Nick Murray

🌍 Launch 🌍 We are thrilled to announce the digital launch of the #LambethClimatePartnership platform! This new platform will highlight the vast range of climate initiatives happening across the borough and create opportunities for more organisations to join this crucial mission. It includes a visual dashboard that tracks the borough’s progress towards our climate goals, ensuring transparency and accountability. Founded by 12 leading organisations in Lambeth, the partnership represents key sectors such as health, housing, culture, education, and skills. It is designed for organisations from all sectors that are committed to incorporating #climateaction into their objectives, operations, logistics, building management, staff activities, and overall impact on community health and well-being. Our aim is to foster cross-sector #collaboration, enabling the sharing of knowledge and expertise to drive Lambeth towards its #netzero targets. A big thanks to the climate team – particularly Fiona Hart, Emily Hirst, Georgia Faid, and Cassidy Travis – and our partners for their tremendous effort in developing this platform and showcasing the incredible climate action happening across the borough. King's College London, Guy's and St Thomas'​ NHS Foundation Trust, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, National Theatre, Southbank Centre, LSBU Global, Metropolitan Thames Valley, Sustainable Ventures https://lnkd.in/egKdvnra

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Scottish Enterprise have opened their applications to the new #PathwaystoScale cohort programme for female founders. The programme offers business support, executive education, a 2-day leadership retreat, scaling skills training sessions and a cohort of peers. You will join the existing cohorts as part of this emerging community of high potential female-founded companies.    There is an opportunity for companies on Pathways to Scale to apply for up to £20,000 - a great opportunity for early-stage companies to get some growth funding into the business to help make them more investable.   Spaces are limited and the closing date for applications is: 11:59pm on Tue 22 Oct 2024.   Eligibility: ⭐ Should have a turnover of around £100,000 plus (flexible on this as long as other criteria met) ⭐ Be aiming to raise investment in the next 12 to 18 months & likely have 2 to 10 full-time employees ⭐ Have international ambition with clearly identifiable market opportunities ⭐ Have an innovative, scalable product or service, and a focus on key and future industries, especially in the STEM sectors ⭐ ⭐ You can find more details on the Scottish Enterprise website along with the application form: https://lnkd.in/e7FJEQjC ⭐ #wes #womeninenterprise #womeninbusiness #femaleentrepreneurs #scottishbusinesswomen Women's Enterprise Scotland BAWE - British Association of Women Entrepreneurs

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🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 The Scottish Government’s #Digital Directorate has set out five recommendations for increasing the value of #OpenData from the country’s #PublicSector. https://lnkd.in/enkwDgmb 𝟙. Set out a vision that makes the case for open data. 𝟚. Embrace long-term collaboration and commitment. 𝟛. Create an implementation strategy that is intentional, realistic, transparently monitored, and celebrates success. 𝟜. Set the standards for open data publication. 𝟝. Provide targeted technical guidance and support for publishers and users.

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NEW on Wonkhe: Ben Rogers proposes that there should be regional pots of research funding that can tackle regional challenges, fund innovation and support economic growth https://lnkd.in/eKgbQnYh

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“Many social venture leaders are looking of ways to raise funds to scale but are faced with a multitude of options, and often barriers. For many, social investment might be the best option not yet explored.” In this blog, our friends at Good Finance UK and School for Social Entrepreneurs have put together the five key things you NEED to know before exploring social investment as part of the future financing of your organisation. Read now -

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“Many social venture leaders are looking of ways to raise funds to scale but are faced with a multitude of options, and often barriers. For many, social investment might be the best option not yet explored.” In this blog, our friends at Good Finance UK and School for Social Entrepreneurs have put together the five key things you need to know before exploring social investment as part of the future financing of your organisation. Link in the comments!

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So you want a good interest rate on your savings account, _and_ you want to do your bit for climate change _and_ help schools save money? Here's how!

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🚨 New report alert! Edge Foundation releases "Flex Without Compromise" - a critical look at the proposed Growth and Skills Levy. Key points: 🔹 Concerns over funding squeeze for apprenticeships 🔹 Potential impact on Youth Guarantee & Growth Mission 🔹 Suggestions to boost apprenticeship opportunities CEO Alice Gardner: "We need solutions now to incentivize apprenticeship growth, especially for young people." Report proposes: ✅ Better SME support ✅ Full funding for under-22 apprentices ✅ Improved application process ✅ Modular apprenticeship model Read more here: https://lnkd.in/ejvpKfra #Apprenticeships #SkillsLevy #YouthEmployment

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Another great Content London made especially enjoyable by having the opportunity to host three AI film screenings (made up of 10 films + filmmakers) across the three day event. My conversation with Christopher Paetkau was one my favourites- covering the transformative potential of generative AI in wildlife documentary: Would you watch a wildlife documentary that was entirely AI generated? If not, what about 10% of it? Would you even call it documentary? Could AI help us tell more stories/cater to more audiences that don’t fit the current economic model for natural history? Or are the inherent biases baked into AI simply replicating existing stories while destroying jobs? Does AI mean crews can stop disrupting animals in their natural environments? Is there REALLY that much difference between using AI to tell a story and the current practice of editing live action with multiple animals across multiple days, edit points, addition of stock footage, music and VO? Just some topics we covered. Thanks for having me C21Media

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Considering applying for R&D grant funding? Some useful information here!

