We’re teaming up with @scvoscot to run a virtual Introduction to Project Management course this June.
Designed for anyone in the voluntary sector who wants practical tools and confidence to deliver effective projects, the course draws on adapted Chartered Management Institute content tailored to Project Management tools and techniques.
• Session format: 2x 3-hour sessions, with plenty of time for discussion and questions
• Dates: 3 & 10 June, 10 am–1 pm
• These sessions are interactive, and participants will gain a certificate on completion
Sign up via SCVO >> Link in bio!
If your organisation prefers in‑house delivery, we also offer this course as a tailored internal training option.
NEWS: Mission-led founders secure vital support at Impact Challenge Awards
Scotland’s brightest emerging mission-led founders stepped into the spotlight on Thursday (5 March) as the Impact Challenge Final and Awards took place in central Edinburgh.
Hosted by Converge in partnership with @theventureslab - the venture building arm of @challengesgroup - the event saw 14 members of the Impact Challenge cohort pitch their ideas live and face questions from a panel of judges.
At stake was a £10,000 prize pot of equity-free funding and in-kind business support, specifically designed to help early-stage university founders establish a sustainable footing for their mission-driven businesses.
The judges awarded four cash prizes of £1500 each, based on the projects’ business cases, their pitches and their responses to the questions in front of the live audience.
The winning projects were:
🏆 Kumfa Tech, pitched by Lukman Yusuf, University of Glasgow: a novel process for decontaminating wastewater of harmful pollutants
🏆 Neon Guard, pitched by Leighann Lindsay on behalf of Chelsea Jarvie, University of Strathclyde: an age-intelligence platform for safer digital experiences
🏆 Patient Flow Bottleneck Explorer, pitched by Muhammed Saaed, Abertay University: turning hospital data into clear insights to keep care moving
🏆 WombWise, pitched by Emily Youngs, Edinburgh Napier University: health monitoring to enable earlier detection of endometriosis and PCOS
🏆 Emily Youngs from WombWise also took the Audience Choice prize for Best Pitch, winning a £50 book token
Before the prizes were awarded, the audience heard two inspiring talks from entrepreneurs already successfully running mission-led businesses. Dr Kavi Jagadamma, co-founder of Health Design Collective, and runner up in the Converge Social Enterprise Challenge in 2018, talked of his passion for working with end-users to co-design accessible and affordable health care products.
Mark Blair, CEO of Effective Now, talked of the delicate balancing act of running a mission-led business while remaining commercially viable.
Women are transforming markets, leading enterprises, and empowering communities across Africa and the UK. This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the founders driving meaningful systemic change — from sustainable cocoa and menstrual health to circular economy initiatives and nutritious food production. When we consistently invest in women, the impact expands.
Full story on our website.
@theventureslab@farmreap@challengesghana@challengesuganda
Happy International Women's Day!
#IWD2026 #GiveToGain #WomenEntrepreneurs #InvestInWomen
The @challengesuganda 2025 Impact Report is here.
This year, we walked alongside entrepreneurs across Uganda — listening, learning, and building practical solutions together. From Anyim Maber and 10X to RISE/E, NSSF Hi Innovator, iKnowFarm, and ACE Delivers, our work supported women, men, youth, refugees, and persons with disabilities to strengthen financial management, access finance, build resilience, and grow sustainably.
2025 was also about changing the system itself. We partnered with financial institutions, policymakers, and ecosystem actors to co‑create more inclusive financial products, policies, and support structures so entrepreneurs can thrive.
To every entrepreneur, partner, funder, and ecosystem ally — thank you for trusting us.
And to the Challenges Uganda team: your dedication and professionalism made this impact possible.
📘 Grab a copy of the 2025 Challenges Uganda Impact Report
🔗 Link in bio
@theventureslab by Challenges Group is looking for academics with bold ideas to join us on a new AHRC Proof of Concept grant.
If you’ve got a concept with real potential, we want to hear from you!
Link in bio.
We’re seeking innovative partners to collaborate on high-impact, inclusive energy solutions for Energy Catalyst Round 11.
The Challenges Group is engaging organisations through two routes:
1 - Innovator‑led proposals
For UK and globally‑based technology innovators with solutions aligned to the Energy Catalyst remit.
We support project scoping, application development, commercial advisory and in‑country partner identification.
2- Challenge‑led consortium building
We’re working with corporates, SMEs, utilities and institutions in ODA‑eligible countries to define high‑priority innovation challenges.
These challenges will shape new, demand‑led consortium bids that deliver impactful, locally appropriate solutions.
