Solving critical social issues by leveraging key research and direct action
The Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation at Cambridge Judge Business School acts as a platform for research and engagement with social innovators, academia and policy in UK and across the world. Its primary focus is to understand, promote, and engage with social innovators and create and support social ventures and projects.
Social innovation is concerned with the development of creative and practical solutions to complex social problems. While many social innovators work in non-profit organisations, they are increasingly found in government and corporations. The boundaries between the sectors have broken down, and social innovation now takes place at the intersection. That’s why our Centre focuses on leadership for social change, wherever it takes place. This requires a different approach; we aim to have a positive impact on the kind of world that we live in, blurring the boundaries between what is for-profit and what is non-profit.
Find out about the latest developments in the social innovation sphere, as well as gaining insights into Centre-related news and resources.
Our people
The Centre team (Professor Paul Tracey, Professor Neil Stott, and Dr Nicole Helwig) works closely with CJBS faculty, research fellows, and practitioner honorary fellows to develop cutting edge research, learning and support. Many other social innovators, volunteers and students also contribute to the work of the Centre.
Our partners
Our partners span business, civil society, policy and academia. Our research and practice fellows collaborate with us on research and teaching. Through Cambridge Social Ventures, we are also firmly embedded in the Cambridge entrepreneurial ecosystem and the social sector across the UK.
What we do
We build best practices across business, civil society, policy and academia for a more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable world, specifically:
Upcoming events
Our events are tailored towards educating and enabling students or business owners to start a social venture with the possibility of generating real-world impact.
We don't currently have any upcoming events, but check back soon.
News and insights
Read the latest news and features from the Centre from the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation.
Student and alumni news
The King honours sweet social venture Harry Specters
Mona Shah, who founded the Harry Specters chocolate business after being inspired by her autistic son, was honoured with an MBE for services to training and employment for young people with autism in the King’s Birthday Honours announced on 13 June. Harry Specters participated in the Cambridge Social Ventures programme, part of the Cambridge Centre of Social Innovation at Cambridge Judge Business School.
Social impact
How we are all complicit in organisational lethality
Some lethality is intentional, such as overwhelming military force, yet there are other types of lethality. In this piece Neil Stott, Management Practice Professor of Social Innovation and Co-Director of the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation at Cambridge Judge Business School, argues that organisational lethality – the capability and capacity to kill – is increasingly pervasive. He says there is an imperative to treat organisational lethality not as a regretful by-product of organising but as a moral failure requiring urgent collective action.
Research centre news
New study: Gaza and Ukraine demonstrate urgent need for UN reform
Cambridge Judge researchers propose meta-organisational reform to address peacekeeping failures in Gaza, Ukraine and beyond.