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About TSOI
Founding Investor
David Newns
David has successfully built and sold two companies to FTSE 100 organisations in highly regulated industries. He was one of the youngest ever FTSE 100 executives in the UK and is a former ExCom Member at Imperial Brands. In 2019, his company, Nerudia, was the country’s second most prolific patent-filer in the UK, inventing more innovations than Dyson and ARM combined.
Born from Humble Beginnings
Project inception
2022
The vision for The School of Innovation was originally conceived by entrepreneurs William Hill and David Newns. Both from working-class backgrounds and having grown up in the UK's second poorest town, David founded and sold two companies to FTSE 100 firms, while William became a successful social entrepreneur and one of the UK’s youngest medical school lecturers. In 2022, they came together for the first time, united by a shared belief and goal: Education can, and must, be better.
Our Mission to Establish a University
How our plan emerged
2022
Joined by Robert Pickersgill, a University of St Andrews graduate, multi-award winning mathematician, and successful entrepreneur, the trio then focused their thesis on how they might accelerate the actualisation of human potential by advancing how we understand, organise, and deliver education. They found that universities, despite their role in shaping global education, are often too entrenched and bureaucratic to drive meaningful change within themselves, let alone positively influence the broader system. With this conclusion, the solution was clear: to create an agile university, designed from first principles for the modern world.
Next-Generation University Concept
In-depth market research
2022
In their quest to develop a new university model that could influence other institutions and, ultimately, the broader education system, the founders conducted research with over 500 students and 200 employers, including BAE Systems, Apple, GymShark, HSBC, and Deloitte. The findings revealed a clear need for an agile university that could remain relevant, grounded in four core principles: Skills-focused degrees, an integrated life curriculum, evidence-based teaching, and flexible learning.
Collaboration with University Founders
Our journey of discovery
2023
In preparation for this inspiring journey, the founders delved into the history of universities, tracing their origins back to Plato's Academy in Athens under the guidance of historian, Professor Samuel Biagetti. They travelled the world to engage with visionary founders and leaders from innovative institutions such as Minerva University, Nexford University, Tomorrow University, LIS, NMITE, TEDI, and The Dyson Institute. TSOI's Founder, William, is also pictured here with Dr. Blackwood, the founder of Ralston College, in Savannah, Georgia, USA.
Focussed on Innovation
Why we have chosen innovation
2023
From the development of the internet to the discovery of penicillin, universities have driven transformative change, shaping the world we know today. At the heart of all progress lies innovation, yet it is often pushed to the margins of traditional education, treated as an afterthought within business and technology courses. In today’s uncertain world, with no university solely dedicated to innovation, we believe it is more crucial than ever to establish an institution focused on advancing the understanding, study, and application of innovation.
Integration of Life Skills
The importance of soft skills
2023
Innovation is a deeply human endeavour, requiring those who pursue it to be well-equipped for both the philosophical and practical aspects of personal and professional life. Although teaching life skills may not seem like the main focus of higher education, it is, in fact, its foundation. The term "academia" itself comes from Ἀκαδημία (Akadēmía), the grove where Plato guided his students in the pursuit of eudaimonia—a life of happiness and meaning.
Funding Secured
What's coming next
2024
In 2023, the owners of Jack StudyAbroad became Founding Partners of TSOI. With their collaboration, we are well-equipped to embark on the next phase of our development. Meaningful change requires deliberate innovation. With the global demand for education growing rapidly—requiring two new universities to be built every day over the next 15 years—and the need for an education system that discovers the brilliance in each of us, now is the ideal time to launch The School of Innovation - which aspires to become a new independent British university, one of the first to be established since 1964.
The School of Innovation
Discover Your
Brilliance.
A home for discovering your brilliance, where those who dare to challenge the status quo can ignite change and push boundaries beyond the confines of traditional education.
