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Unleash your innovation and apply for up to £50k

Fifth edition of The William Sutton Prize invites 'disruptors and innovators' from architecture and beyond to submit breakthrough ideas that accelerate the social housing sector’s transition to net zero

In association with
The prize cultivates and incubates high-potential ideas that tackle some of the housing sector’s most urgent sustainability challenges.
The prize cultivates and incubates high-potential ideas that tackle some of the housing sector’s most urgent sustainability challenges.

Returning for its fifth year, Clarion Housing Group’s William Sutton Prize is open for applications.

The prize honours the legacy of the housing association’s founder, William Sutton, who dedicated his life to enhancing the quality of social housing, and aims to bring to life bright ideas that continue this mission.

This year, the prize is looking for innovations that have the potential to reduce the carbon footprint of the social housing sector and its residents and will provide financial and business support to help take groundbreaking ideas to the next level.

Applications will be judged by a range of sector leaders, including architect Yẹmí Àládérun, architect and former winner of the prize Jas Bhalla, and director of the Social Mobility Foundation, Sasha Morgan.
 
Breakthrough and radical ideas are sought to ensure that no-one is left behind in the transition to a net zero future, so that the benefits are felt by everyone in society in a way that is equitable and inclusive.
 

  • The William Sutton Prize winner 2021: Surman Weston's Hackney School of Food in east London.
    The William Sutton Prize winner 2021: Surman Weston's Hackney School of Food in east London. Credit: Jim Stephenson
  • Architect, development manager and 2023 judge Yẹmí Àládérun.
    Architect, development manager and 2023 judge Yẹmí Àládérun.
  • Architect, former winner of the prize and 2023 judge Jas Bhalla.
    Architect, former winner of the prize and 2023 judge Jas Bhalla.
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Key focus areas include:

  • Enhancing energy efficiency
  • Reducing bills
  • Improving community air quality
  • Fostering resident health and wellbeing through nature
  • Constructing climate change-resilient homes

Past winners include well known architecture practices such as Mole Architects and Jas Bhalla Architects, but this year the organisers are looking to broaden the range of applicants, targeting designers, social and tech entrepreneurs, engineers, scientists, academics and researchers, construction contractors, social enterprises and community interest companies.

Other successful previous winners include the Hackney School of Food by architect Surman Weston - a hub providing ‘seed to spoon’ food education for primary school children in east London - which won in 2021.

Since winning, the team behind the project has created and published a toolkit to share the model with other schools to create nurturing environments for children to engage with food and growing.

Mole Architects won the prize in 2022. 'Winning The William Sutton Prize was vital to the success of our project, with the funding and business support from Clarion helping us to turn our idea into reality,' explains founding director and principal Meredith Bowles.

'We’re excited to have the chance to now trial our Buildgroup project on one of Clarion’s major upcoming schemes and look forward to seeing what innovative ideas come through in this year’s applications.'

Eligibility, grants and support

  • If you are registered to work in England, you can apply for a grant of £5,000 to £50,000 to bring your ideas to life.
  • Winners will also receive a tailored package of business support from Clarion as part of a 12 to 18-month programme that will complement the funding received.

How to enter
Don't miss out on this exceptional opportunity!

Submit your application online at clarionhg.com/william-sutton-prize by midday on 3 July 2023

 

Contact:

williamsuttonprize@clarionhg.com


 

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