A former Uxbridge College apprentice has spoken of how winning the National Innovation Challenge (NIC) gave her an “extreme boost and validation”.
Valentina Vicario won the NIC in 2025 for her Cranial Cooler project, a technologically advanced cooling cap which aims to help people with headaches, migraines, fibromyalgia, and other health conditions.
Awe-inspiring
She studied Electrical/Electronic Engineering at Uxbridge College as part of her apprenticeship, attending college one day a week while also working full time. Her submission to the NIC started as her third-year final project.
She explained: “The foundations of engineering on the course were really interesting and awe-inspiring and opened up the whole capacity of engineering.
“My tutors inspired me to want to take part in the NIC. They kept telling me I could get quite far with my project.”
Once-in-a-lifetime trip
Valentina, together with the other NIC winners, enjoyed a trip to the US as part of her prize. This included visits to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Harvard University, and New York, as well as an event hosted by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Reflecting on the trip, Valentina said: “It was full-on every day, but it was really inspiring to be there in person.”
Innovative project
Valentina is currently working at Russell Finex Ltd in Feltham as an Electrical Design Engineer in the Electrical Engineering Department.
Alongside this, she is continuing to work on her Cranial Cooler project. She currently has pre-patenting and is hoping to apply for funding, in collaboration with Uxbridge College and its technicians, with the aim of commercialising the project.
Everything to gain
Asked what advice she would give to someone considering entering the NIC, Valentina said: “Go all in and give it your best shot, because you’ve got everything to gain and nothing to lose.
“I had a five-year plan, which was to get in the room with people who would understand my ideas. I achieved my plan within four years thanks to the Challenge. I met so many people who were involved in business, education, and all sorts of fields. They deemed my idea of enough value to win the award; that’s an extreme boost and validation that I’m on the right track.
“It’s been a journey, it’s been fun, and I’m really excited to still be working with HRUC.”
The theme for NIC 2027 is Tomorrow’s World. Students from secondary schools, colleges and sixth forms across the UK are challenged to develop bold, innovative ideas that could shape the way we live, work and interact in the future.
To register your interest or find out more, visit: NIC 2027: Tomorrow's World | HRUC