HRUC’s new national innovation challenge competition for students

Challenge your mind. Change the world.

How it works | The prize | Shortlisted | Key dates | Terms and conditions | Further information

The new competition enables students to showcase their vision, proposing solutions for industry challenges.

The theme of the competition is: Sustainable impact

This competition isn’t just about ideas; it’s about shaping the future.

PLEASE NOTE: The competition is now closed. Thank you to all the students, schools, and colleges who submitted entries. We will contact shortlisted applicants soon.

Get started: we have launched

Take up the challenge!

What’s your big idea?

We are looking for projects that champion innovation and sustainability.

The challenge enables students to submit one of the following:

• A concept
• Business idea or
• Design prototype

These will outline and propose solutions for current and future industry challenges.​

The initiative is part of our groundbreaking work with the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Industrial Liaison Program (ILP), in the USA.

How it works

Students can work on their projects as individuals or in groups (maximum of three).

They will be able to enter ONE of three categories including:

• Secondary schools: early registration - schools/institutions are able to register their interest now
• GFE and sixth form students: early registration - schools/institutions are able to register their interest now
• HRUC students

Further details about the competition will be provided within the information pack.

Below is an outline of what we expect from each category.

Create a sustainable concept

• Define your purpose and scope – What is the problem you are trying to solve?
• Who are your target stakeholders/users?
• What are your objectives for success?
• What are the key features and benefits?

Develop a business idea

• An initiative that can lead to services and/or products that generate income
• Target market: who will engage with your idea?
• What are the challenges pain points to consider with current services or products?
• Which industry are you interested in to take your business idea to market?

Design your prototype

• A preliminary product or sample model that is created to test ideas/concepts, functionality, usability and feasibility
• Your prototype could be on paper, a wireframe, an interactive model or animation
• Early design concepts for mass production and/or scalability are welcome.

Still not sure where to begin? Here are some ideas you may want to consider to help you kick-start your project:

• How to contribute to delivering a healthy planet
• Reducing carbon footprint
• Strategies to support NetZero
• Technology to drive the sustainability agenda
• Sustainable impact to support environmental, social and governance (ESG).

Once the competition has been officially launched you will receive an information pack, for those schools and colleges who have registered their interest.

The prize

The winners will embark on a life-changing educational and cultural adventure to the MIT.

The National Innovation Challenge will provide students with an unprecedented opportunity to gain new technical skills, work across borders, improve their personal thought process and develop international networks.

Shortlisted

In addition to internal students studying at HRUC, this initiative was expanded nationally to include external schools, colleges and sixth forms, ensuring an inclusive opportunity for all participants. See the full list of those who were shortlisted below.

• Schools

  • Waid Academy | Cracking Carbon Dioxide and Oxygen Dispersion Unit
  • Waid Academy | Brickteria
  • Waid Academy | Recomposer
  • Torquay Academy | Saving the Planet, One Step at a Time (App)
  • Torquay Academy | Edible/Biodegradable Food Packaging
  • Torquay Academy | Robotic Algae Vacuum
  • St Bede's High School | Home-e-Statis
  • The Richmond upon Thames School | Lamppost Mounted Air Purifiers
  • Plantsbrook School | SmartEco: AI-Driven Waste-to-Energy System
  • Tomlinscote School | Pollution-Reduction AI (PRAI)

• Colleges and Sixth Form

  • Bilborough Sixth Form College | Aquasun: Solar-Powered Water for All
  • Bilborough Sixth Form College | The CO2 Filter
  • NPTC Group | Dead Denim
  • East Riding College | AI-Powered Fungal Bioreactors for Sustainable E-Waste Recycling
  • Exeter College | Reused Grey Water
  • Plantsbrook School Sixth Form | Sustainable Packaging
  • The National Mathematics and Science College | A Green Future for Maritime Shipping
  • The National Mathematics and Science College | Bacterial Cellulose: A Potential Biodegradable Super Absorbent Polymer
  • Hull College | A Design Prototype: The Tactical Box
  • The King John School - Sixth Form | Tidetidy: Keeping the Coast Clean
  • Eton College | Plecobot

• HRUC

  • Uxbridge College | The Cranial Cooler for Sustainable Healing
  • Uxbridge College | JetBridge+: Empowering Independent Air Travel for Wheelchair Users
  • Uxbridge College | Biodegrading Plastic Naturally: Worm Gut Bacteria as a Solution
  • Richmond upon Thames College | Harnessing Wave Energy for a Greener Maritime Industry
  • Uxbridge College | Storm Drain Energy: A Mini Hydro Power Solution
  • Richmond upon Thames College | BioPlastic Blood Bags – The Future of Sustainable Healthcare
  • Uxbridge College | Recycled Filament Extruder
  • Uxbridge College | Requiem - Upcycling Products (App)
  • Richmond upon Thames College | Reducing Product Carbon Footprint (App)
  • Uxbridge College | Stepping Energy Model

Judging panel

Our judging panel includes many outstanding figures from across journalism, education, engineering and sport. 

• Konnie Huq

  Konnie Huq - British television and radio presenter, screenwriter and children's author

  Konnie Huq is one of Britain’s most engaging and respected presenters.

  She was BBC Blue Peter’s longest-serving female presenter from 1997-2008. During her time on Blue Peter, Konnie presented a number of science-filled segments, from technology, climate change, to economics and has consistently inspired the younger generation in STEM activities.

  Konnie kick-started our National Innovation Competition at our launch last year.

   

   

   

• Richard Pennycook

  Richard Pennycook, CBE - Department for Education

  Richard Pennycook was Chair of Skills England. He stepped down as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Co-op in 2017 to pursue a portfolio career.

