Regular magazine weekly sales |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Christmas seasonal bumper editions |
| Subscription | Annual | 12-month magazine subscription |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | 6-month magazine subscription |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | 3-month magazine subscription |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | 2026 Calendar |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Pack of 10 Stanley Chow Christmas cards |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Stanley Chow x Stand4Socks socks |
| Subscription | Annual | The New Issue quarterly magazine subscription |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels9 records
Big Issue North product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Big Issue North is a non-profit social enterprise that sells The Big Issue street magazine through a network of approximately 350 self-employed vendors across the North West, Yorkshire, and Humber. Vendors purchase magazines for £2 and resell at £4 RRP, keeping £2 profit per copy. The organization also sells merchandise (calendars, Christmas cards, socks, t-shirts, books) and a quarterly magazine subscription, with all profits supporting vendor services including housing assistance, skills training, ID provision, and breakfast clubs.
Product overview
Big Issue North operates as a business solution to social problems, providing approximately 350 vendors across the North West, Yorkshire, and Humber with opportunities to earn an independent income. The core product is The Big Issue magazine (vendors buy for £2, sell for £4, keeping £2 profit), supplemented by a range of merchandise and subscription products sold through their Big Cartel online shop. Key products include The New Issue quarterly magazine (£40/year subscription), annual calendars (£10), Stanley Chow-designed Christmas cards and wrapping paper, limited-edition Stanley Chow x Stand4Socks socks (£12.99), Street Noise t-shirts, and the book 'Elvira and Me'. All profits fund vendor support services including housing assistance, contactless payment devices, ID provision, bank account opening, skills training, and breakfast clubs. Big Issue North Trust (charity number 1056041) is part of The Big Life Group.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The New Issue: A quarterly magazine containing real stories beautifully told, with stunning photography combined with high-quality independent writing, covering social issues, lifestyle and fiction. All profits support Big Issue North vendors.
Products and services
- The Big Issue Magazine The flagship weekly street magazine sold by self-employed vendors across the North West, Yorkshire, and Humber. Vendors purchase copies for £2 and resell at £4 RRP, keeping £2 profit per sale. Christmas bumper editions sell for £5 with vendors earning £2.50 per sale.
- The New Issue Magazine A quarterly long-read magazine produced by Big Issue North featuring stunning photography and high-quality independent writing covering social issues, lifestyle, and fiction. Available via annual subscription at £40/year. All profits support Big Issue North vendors.
- Magazine Subscription Service Mail subscription for The Big Issue magazine with three tiers: 12 months for £153, 6 months for £85, and 3 months for £45. Subscribers save £1 per magazine on postage versus newsstand pricing.
- Big Issue North 2026 Calendar Annual wall calendar featuring vendor stories and partnerships. The 2026 edition, created with Street Paws, celebrates the bond between vendors and their pets. RRP £10, with all proceeds supporting vendors or Big Issue North Trust.
- Big Issue North x Stanley Chow Christmas Cards and Wrapping Paper Exclusive Christmas cards and wrapping paper featuring original designs by Manchester artist Stanley Chow. Cards available in packs of 10 for £6; wrapping paper in packs of 5 sheets with penguin, Santa, and elf designs.
- Big Issue North x Stand4Socks Limited Edition Socks Limited-edition socks designed by Stanley Chow in collaboration with Stand4Socks. Designs include graphic minimalist, Christmas Elf, Santa Claus, and penguin. Priced at £12.99/pair, with 100% of profits going to Big Issue North. Every pair sold triggers a donation of socks to someone experiencing homelessness.
- Street Noise Event T-shirts Limited edition t-shirts sold at and around Street Noise music events. Available in black, grey, and metal colors. All proceeds support vendors working rather than begging.
- Elvira and Me (Book) A collaborative photographic book by Ciara Leeming and Ramona Constantin documenting the life of a young female Romanian migrant in Manchester. Written in English and Romanian, challenging stereotypes of Roma people. Produced with support from Big Issue North Trust.
- Vendor Support Services Comprehensive support services for self-employed vendors including housing assistance, financial guidance, healthcare support, skills training, bank account opening help, ID provision, contactless payment device provision, home furnishing packages, breakfast clubs, and Christmas gift bundles. Delivered through regional offices in Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, and Sheffield.
- Big Issue North Trust Charitable Donations Registered charity (number 1056041) raising funds to support vendor services including access to housing, bank account opening, ID assistance, home furnishing packages, and contactless payment devices. Accepts donations via JustGiving and text-to-give (BINORTH to 70970 for £5).
