Ingenuity 2020-21
Ingenuity 20/21 was a three-month Programme that brought together over 300 industry, academic, and third sector volunteers and saw applications from 800 participants across the UK.
The 20/21 Programme sought to tackle four key Challenges: Tackle Climate Change, Improve Health, Create Prosperity and Build Community. Regional Summits for the East Midlands, West Midlands, the West of England and South Coast took place during March 2021, offering participants the chance to work in partnership with diverse groups of like-minded individuals.
The Programme consisted of four stages:
Explore
Participants gained a deeper understanding the four key Challenges through insights from regional experts and discussed initial ideas with industry mentors.
Develop
Participants evolved their ideas via the online learning platform, which included insights and tutorials from industry and academic experts.
Pitch
Participants formalised their ideas from the Explore and Develop phases and submitted their business plans to be assessed by industry experts. The most scalable and impactful ideas from each region were then announced as Regional Finalists.
Compete
The Programme culminated in over £200,000 worth of prizes and support packages being awarded to 20 new enterprises.
The online Impact Awards Evening was held in May 2021, featuring award presentations and keynote speeches from pioneers across the UK’s charity, enterprise, and social innovation sectors.
Awards were given to the most impactful business ideas from the South Coast, West of England, East and West Midlands regions, that responded to the Prosperity, Health, Community or Climate Change Challenges.
Charity partners from across the Ingenuity network awarded support package prizes to ideas that most aligned with their values, including Crisis, Groundwork, Youth Futures Foundation, and the Centre for Ageing Better.
University of Nottingham alumni Claire Mann was awarded Ingenuity Impact Entrepreneur of the Year for her winning idea, ChangeXtra.
ChangeXtra uses counselling, coaching, support and access to learning to support and empower women going through the menopause.
