Ingenuity 2023: What could you do with £10k?

Time is running out for the chance to win up to £10k to tackle a social or environmental issue that you care about with the deadline to sign up for the Ingenuity Programme approaching soon after Christmas.

Encouraging people to venture outdoors, tackling loneliness with bikes and community activities, and helping struggling people learn to drive with virtual reality were challenges that finalists from Portsmouth in the Ingenuity Programme last year set out to address.

The Ingenuity Programme is a competition run by the University of Nottingham that works with university partners across the UK to focus on creating businesses with impact. Entrants submit their business ideas and work with mentors to develop a business plan and pitch focused on key challenges such as health, climate change and community.

Finalists will go on to showcase their ideas at an event and have the chance to win significant investment and support for their enterprises, with the top prize totalling £10,000.

Last year, University of Portsmouth Alumna and Founder of Love Outdoors, Emma Kemp won funding that will enable her to further invest in her website and marketing, and purchase items that will really make a difference to the business and in turn the community. 

Emma said, “Being part of the Ingenuity programme has been amazing! I have been able to learn how to pitch, write a business plan, and have access to amazing mentors from Nuffield Health, Get Set Solent, and a coach, to turn my ideas into reality.”

Sign up for the next Ingenuity Programme by Monday 9 January.

Innovation Connect at the University supports students starting up their own businesses by offering free hot-desking space. Feel free to get in touch for a tour or to find out more by visiting the Innovation Connect website.