Current Investments:
Active Green + Ross
Over the past 5 years, SCP has invested in 26 AG+R locations across Ontario (equivalent to 1/3 of franchise stores). At the time of writing, SCP’s partnership with AG+R has enabled the franchisor to expand its network by 50% in the last 5 years.
"Our partnership with Social Capital Partners was a terrific fit for us because it matched perfectly with what we were already doing. It’s a win-win for everyone." - Ralph Chiodo, Founder and President of AG+R
Active Green + Ross (AG+R) is one of Southern Ontario's largest chains of tire and auto care centres. Through over 70 retail locations, AG+R offers customers a complete selection of tires from the world's premier manufacturers, in addition to general automotive service and repairs including brakes, suspension and front-end repairs, wheel alignment, tire balancing, and lube & oil changes.
Since 2006, when SCP first facilitated a loan to an AG+R Store Manager in Hamilton to convert the corporate-owned location into a franchise, SCP's investment in the franchise network has steadily grown. Today we have arranged for investment in almost one third of AG+R stores. View a complete list of AG+R investee locations (link).
Also, in 2007, SCP created a customized employment program and services directory for local AG+R dealers to source and hire new employees through community-based agencies. This tool is a key resource in helping AG+R introduce a community hiring & retention program across its entire dealer network of franchised and corporately-owned stores.
Mr. Lube
Presently, SCP has investments with 4 Mr. Lube locations in Ontario. We are currently exploring opportunities to expand to other regions of Canada.
Shoeless Joe's
We Care
We Care is the largest independently owned home care service provider in Canada. The We Care network is comprised of Canadian entrepreneurs, with years of experience in the health care sector. With over 50 locations across Canada, each office is linked by technology and proven management systems, to ensure national standards are delivered with local passion. Each Franchisee/Branch Manager lives and works in the community they serve, which ensures We Care's services are in keeping with community needs.
We Care offers nursing, personal support, homemaking, cleaning and companionship services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - 365 days a year.
In 2008, Social Capital Partners invested in a pilot project in Montreal and the West Island. Working in partnership with a very socially conscious franchise owner, we are establishing the proper channels though which to hire a significant number of employees from socially and economically disadvantaged populations.
Past Investments:
2 Men and A Truck
Stratcom
Stratcom is a full-service communications, opinion research and fundraising consulting firm that helps non-profits, advocacy groups and political candidates gather data and achieve their objectives. Stratcom has a roster of over 200 client organizations across Canada and the United States. Stratcom hires a significant number of qualified individuals in their call centres, and we have collectively identified these positions as a good fit for our social hiring program.
The opportunity to invest in Stratcom caused SCP to launch our new growth portfolio in the autumn of 2008. These are companies that are entirely corporately controlled but demonstrate a significant potential to create scalable social hiring opportunities across their operations.