Quantifiable outcome
- Approximately 350 people earn income weekly through selling The Big Issue in the north of England
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Big Issue North
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Big Issue North technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Big Issue North partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Street PawscoreRegistered charity (1178826) partnered with Big Issue North for 2026 calendar highlighting the importance of pets to people experiencing homelessness and barriers to accommodation that accepts animals. Calendar features vendor Nathan and his dog Rolo.
- Stand4SockscoreManchester-based sock company. Collaboration on limited-edition Stanley Chow designed socks. For every pair of charity socks sold, Stand4Socks donates a warm, durable, antibacterial pair of socks to someone experiencing homelessness. Has donated over 150,000 socks since inception.
- Stanley ChowcoreCelebrated Manchester artist with bold, unmistakable vector style. Created exclusive designs for Christmas cards, wrapping paper, socks, and calendars. Has worked with Manchester United, The White Stripes, and The New York Times.
- International Network of Street Papers (INSP)coreUK charity representing street papers globally. 92 street papers operate in 35 countries. INSP supports Big Issue North through Journalism Training Academy providing those with homelessness experience chance to voice their stories. Global Summit held including in Liverpool in 2024.
- The Big Life GroupcoreParent organisation of Big Issue North. Provides strategic direction and organizational support. CEO Fay Selvan leads response to housing policy and social issues. Group includes various social enterprises and support services.
- Hus Forbi (Danish street paper)minorDanish street paper similar to Big Issue North. Lukas Graham collaborated with 20 Hus Forbi vendors to record 'You're Not The Only One' (Redemption Song). Both support people who are homeless or socially vulnerable.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Big Issue North competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Contributor (Nashville): US street paper using the same vendor-sold magazine model to combat homelessness. Operates as a non-profit with a comparable social-enterprise structure.
- Spare Change News: Boston-based street newspaper sold by homeless and low-income vendors. Directly comparable to Big Issue North's vendor-distributed social-enterprise model.
- The Big Issue: National UK street paper and parent brand of Big Issue North. Operates the same magazine-vendor self-employment model at national scale and shares The Big Life Group affiliation, making it the closest direct comparable.
- Street Sense Media: Washington DC street newspaper using homeless and low-income vendors to sell a biweekly paper. Directly comparable social enterprise with journalism-plus-vendor-income model.
- Real Change News: Seattle-based street newspaper employing the Big Issue-style vendor model. Directly comparable mission and distribution mechanism, providing a useful North American benchmark.
- Hus Forbi: Danish street paper explicitly referenced as a peer in Big Issue North's partnerships. Uses the identical vendor-distributed magazine model to support people experiencing homelessness, making it a directly comparable international peer.
- L'Itinéraire: Montreal street paper sold by homeless vendors under the same self-employment model. A directly comparable international peer within the INSP network.
Others
- Crisis UK: Major UK national homelessness charity. Not a street-paper competitor but addresses the same beneficiary population and competes for the same donor and corporate-partnership funding pool relevant to Big Issue North Trust.
- Centrepoint: UK youth homelessness charity providing housing and support services. Adjacent peer: similar beneficiary demographics and donor pool, different service model (housing vs. street-employment).
- Shelter: UK housing and homelessness charity. Adjacent peer competing for similar individual and corporate donations, with overlapping policy and campaigning activity.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Big Issue North social profiles
Digital presenceBig Issue North financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Big Issue North leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Big Issue North funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Big Issue North M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Big Issue North
What does Big Issue North do?
Big Issue North is a non-profit social enterprise that sells The Big Issue street magazine through a network of approximately 350 self-employed vendors across the North West, Yorkshire, and Humber. Vendors purchase magazines for £2 and resell at £4 RRP, keeping £2 profit per copy. The organization also sells merchandise (calendars, Christmas cards, socks, t-shirts, books) and a quarterly magazine subscription, with all profits supporting vendor services including housing assistance, skills training, ID provision, and breakfast clubs.
Is Big Issue North a public or private company?
Big Issue North is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Big Issue North founded?
Big Issue North was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Big Issue North based?
Big Issue North is headquartered in Manchester, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Big Issue North make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Magazine Sales Revenue Share is the primary driver. The others are product Sales (Merchandise), magazine Subscriptions and charitable Donations.
Who are Big Issue North's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Contributor (Nashville), Spare Change News, The Big Issue, Street Sense Media, Real Change News, Hus Forbi and L'Itinéraire. Others are Crisis UK, Centrepoint and Shelter.
Does Big Issue North have an API?
No public API is recorded for Big Issue North.
What industry is Big Issue North in?
Big Issue North's product category is Social Enterprise Magazine Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRALAAAG, Newsstands & Periodicals Retail (Newspapers/Magazines), with a secondary code of MPAJAEAA, Consumer Lifestyle & Fashion Magazines. Its NAICS code is 459210 and its SIC code is 2721.