Our social ventures
Our academic social ventures are our spinouts founded on research-led innovation and a commitment to social impact.
These mission-driven enterprises take on legal structures such as social enterprises, charities, community interest companies, and other purpose-led models, translating research from Social Sciences, Humanities, the Arts and other disciplines (SHAPE) into sustainable solutions for real-world challenges.
By leveraging diverse business models and non-traditional commercialisation pathways, they exemplify the power of impactful research in driving meaningful change. Explore our ventures below to see how research is shaping a better future through enterprise.
Social venture stories
- AffempreneursA social venture that provides young women micro-entrepreneurs in Sub-Saharan Africa with business skills, mentorship, financial resources, and wellbeing support, to start and sustain successful enterprises.
- Bridging HistoriesA change maker organisation that is creating global chapters of ambassadors that are trained, funded and supported to develop grass roots movements in their communities.
- Circular Agriculture HubThe Circular Agriculture Hub was co-founded by Lucy McCarthy to bridge the gap between farmers and consumers, ensuring that surplus produce reaches potential users.
- Equal In-SightA software platform and consultancy that analyses an organisations equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) data, delivers an EDI audit with bespoke analysis and action plans using policy and social network analysis.
- Global Talent FundThe Global Talent Fund is a nonprofit organisation working to discover, nurture, and empower talented youth worldwide
- Good GriefThe Good Grief Festival provides a groundbreaking solution by creating a safe, creative, and compassionate space to explore death, dying, and bereavement.
- HeddleHeddle is the world’s fastest-growing community of English as an Additional Language (EAL) teachers.
- The Diary ToolkitThis toolkit is a hybrid of a diary and a journal designed specifically for educators. It aims to increase happiness and job satisfaction.
- IRISiIRISi delivers evidence based support interventions to benefit survivors of domestic violence and abuse and to help reduce the associated societal burdens.