Year Here is a course in social innovation that is grounded in the daily experience of those at the frontline of inequality and focused on launching social businesses with the potential for huge impact.
There are two intakes per year, kicking off their Fellowship in Spring and Autumn. The programme is full time for 10 months, with an optional 2-month incubator.
VENTURES
Finish the programme with a venture and you’ll get seed funding, business support, desk space and client introductions to launch your business. Our alumni have launched 50 social ventures including:
- Appt, a HealthTech business that uses behavioural economics to help patients manage their long-term conditions – with multi-year investment from Innovate UK.
- Birdsong, the feminist fashion brand selling wardrobe staples made by marginalised women who are paid a fair wage. Featured in Vogue, Dazed and Vice.
- Chatterbox, an online language tuition platform powered by refugee talent, featured in The Economist, TechCrunch and The Times.
- Fat Macy’s, a catering company that trains homeless Londoners to run supper clubs and cater events, with profits going into a savings scheme helping them raise a deposit for their first flat. Winner of the William Sutton Prize for Social Innovation and the WeWork Creator Award.
- Although our programme prepares Fellows with the tools to launch a social venture, our alumni take a variety of different pathways after graduation. Year Here is about launching, growing & connecting the social innovators of tomorrow. Around a third run their own ventures, another third join already established social ventures and another third work in social and other sectors. All these avenues are valuable and have impact in different ways by helping build networks and supporting each other.
COSTS + FUNDING
Unlike a Master’s degree or MBA, we have no tuition fee, our course is free. This is a reimagination of higher education. Rather than spending a year in a lecture hall and paying £10,000 for the privilege, we challenge you to learn by doing – working on real social impact projects. Our partners pay us to be involved and that covers your tuition costs.
To widen access to the programme we have a small number of means-tested bursaries available and offer additional support through TfL discounts and recommendations for flexible paid work and affordable accommodation.
SELECTION CRITERIA
We’re looking for people with a solid professional skillset and an entrepreneurial track record. This doesn’t mean you have to have started your own business before but you will need to demonstrate that you have a bias towards action. Drive, passion for social justice and a strong learning orientation are also essential. Typically, 1 in 10 applicants secure a place on the programme.
THE APPLICATION PROCESS
- The first step takes 5 minutes.
- Sign up to check your eligibility. If you’re eligible, you’ll be sent an online application form.
- Applications are currently closed but you can register your interest for the 2022/23 programme and keep updated.
For more information click "LINK TO ORIGINAL" below.