Why join Innovation Fest: A launching pad for your career

Why join Innovation Fest: A launching pad for your career

What's it all about?

Innovation Fest is where you take the lead, putting your studies into practice to solve a real business challenge that matters.

Innovation Fest is a four-day competition event for students interested in social entrepreneurship and global challenges . You’ll team up in small groups to take on a live challenge posed by a social enterprise partner, spanning  four tracks: Mental Health and Wellbeing, the Climate Crisis, Inequalities and Data Empowered Societies.  Across four days, you’ll rapidly ideate and prototype your solution, then pitch it for the chance to win an exclusive mentorship package with leading social innovation experts. 

We’re really excited about what we’ve built with Innovation Fest this year. Students who join will get the opportunity to solve a real business challenge within a Social Enterprise, developing vital career skills while genuinely making a difference. Throughout the four days, you’ll develop your own individual toolbox of social innovation knowledge and skills through workshops, talks and mentoring sessions. But most vitally, this isn’t just an event to sit and listen.  Innovation Fest is where you take the lead, putting your studies into practice to solve a real business challenge that matters.

If you needed, more convincing, there’s the prize. Our winners will each access a bespoke industry mentorship package with leading social innovation experts at Cambio Consultancy and BSI, launching their careers in social impact. 

The prize: from Innovation Fest to industry access

Industry connections and individual, specialised support will provide our winners with a launching pad for a career in entrepreneurship and social impact.

The winning team have an opportunity for a once in a lifetime career boost through access to a package of industry mentorship, skills development and networking.

As a group, they'll receive guided support from our Student Social Enterprise team to implement their business solution with their Social Enterprise partner. 

Each member of the winning team will also access a bespoke social entrepreneurship mentorship with industry partners from Cambio Consultancy and BSI. This will include:

• 3 x 1:1 mentorship sessions with a social entrepreneurship mentor at Cambio Consultancy
• Referral to industry expert in area of your interest from Cambio's network  for 1:1 session
• Group mentorship and networking session with mentors at BSI
• Referral to industry expert in area of your interest from BSI's network for 1:1 session
• Opportunity to join a standards development committee with BSI

The Social Enterprises

Each team will respond to a business challenge faced by a real-life Social Enterprise. Our partners for this year include:

• 🌱Finance Earth is an employee-owned social enterprise who support nature-based solutions to the climate crisis through utilising finance and investment. 
• 🩸 BB Pads is a social enterprise with a mission to revolutionise menstrual product sustainability and combat period stigma. 
• 🗣️ Manifesto Studios is a digital technology start-up currently piloting an innovative tool for safely capturing human rights testimonials with Amnesty International. 
• 🏡 homefolk (uncapitalised) is a London-based social enterprise tackling the housing crisis. 
• ☕️ Nemi Teas are a specialist London-based tea company who provide hospitality training and employment to refugees. 
• 📚 The Common Press is an intersectional queer bookshop and café, recognised as one of the Top 10 independent bookshops in London. 
• 🏳️‍🌈 Queertopia is a Black and brown queer-led social enterprise who provide community mental health and belonging services. 
• 🥊 Fight Forward CIC delivers trauma-informed boxing programmes that support women to rebuild confidence, resilience, and wellbeing after adversity, including domestic abuse. 

All students will be paired with a single social enterprise to work in detail on a live business challenge facing their organisation. You'll be able to express your thematic preference at application, but you'll have plenty of opportunity to network with all eight partners across the four days.

How to get involved

All students interested in Innovation Fest must apply using this form. The deadline is May 18th but applications are assessed on a rolling basis and may close early so we recommend applying as soon as possible.

Useful links

• 👉 Check-out the Innovation Fest webpage.
• 👉 View a sneak preview of the programme here. 
• 👉 Apply while spots last.