From entrepreneurship and elite sport to community theatre and resilience, here is some of the work that we have done, and what clients had to say about it.
Innovation for African Universities (IAU) programme
Launched in 2021, the IAU programme was funded by the British Council and delivered in partnership with the University of Nairobi and Change School. It strengthened entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems across 24 universities in Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa, working on themes including biotechnology, agri-entrepreneurship, carbon literacy, the circular economy, and social enterprise.
The IAU programme improved outcomes for over 7000 people in Sub-Saharan Africa. Students and young entrepreneurs benefitted through upskilling, mentorship, incubation, and exposure to markets, with 139 ventures supported and improved employability and entrepreneurial capabilities. Universities gained enhanced curricula, international networks, and system reforms, while staff and practitioners were upskilled through training and collaborative learning. The programme reflects the Centre’s broader commitment to applying creative leadership practices in international contexts, building the skills and ecosystems that support sustainable development.
Tomazia Cossou, one of the entrepreneurs supported by the networks of partners in Accra Technical University, tells her story in the Museum of Entrepreneurship. Drawing on the experience of supporting innovation and entrepreneurship as part of the IAU programme, Dr Sara Jones acted as Chairperson of the panel of judges for the 2024 and 2025 exhibitions of the Africa Regional Conference on Education and Skills.
Developing University Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in Sub-Saharan Africa
Edited by Sam Kamuriwo, Sara Jones, Neil Marshall, and Mary Wanjiru Kinoti and published by World Scientific, the book Developing University Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in Sub-Saharan Africa draws together the insights and outcomes of the Innovation for African Universities programme.
It examines how universities across Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa can strengthen their entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystems, offering practical lessons from the partnerships developed between UK and Sub-Saharan African institutions.
We launched the book at our World Creativity and Innovation Day event.
Building Well Communities
In 2022-23, c2p2 was part of the Well Communities Research Consortium, investigating ways in which the health and social benefits of community assets such as strong community networks and groups, arts and cultural activities, parks and green spaces could be realised at scale. The focus here was on marginalised communities in London and Northamptonshire, who had not, historically, been able to benefit from these types of assets.
Creative Spark: Higher Education Enterprise Programme
British Council funded five-year initiative to help develop the creative economy and enterprise skills across seven countries in Central Asia. Our team was successful in two bids to work with local partners in both Armenia and Kyrgyzstan to provide skills development for 500 students and young creative entrepreneurs in each country.
Boosting Resilience
Funded by Arts Council England and delivered in partnership with The Culture Capital Exchange and Manchester Metropolitan University, Boosting Resilience: Survival Skills for the New Normal supported 26 leaders from arts organisations, museums, libraries, and music education hubs across the UK to develop personal and organisational resilience through creative leadership, helping them make better use of their creative assets and intellectual property in an increasingly uncertain world. You can read more about our work in Arts Professional.
More Original Journalism
Our AI-augmented creativity tool INJECT was shown to increase the novelty of stories written by journalists across three Norwegian newsrooms, measurably changing how reporters approached new stories over several months. Read more about this work: Automating science journalism tasks: emerging opportunities
“My journalists are excited about working with INJECT and I think Norwegian newspapers would be willing to pay for this.” Ola Stave, journalist, Norway
Rethinking Air Traffic Management
The Centre developed and led interdisciplinary workshops with the National Air Traffic Service (NATS) to create new air traffic systems, applying creative and design thinking to reconceptualise highly complex operations at a national scale.
Creative Enhancement of Sports Performance
The English Institute of Sport used a new digital tool developed by our Centre to help coaches discover fresh ideas for improving elite athlete performance, using AI to open new creative avenues.
“The tool can help perturb coaches’ current thinking around a performance question, allowing them to generate and explore new and creative ideas which may not have been imagined before.” Alex Wolf, Head of Strength and Conditioning, English Institute of Sport
Digital Strategies for Audience Engagement
We combined oral history interventions, user-generated work with 18–25 year-olds, and creative workshops to help Arcola Theatre develop a new strategic plan for engaging local audiences and communities.
“It was hugely useful and refreshing to work with the Centre’s team and to have their expert support in coming together in a number of brainstorming, planning, and thinking sessions.” Ruth Tosha Mulandi, Commercial Manager, Arcola Theatre
Strategic Insights for Optometrists
The Centre designed and facilitated creative problem-solving workshops for board members of the UK College of Optometrists, uncovering new solutions to strategic challenges that had proved resistant to conventional approaches.
“The Board really enjoyed the sessions, and we now have an excellent basis on which to approach the strategic away day. Thank you so much for making it so good.” Jo Mullin, Director of Policy and Strategy, UK College of Optometrists
Creative Citizen Engagement in Civil Projects
We worked with start-up Stickyworld to design and evaluate a new digital platform for engaging citizens creatively in civil projects, using cutting-edge co-design and co-creation techniques to help people generate, envision, and prototype new ideas quickly.
“We are extremely pleased to have engaged with the University. It is a relationship we hope to continue beyond the project.” Michael Kohn, CEO, Stickyworld Ltd
Other organisations we have worked with include:
AGT Germany, ANPAS, Avega Consulting, Atlantic Systems Guild, BBC, BT, Daimler-Chrysler, Digital Shoreditch, E.ON, FIAT, Ladder to the Moon, Motiroti, Parmalat S.p.a., Perspectiv, Playgen, Registered Nursing Home Association care homes, Regola S.p.a.
