A catalyst for new ideas
The science is indisputable - climate change is happening and we need to act now to limit global warming to below 1.5 degrees in line with the Paris Agreement.
The housing sector is uniquely placed to tackle both the environmental crisis while also responding to the social pressures faced through the cost of living and the housing crises.
As the country’s largest housing association, we recognise our duty to do the right thing for residents, communities and the planet. But we cannot do this alone.
The William Sutton Prize enables us to collaborate with and support individuals and organisations on the ground, who are pioneering new innovations and cutting-edge thinking. It is a leading innovation catalyst, which cultivates and incubates high-potential ideas that tackle some of the housing sector’s most urgent sustainability challenges.
Through a mix of grant funding and a package of tailored business support, the William Sutton Prize helps winners turn outstanding ideas into real-world products, services, solutions and interventions that make lasting improvements to the built environment and local communities supported by the sector.
The William Sutton Prize 2023
The 5th edition of the William Sutton Prize invites disruptors and innovators – tech and social entrepreneurs, SMEs, start-ups, developers, CICs and more – to submit forward-thinking and breakthrough ideas that can help the social housing sector and, crucially, its residents to achieve net zero carbon by 2050.
We welcome any idea that has the potential to improve the environmental impact of the social housing sector, its communities and individual residents. We are particularly interested in receiving submissions on the following challenges:
- Making homes more energy efficient and reducing bills for residents through introducing new technology, retrofitting and engagement with communities to deliver net zero carbon
- Using nature to improve the health and wellbeing of our residents across new and existing homes
- Improving indoor and outdoor air quality by generating clean, renewable energy on site
- Utilising technology and nature to build resilience to the impacts of climate change in new and existing communities
What's on offer
For Year 5 of the prize, applicants will be able to submit applications for between £5,000 and £50,000 to support their ideas to tackle key issues around sustainability in our homes and communities.
If successful, winners will also receive a bespoke wraparound support package which connects them with Clarion Housing Group, supports their idea to develop and helps maximise impacts for applicants and communities.
Apply for the biennial William Sutton Prize
The 5th edition of the Prize invites disruptors and innovators to submit breakthrough and radical ideas that can accelerate the sector’s transition to a net zero carbon future whilst ensuring the benefits are felt by residents in a way that is equitable and inclusive.
Winners will each receive between £5,000 and £50,000 in grant funding and a tailored package of business support from Clarion to help grow their ideas and turn them into reality.
Previous winners - Turning great ideas into reality
Novel approaches to developing sustainable communities and different ways of tackling homelessness are among the concepts that have won The William Sutton Prize.
Other winning entries have included:
Grants Plus programme
The Grants Plus programme supports Clarion partners with additional bespoke consultancy support and funding opportunities to scale their work and increase long-term sustainability and resilience.