No Wrong Door Open Innovation Challenge
Earlier this year, we launched a new Open Innovation Challenge to support the No Wrong Door Initiative, which was set up in 2022 as a key part the London Recovery Board’s mission to help Londoners into good work, in response to the disparities felt by Londoners which were magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Focused on enhancing collaboration across job and skills training sectors, this programme specifically supports diverse groups including disabled individuals, women, refugees, and residents of all ages.
The Challenge will bring together policymakers, businesses, and communities to develop and scale impactful solutions. With the goal of introducing up to 15 new innovations to the market, it nurtures the growth of organisations behind these ideas, driving broader systemic change in London.
About the Challenge
No Wrong Door means that no matter their starting point or what service they access first, Londoners can be connected to the right type of support at the right time to help them into good work.
The programme launched in July 2022, the initial phase focused on supporting Londoners disproportionately impacted by the pandemic - including disabled Londoners, women, refugees, young Londoners and older Londoners.
Its primary goal is to enhance collaboration among various job and skills training entities to assist Londoners in securing quality employment.
Alongside the programme, No Wrong Door is also investing in research and innovation, with the aim of designing innovative solutions to scale the initiative across London.
Initial research and engagement conducted with Londoners and practitioners earlier this year by the Young Foundation identified inefficiencies in the system that are preventing Londoners from accessing adequate employment support.
Now, we are launching an Open Call to look for innovations to address the opportunity areas identified for improving the skills and employment ecosystem.
Application timeline
Application portal opens
Application deadline
Challenge finalists announced
Co-design and pilot support
Pitch and assessment
Challenge winners announced
Scale up support
No Wrong Door Challenge finalists
Challenge LDN stands as a beacon of innovation, embodying the Mayor’s vision to forge closer ties between policymaking and entrepreneurship. It aims to tackle the city’s most pressing problems through technology and collaboration.
Following the recent ‘No Wrong Door’ Open Innovation Call, we are pleased to announce the following 15 enterprising finalists will receive seed funding (to work with the GLA and our delivery partner Allia over the next 8 weeks to prototype and test their ideas. Their diverse solutions, ranging from green skills training to AI-driven job platforms, are set to make a real impact on London’s employment sector.
Find out more about the innovators below.
4-22 Foundation CIC is a UK-based non-profit offering continuous support to young people through every stage of their development.
Find out more from 4-22 Foundation CIC
Athena FundX supports women entrepreneurs by offering resources and visibility to help them succeed in business.
Find out more from Athena F. LTD
Earlybird technology supports organisations helping those in need to excel. At Earlybird, we believe in empowering people with advice and encouragement to reach their career potential.
Find out more from Earlybird
ELATT supports marginalised learners with multiple needs, including mental health, wellbeing and social isolation issues. Our solution is within learning/education environments that encourage learning new skills and peer support.
Find out more from ELATT
The FaceWork Group is a social enterprise providing skills training and affordable workspaces for communities to collaborate and work together.
Find out more from Facework Group CIC
GetZero is a digital platform offering green skills and connecting young people to employers and training opportunities.
Find out more from GetZero
LSEC works at the heart of communities by supporting businesses with their skills needs, creating strong partnerships with schools and local authorities and inspiring our students to achieve excellent results.
Find out more from London South East Colleges
MyPocketSkill connect young people (13-24) with opportunities to earn money, in the process developing skills to support them in becoming more employable (e.g. digital skills, tutoring or creative).
Find out more from MyPocketSkill
SIC is a social enterprise that works to close the disability employment gap.
Find out more from Sick in the City CIC
Slinger is a London-based job platform revolutionising hospitality hiring by making the CV redundant, providing fairly paid shifts to workers, and closing the vacancy gap for businesses.
Find out more from Slinger
Streets of Growth's team proactively targets the most marginalised young people (15-25) particularly those who are criminally groomed/exploited, supporting them for up to 3 years with intensive youth coaching in life skills, employability training, work experience and support to progress successfully into employment/training.
Find out more from Streets of Growth
Successful Mums is an award-winning training company that specialises in mums going back to work after a career break.
Find out more from Successful Mums Career
Tailored Futures seeks to address the disproportionality of Black and global majority within the criminal justice system (CJS).
Find out more from Tailored Futures
Wise Age is one of the first and leading specialist UK 50 plus age and employment charities. Wise Age is London's first and leading specialist age and employment charity with specialist knowledge of the London labour market.
Find out more from Wise Age LTD
The Young Ealing Foundation was created to address challenges in the Children and Young People’s sector by uniting the public, private, and voluntary sectors in Ealing.
Find out more from Young Ealing Foundation
No Wrong Door Challenge runner's up
As part of Challenge LDN’s commitment to driving innovation and skills development, five runner's up have been selected to receive £5,000 in additional funding.
Find out more about the innovators below.
East London Advanced Technology Training (ELATT) is a distinguished charity with a 40-year legacy, focusing on addressing deprivation in Hackney and beyond. They provide training and community support to marginalised groups such as young people with neurodiversity, refugees, and lone parents, serving around 800 learners annually.
GetZero empowers young people with skills for green careers in construction, energy, and transport through a gamified AI learning platform. Their Green Skills Coach aims to bridge the green skills gap and connect youth to the growing green economy.
MyPocketSkill offers young people aged 13-24 opportunities to develop employability and financial literacy by connecting them with paid work. With over 130,000 users, they aim to enhance financial education and employment prospects for disadvantaged youth.
Slinger revolutionises hospitality hiring with its tech-driven platform, connecting workers to on-demand shifts and ensuring fair wages. Their platform supports diverse workers, including young people, refugees, and those formerly incarcerated.
Successful Mums London C.I.C helps mothers return to the workforce after career breaks by offering flexible, fully-funded courses. Since 2014, they have supported over 10,000 parents, focusing on career growth, social mobility, and improving family well-being.
No Wrong Door Challenge winners
Challenge LDN will provide £50,000 to the three winners of the No Wrong Door challenge to help them scale their innovative solutions, with additional support through workshops and coaching from our delivery partner Allia Impact.
Find out more about the innovators below.
- Earlybird, an AI-driven platform will equip individuals with the skills and support they need to overcome barriers to employment, helping them secure and retain meaningful jobs.
- Facework Group CIC, an online platform providing training and workspaces for refugees, that will provide training in employability skills, mental health support, self-employment opportunities, and social integration.
- Tailored Futures, an AI-powered platform providing support to individuals within the criminal justice system by connecting them with employers, helping them access job opportunities and rebuild their lives, ultimately reducing reoffending rates.
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