WCIT’s Annual Hackathon

This year’s Worshipful Company of Information Technologists Hackathon was bigger and better than ever, with more schools participating and an electrifying energy fuelled by real-time innovation and creativity! This success was largely thanks to our partnership with the charity Urban Synergy Mentoring in preparing and delivering the event (thanks Leila Thomas FRSA), alongside the incredible volunteers from the WCIT, Kantar, Kyndryl and Microsoft. A huge thank you also goes to Genuine Solutions Distribution for their ongoing sponsorship.

Using Microsoft Copilot Studio (following a fab demo by Damien Bird, our resident Copilot Guru), the students tackled a challenging brief: to engineer a technological solution addressing a “CommunITy” problem. Not only did they build impressive prototypes, but they also presented their solutions—explaining the how, why, and what of their designs. The diversity and ambition of their ideas were remarkable, especially considering many were new to the tools and had limited time.

Our esteemed judges – WCIT Master Gus Machado FBCS, FRSA, Prab Greenwood (Colleague Tech Digital Transformation at Kantar), and Catherine Smith (CEO of Community TechAid) – brought valuable perspectives. Gus framed the challenge around his theme, “CommunITy – harnessing technology to support local communities.” Prab shared insights on AI’s transformative role in corporate environments, while Cat highlighted how technology combats digital poverty in London through her charity’s impactful work.

Congratulations to the winners: @Ada, the National College for Digital Skills (1st place), City of London School for Girls (2nd), Merchant Taylors’​ School, Northwood (3rd), and shout-outs to Lilian Baylis and Hammersmith Academy as runners-up. The awards ceremony, hosted by Gary Langley, the new Lady Mayor Consort, took place in the Ada Lovelace Common Room at the School of Science & Technology, City St George’s, University of London.

We hope this Hackathon lifted the lid on AI’s potential in the workplace—not just as a productivity booster creating new jobs, but as a powerful force for social good in our communities. Judging by the quality of this year’s projects, these students are well-equipped for the future.

Many thanks goes to:
@Akhere Ihoeghinlan, Alanna Mellins, Allan Tolak, Christian McBride MBE, Daniel Baneth, Dave S., Davide Ranchetti, Dianne Johnson, Eliot Williams, Julie VE Brennan, Leila Thomas FRSA, @Lisa Rothschild, Marilize Sage, Maris Kraulins, @Martina Mabale, Matt Elrick, Miranda Simmons, Mohson Khan, Neil Evans, @Qasim Saeed, @Ronnie Adom, Ruan Ebersohn, Sam Brown, Sarah Salimullah, Semere Estifanos, Simon OKEKE, Zoe Farrow

Liveryman Jason Scott-Taggart