Leeds Beckett University launches unique Leeds City Challenge to power student-led innovation across the city
Leeds Beckett University has officially launched the Leeds City Challenge, a bold new initiative designed to harness student and graduate entrepreneurship to tackle real-world challenges facing Leeds.
The launch event, held this morning, brought together civic leaders, business figures, entrepreneurs, staff and students to kick-start a programme focused on place-based innovation, inclusive growth and tangible impact across the city and surrounding region.
At the heart of the initiative is a £10,000 prize in seed funding, provided by Leeds Beckett University, forming a powerful headline commitment to backing the next generation of business leaders.
The Leeds City Challenge invites students from first-year undergraduates through to PhD level, as well as alumni up to 18 months post-graduation, to propose innovative business ideas that respond directly to challenges within Leeds and the wider city region. As such, it is the first challenge of its kind to be launched by any university in the UK.
The programme will include workshops, mentoring and a shortlisting process, culminating in a final pitch event where shortlisted teams will present to a high-profile judging panel.
The launch opened with remarks from Professor George Lodorfos, Dean of Leeds Business School, followed by Vice Chancellor Professor Peter Slee. Attendees also heard a keynote address from Ed Whiting OBE, Chief Executive of Leeds City Council, who spoke about the economic prospects of Leeds as a thriving and prosperous city and the importance of collaboration between universities, civic institutions and industry.
Professor Lebene Richmond Soga, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Management Practice at Leeds Business School and Academic Director of the LBS Centre for Entrepreneurship and Knowledge Exchange, outlined how the Challenge connects student talent with the needs of the city’s economy.
