HE Social Entrepreneurship Awards

What are the HE Social Entrepreneurship Awards?

The HE Social Entrepreneurship Awards programme from UnLtd and the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) provides financial and non-financial support across Higher Education Institutions (HEI's) in England to develop their expertise, skills, knowledge base and business support structures in social entrepreneurship and social enterprise activity.

HEFCE promotes and funds high quality, cost-effective teaching and research, meeting the diverse needs of students, the economy and society.

Click here for Frequently Asked Questions about the Awards.

Who can apply?

If you are a member of staff or student within a HEI supported by HEFCE and want support to develop entrepreneurial solutions to social problems that demonstrate a connection to the Higher Education sector, you can apply for one of over 200 awards available.

For example, you could develop or build upon the curriculum or research of your HEI or offer an entrepreneurial solution to an issue within the community served by the HEI.

As this scheme is intended to encourage social entrepreneurs from HEI's, it is required that one of your referees must be a responsible member of staff at the HEI where you study/work e.g. Head of department or Head of school. They will be contacted to cross-check that they fully endorse and support your project.

Please note that the Awards are only open to HEFCE-funded institutions. To view a list of funded HEI's, please click here.

What Awards are available?

You can apply as an individual or informal group for one of our:

Catalyst Awards
Apply for support and up to £5,000 to start up and develop your project.

Development Awards
If you have an existing project which is scalable, you can apply for support and up to £15,000 to take it to the next level.

Click here to find out more about Development Awards.

How do I apply?

If you are applying as individual, download an individual application form below.

If you are applying as an informal group, an individual must be nominated to take the lead on your project and complete the individual application form. All other group members must fill in the group application form below.

Individual application formclick here.

Group application formclick here.

To apply online:

Click here if you are applying as an individual or have been nominated as the lead individual of an informal group.

Click here if you are applying as a member of an informal group.

To request printed copies of the application forms, please email fernyates@unltd.org.uk or call 01274 750630.

Applications can be submitted at any time and will take approximately 6-8 weeks for a decision to be reached.

How do I find out more?

For more information on the HE Social Entrepreneurship Awards programme, please call or email:

London, South and East of England:

Rhiannon Horsley Tel:020 7566 1475 or email: rhiannonhorsley@unltd.org.uk

Midlands:

Lauren Croll Tel: 0121 766 4570 or email: laurencroll@unltd.org.uk

North of England:

Sarah Yorke Tel: 0127 475 0630 or email: sarahyorke@unltd.org.uk

UnLtdWorld connects you to the people, tools and information you need to change the world. Get networking with other Higher Education-based social entrepreneurs here.

Already registered on UnLtdWorld? Visit the Dare to be Different group here.

Click here for examples of projects.