The national Dare to be Different conference, held at Firth Court at the University of Sheffield, was the culmination of a £1m programme delivered by UnLtd, the Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs, and HEFCE. The conference, which launched ground-breaking research into the impact of social entrepreneurship in Higher Education, highlighted the value that social entrepreneurship has in skilling up future generations to create employment prospects, with 75% of student social entrepreneurs believing they have increased their employability and leadership skills. The conference also put together recommendations for building on this momentum, increasing engagement and developing a valuable infrastructure within Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) which have proven to be an ideal breeding ground for establishing social ventures.
The HE Social Entrepreneurship Recognition Awards were presented at the conference, highlighting the exceptional achievements and positive change, which HEIs, staff and students have made by creating a hotbed of entrepreneurial ideas and establishing social ventures.
Entries were received from HE institutions across England and six winners were chosen:
Outstanding HEI supporting social entrepreneurship: University of Northampton and University College London
The University of Northampton and University College London shared this award as they both fostered a culture of social entrepreneurship for staff and students within their institutions and the communities they serve. Both universities have a clear strategy, strong leadership in promoting and facilitating social entrepreneurship, and effectively integrating it into curriculum development.
Outstanding social impact: STORM
The STORM project which was established by Dr. Gill Green received this award. The venture offers suicide prevention training packages on a not-for-profit basis for use in healthcare, social care, criminal justice and education services. The venture has been effectively developed into a sustainable business and can demonstrate not only long lasting impact on a local scale, but also globally.
Outstanding teaching staff social entrepreneur: Nigel Newbutt
Nigel Newbutt established VirtualAut, a social venture which has developed a classroom-based virtual world for young people with autism and ensures that users have a forum from which they can influence and design the virtual space they find interesting and useful.
Outstanding non-teaching staff social entrepreneur: Louise Drake
Louise Drake established Eco Ernie, a volunteer-run social venture which raises awareness of reusing and recycling to help reduce landfill waste. Working in partnership with Southampton City Council, Eco Ernie - an electric milk float - has made a positive environmental and social impact on the City's communities.
Outstanding student social entrepreneur: Edwin Broni-Mensah
Edwin Broni-Mensah established the highly successful GiveMeTap whilst studying for his PhD in Manchester, the social venture provides an ecological way for people to stay hydrated on the go. Restaurant, bar and cafe owners in Manchester have signed up as 'Providers' to supply free access to clean tap water to those who carry their branded life-time aluminum bottles.
CEO of UnLtd Cliff Prior said:
"The Recognition Awards are a fantastic showcase of social entrepreneurs who have worked tirelessly to create positive social change whilst also working studying or working as part of a HEI...The success of these social ventures will inspire and motivate others social entrepreneurs to set up and run their own ventures. We're really pleased that the UnLtd partnership with HEFCE has been able to provide the foundation for social entrepreneurship to flourish in the HE sector."
