5 inspiring initiatives committed to inclusivity in our Network

We want a future where everybody is in, nobody is out. Our commitment to inclusivity in our initiatives and programmes is key to breaking cycles of inequality and division.

Impact Hub Network

Global team

Impact Hub Network is dedicated to building a regenerative economy and society, where business and profit serve both people and the planet. By connecting and supporting impact entrepreneurs, companies, partners, and communities worldwide, we provide the necessary resources and tools to create inclusive and sustainable ecosystems and innovations. Central to our mission is the commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), which is woven into every aspect of our work. Many of our programmes and initiatives focus on supporting marginalised communities and cultivating space where everyone feels they belong.

Let’s explore some examples and success stories that showcase the transformative power of DEI across the Impact Hub Network.

1. Better Incubation Programme

Better Incubation is a two-year programme (2021-2023) powered by the LIAISE – Linking Incubation Actors for Inclusive and Social Entrepreneurship project, funded by the European Union Programme for Employment and Social Innovation. The programme is made up of a series of initiatives that promote entrepreneurship as a means to create jobs, develop skills, and provide opportunities for unemployed and vulnerable people to participate fully in the economy. Our comprehensive resources equip business support organisations with valuable methodologies, ensuring that programmes become more inclusive and accessible.

→ Learn more about the Better Incubation Programme

2. Impact Hub Brasilia: Vulnerable Territories Programme

Impact Hub Brasilia has trained over 32,000 women entrepreneurs through the Female Entrepreneurship in Vulnerable Territories programme. This programme aims to promote the entrepreneurial capacity of women from favelas, seeking to enhance their role in the job market and the Brazilian entrepreneurial ecosystem through actions focused on financial education, entrepreneurship, and the appreciation of women. Some of the key initiatives in this programme include:

Social Innovation Lab: Women who want to start or grow their businesses can participate in one of three Social Innovation Lab communities, each running for 45 days. Participants receive training on topics such as redefining waste, circular economy, female empowerment, inclusion and diversity, financial education, entrepreneurship, and economic empowerment.
Virtual Trail: This component addresses relevant topics through simple language and an accessible channel, with all content delivered directly via WhatsApp.
Training Track: Activities and content that contribute to the awakening of financial and entrepreneurial awareness women can develop their businesses and better manage their financial life.

→ Learn more about the Vulnerable Territories Programme

3. Impact Hub Bucharest: Empowering Women in Agrifood (EWA)

Eighty talented female entrepreneurs from countries with modest to moderate innovation rates participated in a six-month entrepreneurial programme designed to create business solutions for challenges in the agrifood sector. The programme consists of four key components:

Online training: Entrepreneurs receive five months of tailor-made training on specific business and entrepreneurial topics, along with access to resources to enhance their skills.
Mentorship: Participants benefit from over 20 hours of personalised mentoring from experts in business, agrifood, and successful entrepreneurs.
Community Building: Entrepreneurs participate in networking events with high-level stakeholders and gain access to the EWA Community, which connects them with over 200 mentors and female entrepreneurs within the agrifood ecosystem.

Funding: Participants had the opportunity to win up to 10,000 euros per country and discover other EIT Food programmes, as well as access investors and corporates to elevate their businesses.

→ Learn more about EWA

4. MiFriendly Cities Project (United Kindom)

In October 2017, the EU’s Urban Innovative Actions fund awarded 4.2 million EUR to Coventry, Birmingham, and Wolverhampton for the MiFriendly Cities project. This three-year initiative aimed to develop innovative, community-led, and sustainable approaches to enhancing the contributions of refugees and migrants in the region.

The programme focused on five key themes:

Jobs: MiFriendly Cities established a network of ‘Migration Friendly Employers’ to strengthen the West Midlands workforce by creating infrastructure that offers ongoing support.
Skills: The skills initiative identified gaps in the West Midlands and created pathways to further education and employment for refugees and migrants. The training programme benefited all communities and supported the region’s goal to become a center for advanced manufacturing in Europe.
Citizens & voices: The initiative encouraged refugees and migrants to become active in their communities and confidently use their voices. Understanding legal, civil, and political rights was crucial for building this confidence.
Startup & ideas: By supporting local and migrant entrepreneurs in starting new businesses, MiFriendly Cities aimed to expand job opportunities and strengthen the economy. They nurtured and funded grassroots projects to improve the quality of life for everyone.
Futures: The project invested in the future of the region, inspiring cities across Europe to become MiFriendly Cities.

→ Learn more about MiFriendly Cities

5. Impact Hub Athens: Promoting entrepreneurship among individuals with print disabilities

In recent months, Impact Hub Athens, in collaboration with the University of the Aegean and the University of Cyprus, has been actively addressing the unique challenges faced by individuals with print disabilities. As part of the HOMER project, this collaboration has identified key needs and challenges, while also fostering a supportive learning environment for entrepreneurship.

→ Learn more about the initiative

These initiatives highlight how DEI can create impactful, inclusive, and sustainable solutions across the globe, showcasing the Impact Hub Network’s commitment to positive social and economic change. We believe that by working together and making conscious communication choices, we can break down systems that perpetuate inequality, division, and harm. To learn more about integrating a DEI lens into communications, download our guide on inclusive communication.

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