  He has over 30 years’ experience in retail, starting with the management buyout of Allders in the late 1980s. Over the years, he has been involved in the growth of J D Wetherspoon and the turnarounds of Laura Ashley, Welcome Break, Bulmers and Morrisons.

  He is currently chairman of On the Beach plc, Two Sisters Food Group and Wolf and Badger Ltd.

   

   

• Kamran Lateef

  Kamran Lateef - Amazon Web Services (AWS)

  Kamran serves as Cluster Operations Leader at Amazon Web Services, overseeing the company's data centre operations in the UK. He is responsible for ensuring the availability of critical IT infrastructure depended upon by customers, whilst maintaining the highest standards for Safety and Security.

  Kamran has worked in the technology sector for over 17 years, with experience leading global teams across data centre engineering, IT operations, infrastructure delivery, cloud operations and software development.  

  Given his experience with building and developing high performing teams, Kamran has particular interest in promoting skills development and STEM education to improve accessibility of underrepresented groups into the data centre and technology sectors. 

   

• Jason Knight - Heathrow

  Jason Knight - Heathrow

  With over a decade of experience in aviation, including senior roles across commercial, HR, and operations, Jason has led multiple transformational programmes at Heathrow, the world’s 4th busiest airport.

  Prior to this, Jason spent 11 years in retail as a General Manager for some of the UK’s most renowned brands, before leading Europe's busiest shopping centre, Westfield Stratford City.

  Across these industries, a culture of sustainable impact through innovation remains deeply rooted and has shaped Jason's leadership outlook.

   

   

• Steve Whittaker

  Steve Whittaker - Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  Steve Whittaker is Program Director in MIT’s Industrial Liaison Program and focuses on building sustainable relationships between MIT researchers and global industry.  He has a background in computer science and AI, coupled with very broad interests in emerging technologies and their impact on individuals, organizations, and society.

  Before joining MIT, Steve Whittaker spent almost 40 years in the telecommunications industry with a focus on R&D and strategy.  He was recognized as a BT Accomplished Engineer within BT’s AI, Service, Security and Operations Research Directorate and was awarded BT’s prestigious Alan Rudge Award for Innovation for work on advanced interactive speech systems. 

  From 2000 onwards, Steve was responsible for BT’s partnerships with US research universities and business schools - including their long-standing relationship with MIT. In addition to over ten years as a Visiting Scientist at the MIT Media Lab, Steve managed BT's collaborations, consortia memberships and informal partnerships across campus and the extended MIT ecosystem. He was responsible for a wide range of internal reports on topics such as AI, cyber conflict, future of work, platform strategies and future skills. He supported both BT’s network of global labs, regularly taught as part of BT’s executive MBA course at Tsinghua University and developed a range of unique C-level customer engagement programs.

  Prior to relocating to the US, Steve held various research, research management, strategy and business development roles at BT's UK based research labs.

• Eszter Gulacsy

  Eszter Gulacsy - Mott MacDonald

  Eszter is a Technical Director for Sustainability and ESG, based in Cambridge in Mott MacDonald’s Advisory Unit. She serves as discipline lead for sustainability, providing technical leadership, supporting projects with specialist advice and setting technical standards. She is also a project director, offering consultancy services to clients globally including the private sector, governmental bodies and other buildings and infrastructure clients.  

  Eszter holds several professional qualifications, is registered with Engineers Europe and is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineering. She has held positions in advisory roles at the World Economic Forum, UK Green Building Council and University College London. Originally a chemistry graduate, she is passionate about science education and has been serving as volunteer alumna admissions interviewer for her alma mater for over twenty years.

   

• Andrew Gomarsall

  Andrew Gomarsall, MBE - former rugby union player

  Andrew Gomarsall MBE is a former Rugby World Cup winner and visionary leader in driving Circular economy within the technology sector. Executive Director at n2s, and founding partner of Bioscope Technologies.

  Andrew is at the forefront of promoting sustainable alternatives such as urban mining and advanced recycling technologies.

  He is committed to fostering a transparent and ethical approach that not only protects ecosystems and local communities but also safeguards the reputation of businesses by reducing legal and reputational risks.

  Under his leadership, the tech sector is moving toward a more responsible, circular economy, where innovation aligns with global sustainability goals.

• George Davies

  George Davies - AtkinsRéalis

  George has enjoyed a career spanning over 20 years as regulator, client leader and most recently, has joined AtkinsRéalis as Director for Sustainable Aviation.  

  George’s extensive experience includes the Great British Rail sector, where he established and led the implementation of the industry’s first coherent and comprehensive sustainability strategy on behalf of the UK government. 

  Prior to rail, George spent 11 years in the aviation sector with Heathrow Airport, where he held several senior positions in technical assurance, capital programme planning, sustainability strategy and leading the expansion sustainability team.

   

Key dates

• Student competition launch event: Thursday 24 October 2024
• Expressions of interest from Schools, FE colleges and sixth forms close: November 2024
• Information pack published in December 2024 to registered participants
• All competition entries must be submitted by 14 March 2025 (PLEASE NOTE: The competition is now closed. Thank you to all the students, schools, and colleges who submitted entries. We will contact shortlisted applicants soon.)
• Shortlisting will commence in March 2025 to select the “Top 10”
• Final submissions for the national judging panel due in June 2025
• Competition winners will be announced at the awards evening in July 2025
• The visit to MIT will be in September/October 2025 (to be confirmed).

Terms and Conditions

Please refer to our Terms and Conditions page for further information.

Further information

Bookmark this page to keep up to date with all competition details.  

Details are subject to change.

Students from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are eligible to enter this competition.

All judges decisions will be final and no further discussion will be entered into once the winners have been announced for each category.

Due to the anticipated volume of entries individual feedback will not supplied, unless your entry has been shortlisted.