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About Nesta

Nesta is an innovation foundation. For us, innovation means turning bold ideas into reality and changing lives for the better. We use our expertise, skills and funding in areas where there are big challenges facing society.

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Tools for a Rapid Recovery

in partnership with The Big Issue (Ride Out Recession Alliance)
13 May 2021 10:00

We explored how well-placed innovative tools and services can impact the lives of individuals who have had their jobs and money affected by COVID-19.

Nesta Challenges is proud have hosted this event in partnership with The Big Issue’s Ride Out Recession Alliance. The event brought together thought leaders and frontline workers with innovators and entrepreneurs to discuss the issues thrown up by the pandemic around access to jobs and money. It also offered some very practical and tangible methods, ideas and tools to tackle the very real issues encountered by so many across the UK - accessing jobs and money.

The event:

  • Heard from senior representatives at Nesta and The Big Issue
  • Saw demonstrations of the six finalists Rapid Recovery Challenge tools and hear from those who have used them
  • RORA and Nesta roundtable carousel discussion with experts and frontline representatives discussing how we can tackle the issues, what's worked, what hasn’t and how to move forward
  • Gave attendees the chance to connect directly with the six finalist Rapid Recovery Innovators
  • Had the opportunity to network with other like-minded organisations

Speakers

Lord John Bird MBE

The Rt Hon the Lord Bird MBE was born into poverty and brought up in care. His life journey has included spells as a prisoner, artist and printer. Now an activist, publisher and Crossbench member of the House of Lords, Lord Bird is the driving force behind The Big Issue Group, which includes the world's most successful street magazine, The Big Issue and its social investment arm, Big Issue Invest. Lord Bird is a business leader with an outstanding record of using enterprise as a force for social change in dismantling the root causes of poverty; and in Parliament, he focuses on poverty prevention, literacy and protecting the rights of future generations.

Angela Clements

Angela has worked in affordable credit for many years, first as CEO of the Citysave Credit Union in Birmingham and then as the Founder of Fair for You Finance. Fair for You was set up to change the way credit is provided to lower income families. The business is a Community Interest Company, which means it doesn’t operate on a for-profit basis, instead it aims to be sustainable and self-sufficient. @FairforYouCIC

Ravi Gurumurthy

Ravi Gurumurthy joined Nesta as Chief Executive in December 2019. Ravi was previously responsible for the International Rescue Committee’s work in designing, testing and scaling products and services for people affected by crisis in over 40 countries - from reducing acute malnutrition and intimate partner violence, to expanding employment for Syrian refugees. Prior to joining the International Rescue Committee in 2013, Ravi held a number of roles in the UK Government, including Director of Strategy at the UK’s Department of Energy and Climate Change and as a strategic advisor to the Foreign Secretary.

Dr Fiona Aldridge

Fiona is director for policy and research at Learning and Work Institute, and is responsible for leading L&W’s programme of research and development. She has more than 20 years’ experience and is currently focused on building the capacity of local areas, providers and employers to lead and respond to changes in post-16 education and skills. @FionaAldridge

Edd Parker

Edd Parker is Head of Strategy and Insight at Christians Against Poverty (CAP), managing a team of project managers and analysts creating information that changes conversations, products that change clients lives and ideas that shape the future of CAP. Edd has led on the introduction of CAP Life Skills, a successful grantee in the Nesta Savers Support Fund, and also manages CAP's operations around the world. He's partial to a craft beer and in his spare time you'll find him fell running on the Yorkshire Moors.

Debs Gordon

Debs supports employers both in the attraction to and delivery of their work placement programmes, in partnership with training providers and youth outreach organisations. Previously Director of Resourcing at Centrica, she has a deep understanding of the strategic design and operation of the recruitment lifecycle. She is well-versed in managing large, diverse and geographically disparate teams to achieve both value and stakeholder satisfaction. Professionally, Debs’ main interest is linking British businesses with new or previously unconsidered groups of talent.

Kyra Cordley

Kyra Cordrey is the UK Commercial Director for PageGroup. Previously an experienced recruiter across finance and transformation whilst also running teams and businesses, she is now responsible for ensuring delivery of customer-centric solutions to all our partners.

Sophia Spence-Cheng

Sophia Spence-Cheng is the Policy Manager for Children and Young People at the Money and Pensions Service. She is passionate about improving the lives of children and young people, and her diverse experience includes strategy work in the public and charity sectors, children’s social care, and financial services. Sophia has a degree from Oxford University and is also a registered social worker for children and families.

Part of
Challenge Works

Event information

13 May 2021 10:00
Register here