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Nick Addington thanks for sharing this article at the beginning of a year where we need to accept that AI is here and here to stay! Summing up project planning patterns in 2024, the first subject that comes to mind is AI. By the end of 2024 my understanding and use of AI changed from simply hearing people talk about it, feeling cautious and wary of it, to it becoming almost a advisor and a ‘friend.’ Similar to Social networks, like LinkedIn, I learned to take any advice given as advice, not a complete answer. To receive constructive feedback from an individual and/or AI, you need to start by providing clear, concise and constructive plans and content. Only a few months ago I attended a seminar on writing funding applications. Many attendees felt nervous using AI, or being ‘found out’ and disqualified for using AI. My daughter enters her third year of school exams, and her tests are red marked if the teacher thinks AI has been used. In December, I submitted numerous job applications via an online system, all of which warned against using AI. And thanks to The National Lottery Community Fund - let’s keep this discussion going WITH everyone. ps. This article was not written or edited by AI! #WITHFramework #Together #Share #Trust

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Grant applications to fund innovation: I often see frustration from start ups spending time and effort applying for funding that they don’t get; often also paying for the services of “grant writing companies”. A score reduction post recommendation implementations, like reported in the post below, doesn’t seem to make sense and is very frustrating. It may have happened because there aren’t the same assessors each round, and scoring”s subjective. Having assessed grant applications (not for innovate) there’s usually a rubric and guidelines to follow for point criteria for each section: it would be super useful for applicants to be aware of what these criteria are, so they know how to fill in the sections and score points. I’m not sure how much policing of assessment goes on, to ensure assessors follow guidelines; which is needed to ensure consistency (feels lacking here) In my experience of being awarded grants, winning grants need someone writing it that is deeply connected to the research/development behind the innovation, that has clear oversight of the entire detail of the whole project management, experience of grant writing (usually academic background), with meaningful inputs from at least commercial and marketing and the business leadership WITHIN the business. An external grant writing company is none of these things. Academic institutions literally survive financially by securing grant funding, so pairing with an academic institution opens up support from their grant winning department, which you can then access without having To pay; you’ll also benefit from having free access to that academic expertise for the duration of the project, and you’ll have the kudos of association with an academic institution that you can market to gain credibility and traction, and PR support from the university too. So to me it makes sense to try to pair with an academic institution for grant funded innovation projects, or at least have an academic on your team with a career history of successful grant applications. SMART grants in particular are incredibly competitive, and you just never know who you are up against, so you should go into it without banking on getting funding, chances are you won’t. I’ve scored in the 80s before and not been successful. It’s a competition, and competition can be tough. An idea for a SMART grant project must be truly revolutionary and beyond state-of-the-art, not just new to the particular industry you’re in. The justification for hundreds of thousands to > £1M of public money to be given to your project must be really strong. One place that all innovation companies should be looking is at R&D tax credits on all of their business costs that can be attributed to research and development (eg product development). This is a surer way to secure funding support, and investment in an accounting firm that can support on this is perhaps more shrewd decision than paying a grant writing company.

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📣 Today marks the second annual #EndDigitalPovertyDay, an initiative proudly launched by the Digital Poverty Alliance (DPA) in 2023 to drive collective action and accelerate efforts to eliminate digital poverty across the UK. Since its inception, this day has become a focal point for raising awareness and mobilising communities to close the #digitaldivide, which continues to impact millions. We extend our thanks to our partners, collaborators, and the public for stepping up in the lead-up to today and throughout this important day of action. We are pleased to announce the launch of our expanded Tech4Youth programme in #Solway today! Supported by the Macquarie Group Foundation and Voneus, this initiative provides young people with essential technology such as laptops, free broadband access, and digital literacy workshops. This expansion represents a critical step in ensuring young people have the tools and skills needed for their education and future success. More details, including how to apply, here: https://lnkd.in/eGrpzyrB. As part of today’s efforts, we are also launching our Gala Reception Auction, featuring a curated selection of exclusive items. By participating, you will directly support the vital work of the DPA and help amplify our mission to end digital poverty. The auction is open to all, not just those attending the Gala Reception. View the auction items here: https://lnkd.in/ehr-t-rQ. Let’s continue to work together towards a future where no one is left behind in the digital age. #EndDigitalPoverty

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📣 Today is #EndDigitalPovertyDay, an initiative launched by Digital Poverty Alliance 📣 At Power 2 Connect, we're committed to ending #digitalpoverty and ensuring everyone has equal access to connectivity, technology and digital skills. Here's how we’re making a difference: ♻ We collect, refurbish and redistribute digital devices to individuals facing #digitalexclusion in our community. 👩‍💻 We offer free training in digital literacy and online safety, building skills and confidence. 📱We provide informal digital support through digital drop-ins, assisting residents with tasks like accessing online services, setting up email accounts, to build digital independence. 🤝 Community Digital Champions: Working with Digital Unite we offer training for local individuals to become Digital Champions, equipping them to assist others in accessing digital resources. 🌐 Free Data SIMs Distribution: Thanks to the Good Things Foundation data bank, we provide free data SIMs to community members struggling to afford connectivity. How you can help? We have seen a huge increase in referrals for individuals in need of devices, and we are urgently seeking donations for laptops to help connect those in our community. If you or your organisation have unused devices or want to find out more, visit our website below 👇 https://lnkd.in/dS92wti

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Join us in ending digital poverty. Chek out this interesting post from Digital Poverty Alliance

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12th September 2024 marks the second #EndDigitalPovertyDay, a nationwide initiative dedicated to raising awareness about the pressing issue of digital poverty and divide in the UK. Established by the Digital Poverty Alliance, its mission is to eliminate digital poverty by 2030. Learn more about what the BCS Digital Divide Specialist Group, chaired by Freddie Quek, have been doing to support End Digital Poverty Day here: https://lnkd.in/eW3a6gcF #DigitalDivide

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