Mat Hunter is Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Plus X Innovation, building collaborative communities of innovators and entrepreneurs in cities across the UK. Through a rich mixture of workspace, specialist facilities and innovation programmes, Plus X Innovation’s hubs help place based economies to thrive.
Mat brings more than 30 years of global innovation experience to Plus X Innovation. A designer by training, Mat started his career in Silicon Valley, consulting to startups and corporates while at pioneering consultancy IDEO, where he became Partner.
He then spent 5 years advising UK Government on design and innovation, as Chief Design Officer at the Design Council, developing innovation programmes for the Home Office, Department of Health, and independent foundations, before entering the world of real estate and regeneration.
Mat has frequently lectured at leading business and art schools including Royal College of Art, Imperial College and London Business School, he is a graduate of Central St Martin’s & the Royal College of Art, Honorary Fellow at Arts University Bournemouth and a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts.
Richard is an experienced leader, founder, and managing director of Social Value Business and Social Value Quality Mark CIC. SVB is one of the UK’s leading social value consultancy and accreditation organisations. With 15 years of experience across the UK and EU, he has shaped social value policies, frameworks, and measurement tools for the public, private, and third sectors.
He has authored 30+ social value reports, helping organisations uncover over £5 billion in hidden value, and has supported 100+ clients in embedding social value principles. His expertise includes value-based strategic development, organisational change, maximising Social Return on Investment (SROI), integrating social value into tenders and procurement processes, social value auditing, stakeholder engagement, monetisation, and impact measurement. Richard has developed key methodologies used across industries, including the Social Value Maturity Matrix, National Social Value Index, and Total Value frameworks.
Richards’s clients include The Cabinet Office, Crown Commercial Services, International PLCs, and national charities such as the YMCA, NSPCC, and Shelter. He collaborates with Oxford, Cambridge, and Cranfield Universities to develop social value and social enterprise management best practices and support research and innovation in the field.
Richard specialises in qualitative and quantitative methodologies, social and economic value, market research, training, and mentoring. He has led large-scale, multiple partners and multiple million-pound social value initiatives and advised organisations on embedding and maximising social value within tendering and procurement strategies to drive measurable impact.
Furthermore, Richard has led the Social Value Quality Mark to become the most rigorous audit and accreditation organisation for Social Value across the UK.
Ian Coddington is a seasoned professional currently serving as Jacobs National Highways Client Account Lead. With a strong background in innovation and infrastructure, Ian has been instrumental in driving forward projects that enhance digital connectivity and sustainable transportation. His expertise in client management and project leadership has made him a key player in the industry, consistently delivering impactful results. Ian’s dedication to improving public infrastructure and his collaborative approach have earned him recognition and respect in his field.
