Since the coronavirus crisis hit and streets across the UK have been emptied, the Big Issue has had to rapidly adapt its business model, which had previously relied on street vendors to sell the weekly publication.

As part of the new PPA Live! events series, PPA CEO Barry McIlheney interviewed McNamee to find out exactly how the magazine has responded.

"The whole raison d'etre of the Big Issue is to get people who are right on the margins a means to work themselves out of poverty," McNamee explained. "To do that, they buy the magazine and they sell it on the street. And when you don't have that means, that place to do it, you think, how on earth are we going to support these people, and maintain a presence as a magazine?"

Since coronavirus hit, the business model has now pivoted, introducing subscriptions at £32.50 for 3 months, selling in supermarkets such as Sainsbury's and Co-op and launching an app in partnership with Pugpig.

"In those moments," said McNamee, "you either collapse, or you stand up. You think, right, we're going to do something."

To find out exactly how the Big Issue is adapting in times of crisis, watch the full interview here.