Up to £7m is available across feasibility, industrial research and experimental development.
📧 [email protected]
#EnergyCatalyst #CleanEnergyInnovation #EnergyAccess #InnovateUK #SustainableGrowth
1 in 4 children in Scotland are living in poverty.
Employment remains one of the most effective ways to combat child poverty; however, many mothers eager to return to work continue to face obstacles.
In partnership with @scotgov , we’re expanding Making Work Work to support more mums across Scotland in finding fair, flexible work.
If you're a mother in Scotland looking to return to work, 2026 could be the year you make work work for you!
🔗 Link in bio to apply
This week, our project and business development manager, Cerina Wheatland, joins conservation and development leaders at the Conservation Livelihoods Conference, organised by Jersey Overseas Aid and Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. This event focuses on integrating biodiversity conservation, climate action, and rural development worldwide.
We look forward to her insights as we strengthen support for sustainable, purpose-led founders making a local and global impact.
ID: Two hands holding a pile of small brown beans over a woven sack. Text on the image reads: ‘Biodiversity & Livelihoods – A Shared Investment in the Future, 22nd & 23rd January 2026, Cambridge, UK.’ The Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust logo appears on the left and the Jersey Overseas Aid logo on the right
2025 → what a year! 🌍✨
13 new team members joined our UK team, 100+ ventures supported, 81 women empowered, and our Ventures Lab on the global stage.
This video captures highlights, lessons learned, and what’s next.
💡 More programmes. More partnerships. More impact.
Thank you to the ventures, founders, partners, participants, and our incredible team for being part of the journey. Here’s to a joyful festive season and a bright 2026! 🎄💫
Happy holidays from all of us at The Challenges Group, @Theventureslab , @myed.inburgh and Making Work Work.
Swapping learnings between Lagos and Edinburgh ✈️
As part of YBI’s Member Learning Exchange Scheme, Oluwaseun Oshoniyi from @fatefoundation , Nigeria, visited @challengesgroup in Scotland to explore strategies in financial literacy, alumni engagement, and impact measurement.
Challenges works across many countries, with a current focus on Sub-Saharan Africa. Oluwaseun visited their HQ, based in Scotland, UK, eager to learn how their "Theory of Change" translates into activities that foster successful, sustainable entrepreneurs through access to finance, alumni engagement and long-term impact measurement.
Key learnings included:
🔹The value of business advisory in scaling youth-led enterprises.
🔹Effective Monitoring & Evaluation frameworks.
🔹Insights continuously gained from innovative programmes.
💬 “The learning exchange is a truly worthwhile experience,” shared Oluwaseun. “I strongly encourage other members to take full advantage of the opportunity.”
Applications are now open for the 2026-27 YBI Member Learning Exchange Scheme. Learn more and apply at the link in our bio.
#YBINetwork #TheoryOfChange #accesstofinance
Earlier this week, our UK team came together at @myed.inburgh 's lovely space, the Bakery, for our annual Strategy Day. This was our opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come in our three-year strategy, and to chart the course ahead.
A day filled with energy, insight, and collaboration, we:
- Explored our future opportunities for Making Work Work, @theventureslab , and @myed.inburgh .
- Sought ways to strengthen our approach to partnerships and growth, both here in the UK and across our global offices.
- Heard from Mark Blair of @effectivenow , who inspired us with their work tackling the skills gap crisis facing the next generation of our workforce.
- Closed with an engaging AI workshop led by Sarah Frame, challenging us to imagine creative, ethical ways of building our AI dream team while remembering the true strengths and skills we have within us.
And of course, plenty of laughter and a slice of our much‑loved pizza to keep us fuelled!
Days like these are a reminder of why collaboration, reflection, and innovation are at the heart of The Challenges Group. Together, we’re harmonising the many facets of our expanding capabilities, enabling us to be catalysts for a better world.
#TheChallengesGroup #StrategyDay #Innovation #Impact #Partnerships #MakingWorkWork #VenturesLab
A massive shoutout to our Leadership & Learning team for their work on Making Work Work programme supporting women in Scotland to re-enter the workforce after a career break.
Since 2021, we’ve supported over 300 women, with: 🔹 71% progressing into employment or launching a business
- 71% progressing into employment, entrepreneurship or career advancement
- 17% moving into study, volunteering or new roles
Tap the link in bio to access our 2025 Impact Report.
#MakingWorkWork #WomenInWork #CareerReturners #LeadershipAndLearning #ChallengesGroup #ImpactReport
