The Changemaker Innovation Generator & Social Venture Builder Programme

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Submit your application by 8th March 2015. 

The Social Venture Builder (SVB) programme and the Changemaker Innovation Generator (CIG) have been designed to offer distinctive, innovative, practical models that build skills and competence while developing investable and marketable social enterprising solutions. The complex social problems our society now faces require an approach that is interdisciplinary and focused on both innovation and commercialisation.
The SVB’s ‘incubator programme’ is a product of the University of Northampton‘s continued commitment to social enterprise; thorough research, trial and improvement. It has previously supported candidates to attract new contracts in excess of £6m and investment in excess of £500k. The SVB and CIG are supported by Big Issue Invest and i-genius.

The Programmes

The CIG is a 3 day programme that begins to develop your ideas and entrepreneurial skills in small groups, allowing you to experience other ways of thinking, diverse creativity and teamwork. It is run in collaboration with real life projects, offering the opportunity to test solutions that will make a real social impact.
This programme is aimed at progressing ideas into concrete proposals, with ambitious but achievable targets. The SVB works to scale up an organisation, developing new markets, accessing appropriate investment and developing your leadership capacity and competence.
The programme is centred on work based learning, and is backed up with personal mentoring, access to business support and online resources. There are also two options for the SVB – it can be undertaken as continued professional development or as an academically accredited programme.
The fully accredited programme is taught in 3 residential weekend workshops, spread over six months and assessed over twelve months through assignments and project work. This is aimed ultimately at producing a sustainable social venture and gaining a Postgraduate Diploma with the option to continue onto a Master’s in Social Innovation. This framework allows you to continue working while you learn – in a way that benefits both personal development and the development of the organisation. This is achieved through relevant applicable topic areas, and aided by the support of your personal mentor and business adviser.

Topic areas covered include:
  • social policy and impact marketing
  • procurement and commissioning
  • finance and leadership
Changemaker Innovation Generator diagram

What Are We Looking For?

We are now calling for individuals or organisations to submit ideas that have the potential to address social problems from any sector, public, private or third. You don’t need to be a student or graduate of the university, and your organisation or start-up can come from any sector and be based anywhere in the UK. We are looking for a diverse range of social innovations, including:
  • youth justice
  • working with young people
  • health and wellbeing
  • social care
  • Environmental projects
  • any innovation that will increase life opportunities for 16-24 year olds by increasing job creation
  • any innovation that works to improve the skills, wellbeing or safety of a community.

Why Us?

We are looking for ambitious, engaging and creative responses to social problems that exist every day in every community, led by an aspiration to change social systems and push for positive social change. The University of Northampton’s Social Venture Builder programme is the only one of its kind in the UK accredited to Post Graduate level, and has been developed within the only Ashoka U Changemaker Campus in the UK. If you feel you have an idea or organisation that has the potential to do this, or just have a question about the programmes please email svb@northampton.ac.uk

Costs & Funding

The first round of the Changemaker Innovation Generator will be delivered free of charge, with limited places available. There are opportunities for all candidates to apply for part or fully funded places on the SVB programme. The Northamptonshire Police Crime Commissioner’s Office is offering to fully fund ventures targeting youth justice, drug and substance misuse, and school/youth group interventions.
For students, staff and recent graduates of the University of Northampton, there are several other funding options available. Please contact the Social Venture Builder email​ for more information.​
To secure your place on the Changemaker Innovation Generator and Bigger Together Social Finance Event please complete the application form and return to by 8th March 2015: svb@northampton.ac.uk


Download application form:
click here!


For more information on both our programmes please go to:
www.northampton.ac.uk/social-venture-builder


Confirmed Date for Changemaker Innovation Generator & Bigger Together Social Finance Event.

23rd 24th & 25th March 2015 – Learn more, click here!


Confirmed Date for Social Venture Builder Programme Master Class 1:

7th 8th & 9th May 2015

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2 thoughts on “The Changemaker Innovation Generator & Social Venture Builder Programme

  1. I studied Social Entrepreneurship post grad level at Coventry University, I am also qualified as an Ambassador of Social Enterprise. I am in the very early stages of starting a really exciting project and would love to do this course. Please could you call me after 11.30am as I work from 6am – 11am, 7 days a week and cannot answer my phone. My number is 07841 381449. I would love to see what we can achieve together. You can see my LinkedIn account and my endorsements Jayne Silvester- New Beginnings

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