Makerversity Wins Prestigious N.I.C.E. Award 2016 As Most Innovative Creative Enterprise in Europe.

[UK founded social enterprise with campuses in London and Amsterdam defies ‘Brexit blues’ to scoop €8000 ‘Network for Innovations in Culture and Creativity in Europe’ Prize from field of over 200 applicants in Essen, Germany]

Following recognition this summer as one of NESTA and The Observer newspaper’s 50 New Radicals, Makerversity has been awarded first prize in a Europe-wide search for innovative organisations tackling the biggest challenges on the continent today.

The N.I.C.E award, now in its third year is run by the European Centre for Creative Economy and this year chaired by international authority on the use of imagination and creativity in urban change Charles Landry. It recognised Makerversity’s work towards supporting emerging creative businesses and inspiring the next generation of creative and practical minds through groundbreaking learning and work experience programmes.

Makerversity is home to over 300 member ‘maker’ businesses at their campuses at Somerset House, London and Marineterrein, Amsterdam. When members aren’t busy creating solutions to big challenges themselves, they share their expertise to help Makerversity run learning and work experience programmes for young people, offering unique opportunities to explore careers in innovation, manufacturing and the creative industries.

Makerversity cofounder Tom Tobia, who pitched for the N.I.C.E. award in Essen said “At Makerversity we have recently taken the decision to expand into the continent, opening our second campus in Amsterdam earlier this year. Given the post-referendum uncertainty around the UK’s future standing in Europe’s creative industries and wider economy we feel incredibly proud to be recognised at such a high level by a European organisation. This, alongside our inclusion on the NESTA & Observer’s New Radicals top 50 means we’ve had a year to be very proud of. We are equally proud to be at the beating heart of creative and cultural change as ‘Europeans’ and we look forward to continuing to support makers and learners across the continent in the long term.”

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For release on: [Immediately]

Links:

http://nice-europe.eu/

http://charleslandry.com/

http://www.nesta.org.uk/news/new-radicals-2016/makerversity

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jul/10/more-new-radicals-observer-nesta-social-enterprise-innovation-charity

Contact:

Tom Tobia

tom@makerversity.org

http://makerversity.co.uk

@makerversity

Makerversity Ltd

Somerset House

London

WC2R 1LA

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Notes to Editors:

N.I.C.E.

N.I.C.E. spells out as ‚Network for Innovations in Culture and Creativity in Europe’. This nascent network invites stakeholders from all over Europe to join forces and systematically promote the impact of culture on innovation, urban development and economic growth as set out in the EU Agenda 2014 - 2020.

The N.I.C.E. Award promotes innovations through culture and creative industries into the wider economy and society to tackle the major challenges of our future today. To this end, the N.I.C.E. Award creates visibility and know-how transfer for so far overseen innovations throughout Europe, kicks off debates and impulses in business, culture and policy alike and motivates cultural and creative makers to be innovative and more experimental.

Makerversity: Making and Learning

Makerversity is a pioneering community of emerging maker businesses. Our campuses at Somerset House, London and Marineterrein, provide unrivalled access to studio, event and fabrication spaces and prototyping tools for our diverse member businesses.

Our members also constitute our faculty, each contributing to develop the next generation of creative and practical minds through work placements, events and our education programme Makerversity DIY.

Makerversity DIY

Makerversity DIY is pioneering programme of lessons and toolkits enable anyone, anywhere to learn through making and developing digital skills. Makerversity DIY shapes the way young people are able to explore core subjects as well as offering a window into career opportunities in the burgeoning design and digital manufacturing industries.


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About Makerversity

An international community of pioneering maker businesses. Creators of @makerversitydiy, a learning through making curriculum.