The Urban Ideas Bakery process is the result of collaboration between the British Council and a variety of partners working in the field of design and social innovation around Europe. In particular, the process was founded on the results of the ‘Breakthrough Cities’ report on how cities can mobilise creativity and knowledge to tackle compelling social challenges. The report was commissioned from the Young Foundation.

The Urban Ideas Bakery works on the premise that every city and community is different, and that solutions should be customised to address these unique combinations of challenges. It makes people the centre of social innovation, builds a common cause, and creates a sense of ownership without which success would not be possible. The Urban Ideas Bakery builds on ideas generated during other Creative Cities project activities such as Future City Games and Urban Forums.