Societies Spark Fund
Powering student-led innovation
£25,000 funding available | Open to all student societies
Bring your society's ideas to life with funding to run innovative events and activities that promote entrepreneurship, innovation, enterprise and student engagement across campus.
The Masood Entrepreneurship Centre (MEC) is offering the Societies Spark Fund to support student societies in creating opportunities for students and contributing to “entrepreneurship for all” at The University of Manchester.
Why partner with MEC?
- Access funding to support your proposed event or activity.
- Get guidance and support from MEC.
- Connect with the University's entrepreneurship network.
- Help raise awareness of entrepreneurship opportunities among your members and the wider student community.
Your questions answered
Funding can support events and activities that promote entrepreneurship, innovation, enterprise and student engagement during the academic year.
Activities should also help raise awareness of MEC and its entrepreneurship opportunities, including its four pathways.
The Societies Spark Fund has a total of £25,000 available.
Societies can request up to £500 towards their proposed event or activity. The amount of funding awarded will depend on the scale of the proposed activity, the funding required and the potential impact it will create for students.
Funding above £500 may be considered for larger strategic activities.
The fund is open to all student societies.
Any key member of a student society can submit an Expression of Interest. We encourage a society president or communications lead to apply where possible.
Proposals will be considered based on:
- Alignment with MEC objectives, including promoting entrepreneurship, innovation and enterprise.
- Student engagement and potential impact of the proposed activity.
- Previous engagement with MEC, where relevant.
Previous engagement with MEC is not required to express your interest.
MEC will review your proposal to assess whether the funding requested is appropriate for the scale and scope of the proposed event or activity.
If your proposal progresses, a member of your society will be invited to a discussion with MEC to explore the idea in more detail.
The final funding amount will then be agreed based on the proposed activity, funding requirements and expected student impact.
The Societies Spark Fund is society-led. Societies retain ownership of the planning, delivery and promotion of their events and activities, with MEC providing strategic guidance, funding and support where appropriate. Participating societies will be expected to:
- Take responsibility for planning, delivering and promoting their activity.
- Promote MEC and its entrepreneurship opportunities, including its four pathways, as part of the activity.
- Provide agreed information to MEC following the activity, including attendance and student impact data.
- Complete any other agreed deliverables following the event.
Approved funding will be paid through the Students' Union central bank account, using the society's unique finance reference code.
Entrepreneurship Champion
Each participating society is encouraged to nominate a member of its leadership team to become an Entrepreneurship Champion.
The Entrepreneurship Champion will act as a point of contact between the society and MEC, help share relevant opportunities with their society and provide insight into student interests and engagement.
Entrepreneurship Champions may also be able to work towards Stellify recognition.
Accessibility
Societies are responsible for considering accessibility when planning and delivering funded activities. Event organisers should provide relevant accessibility information for their activity and consider reasonable adjustments where required.
If you have accessibility requirements or questions about accessing a funded activity, please contact the relevant event organising society or the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre.
Questions?
If you have questions about the Societies Spark Fund or the Expression of Interest process, please contact the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre at entrepreneurship@manchester.ac.uk.
Ready to bring your society's idea to life?
- Register your interest here
- Terms and Conditions
Deadline: 9th October 2026