More than 3,300 people now sell the Big Issue magazine across the UK, collectively earning £3.3 million last year, new figures reveal.
Big Issue's 35-Year Legacy
Launched 35 years ago, the Big Issue continues to ensure that vendors can earn money in an increasingly cashless society, with more than 60 per cent of its sellers now equipped to accept digital payments.
Further expanding its reach, its recruitment company, Big Issue Recruit, established in 2022, has grown in its first three years. In 2025, more than 500 candidates sought the service’s support, with its one-to-one job coaching model successfully preparing two-thirds for employment.
Since 1991, Big Issue has supported more than 108,000 vendors to earn an income and invested more than £100 million in more than 500 purpose-driven businesses through Big Issue Invest.
Survey Reveals Economic Pessimism
A survey to mark the anniversary found that two-thirds of adults believe children growing up today will have worse economic opportunities than their parents. The poll of 2,100 adults found pessimism around the ability of the largest political parties to reduce rising levels of unemployment. Two in five respondents said they did not know which party was best placed to reduce the number of unemployed people.
Paul Cheal, chief executive of the Big Issue Group, said: “Big Issue has spent the past 35 years creating opportunities for people excluded from society to change their own lives. While our purpose endures, the world around us has changed dramatically and the distinct pessimism in this polling shows a clear need for businesses like ours to innovate our support for the next generation.”
