Pictured above: Rev. Tim Curtis
Rev. Tim Curtis, Senior Lecturer, The University of
Northampton's Business School, has been selected as a UK Social
Enterprise Ambassador for the Higher Education community, one of
only ten such posts in the UK.
The Social Entrepreneurship in Higher Education Programme is a
joint project between social enterprise charity UnLtd and the
Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). Its aim is to
award staff and students in higher education with financial and
non-financial support to start up and develop new projects, or to
develop existing projects.
Tim's new role as Social Enterprise Ambassador involves
promoting the HE Social Enterprise awards and acting as an advocate
for social entrepreneurship within the HE sector. This adds to
Tim's role in leading The University of Northampton's BA (Hons) in
Social Enterprise Development and MA in Social Enterprise
Development.
Tim has convened a network called NOISE - Northampton Initiative
in Social Enterprise- which comprises over 30 academics, support
staff and students interested in developing socially
entrepreneurial activities within the University. This includes the
first class of social enterprise students competing for a cash
prize for the best social enterprise idea, sponsored by Unltd. Tim
has also been appointed to the Editorial Board of the new
International Journal of Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation
(IJSEI).
Tim commented: "I am delighted to have been appointed as
one of the ten ambassadors to Higher Education. This appointment
simply reflects the leading role that The University of Northampton
plays in the communities of Northamptonshire in promoting civil
society solutions to social issues. This work requires a lot of
commitment from a broad base of staff and students, of which I am
only a focal point."
Dr Ian Brooks, Dean of Northampton Business School, added:
"'Tim's work in social enterprise curriculum development and
student support is ensuring the realisation of our strategic
ambition to both actively engage in social enterprise and to
develop the next generation of social entrepreneurs.
"Working within the Centre for Entrepreneurship, Enterprise and
Governance in the Northampton Business School (NBS), Tim
contributes invaluable value-based expertise to his work with
students, staff and our external communities. His contribution
complements the development of the School's new Community Interest
Company, 3E, located in Kettering within Chesham House, a new
business incubator managed by NBS.'
The Unltd/HEFCE awards are divided into two categories -
catalyst awards of up to £5,000 allow individuals to grow an
idea which also creates positive social change and development
awards of up to £15,000 are available to allow projects to
move up to the next level.