1284's non-profit lead Lauren Cropper will judge Loughborough University’s ‘Pitch Your Social Venture’ event. 

The afternoon session on Thursday 12 March, hosted by LUinc at the university’s Careers and Enterprise Hub, will see local founders pitch ventures that combine profit and purpose. 

It forms the finale of LUinc’s Social Venture Workshop series, which supports people in Charnwood to develop socially driven business ideas. 

The judging aligns with 1284’s growing portfolio of work with charities, social enterprises, and voluntary organisations across the East Midlands.

Lauren said: “Through 1284’s work with charities and community organisations across the region, I see how hard nonprofits work to deliver change. Social ventures need compelling stories as well as strong business models.

“This event is a chance to back local founders who are tackling real issues in our communities - and to show how good communications can help them turn ideas into impact.”

Lauren will join a panel of local experts including Lorraine Farley, Business Relations and Economic Growth Officer at Charnwood Borough Council, Social Value Specialist Natasha Jolob, and Chesterton House Financial Planning marketing manager Jenny Jervis.

Each shortlisted founder will have five minutes and three slides to make their case, with judges scoring pitches on presentation, social impact, and financial viability. 

The winner will receive seed funding to develop their venture, sponsored by Chesterton House.

​1284’s involvement in the event builds on its wider work in the charity and social enterprise sector, as well as its links with Loughborough University. 

Founder George Oliver said: “We started out at LUinc, so it’s great to see our team now feeding back into the university’s enterprise community. 

“Supporting social ventures with clear, confident communications is a natural extension of our work and of our own social enterprise commitments.”

1284 works predominantly with charities, social enterprises and purpose-led organisations, providing strategic PR support to help them secure funding, influence policy and reach the people they serve. 

It also donates a portion of its time to pro bono projects, and George also serves as a director at social enterprise Soundingboard, which supports high‑growth local businesses through two‑hour, no‑cost ideation panels.

These commitments sit alongside 1284’s work to strengthen the region’s social impact ecosystem.