Ingenuity

Ingenuity provides an opportunity for entrepreneurs and community innovators to come together to explore key challenges facing society.

 

Below are just some examples of the successful recipients of our programme.

Foodprint

Foodprint is Nottingham’s first social supermarket and a surplus food redistribution network.

“We are a social enterprise started by students, acting as an intermediary between supermarkets, wholesalers, charities and the people of Nottingham to redistribute food. We also sell surplus at a greatly reduced price through our low-cost social supermarket in Sneinton.

The funding from Ingenuity enabled us to launch our supermarket, and become a financially independent, stable organisation.”

Key successes

  • Over 700 people benefit a week through the supermarket
  • Saved the equivalent of 132,921 kilograms of CO2 by taking on food that would otherwise end up in landfill
  • Secured partnerships with Hovis Bakery and local Tesco stores

Nottingham

The Nottingham Arimathea Trust provides housing and support for destitute asylum seekers, newly recognised refugees and victims of modern slavery and human trafficking.

“Ingenuity has had a great impact on our charity. It has been an amazing opportunity to harness essential funding to help us reach Nottingham’s most vulnerable.

Through supporting people better when they first arrive to the UK, we can integrate them into the employment market and assimilate them into society faster, reducing tensions in the community and promoting positive interactions.”

Think For the Future

Think for the Future was established to use a data-driven approach to tackle social and emotional barriers to learning. 

“Our social mission is to reduce challenging behaviour in schools and therefore reduce exclusions from mainstream education, allowing an increase in positive behaviours and equipping for success in and outside of the classroom.

We work in partnership with national organisations to provide schools with innovative solutions o ensure that young people reach their full educational potential.”

Key successes

  • Recognised as one of Grant Thorton’s ‘100 Faces of a Vibrant Economy’ in 2018
  • Working with over 50 schools
  • Secured partnerships with Teach First, the Young Foundation and UnLtd

The Anxiety Map Programme

The Anxiety Map Programme is an online network that provides a map of nearby locations people can gain help if they are experiencing anxiety or a panic attack.

“The Ingenuity Process has been life changing for me. It gave me the space to explore an idea that would otherwise just be wishful thinking and turn it into something that will help change the lives of people living with anxiety, like myself.

The Anxiety Map Programme is now online and is working with businesses in Nottingham to support living with anxiety.

 

Kohl Kreatives

Kohl Kreatives is an inclusive beauty brand and non-profit that aims to empower through make-up.

“We specialise in cosmetic creation of features lost through illness or accidents, as well helping transgender people who are transitioning.

Proceeds from make-up brush sales are invested into Kohl Kares, providing free make-up workshops internationally to help both men and women recreate features cosmetically. We teach them simple techniques to improve their self-esteem and help them reintegrate into society.

Being part of Ingenuity has been a great opportunity to build my business skills. Sometimes it has felt like you’re being thrown in at the deep end, but that’s often the best way to develop your skills! It’s amazing to be surrounded by people who are there to promote your business and support your growth in all the best ways.”

Key successes

  • Created the world’s first standing make-up brush
  • Brushes stocked in Boots, QVC, Birchbox and Wolf & Badger and other leading retailers
  • Delivered Kohl Kares workshops to over 1,000 people in need

I want to grow my ideas
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Telephone: +44 (0)115 846 6193 Email: ingenuity@nottingham.ac.uk

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University of Nottingham, Jubilee Campus, Wollaton Road, Nottingham NG7 2TU.