Xiaohongshu
“Innovation Fest 2026 was one of the most rewarding experiences of my time at UCL.”
(Ojas Garg, MSc Management, Innovation Fest Runner Up)
Innovation Fest is a flagship programme for SU Social Enterprise in collaboration with UCL Grand Challenges. Our 2026 programme empowered nearly 100 UCL students to create systems change solutions for four grand challenges (Mental Health and Wellbeing, the Climate Crisis, Inequalities and Data Empowered Societies) through Social Enterprise partnerships.
Over four action-packed days at UCL East, 86 students came together to turn big ideas into practical solutions. Through hands-on workshops, inspiring keynote speakers, mentoring sessions and plenty of teamwork, students were challenged to think creatively, step outside their comfort zones and explore how their skills could make a difference beyond the classroom.
From developing their first prototypes to pitching ideas in front of industry professionals, students experienced what it takes to tackle real challenges faced by organisations making a positive impact in their communities. And with students joining from across UCL, Innovation Fest proved that you don't need to study business or have previous experience in entrepreneurship to make a meaningful contribution.
Social Enterprise partnership
We partnered with 8 sector-leading Social Enterprises across a range of topics from nature restoration to housing to refugee rights, from grassroots to more established enterprises: Nemi Teas, The Common Press, Finance Earth, BB Pads, Manifest Studio, homefolk, Queertopia & Fight Forward. The student outputs produced for our partner organisations have the potential to transform countless lives across the Grand Challenges of Mental Health and Wellbeing, the Climate Crisis, Inequalities and Data Empowered Societies.
Unlike a traditional case study or classroom project, Innovation Fest gave students the opportunity to work directly with organisations tackling these issues every day. Each Social Enterprise brought a real challenge to the table, inviting students to apply fresh perspectives and creative thinking to problems that mattered.
Students explored everything from using digital technology to support human rights defenders to developing sustainable business models and helping community organisations reach new audiences. Working closely with Social Enterprise founders gave students a behind-the-scenes look at how purpose-driven organisations operate, the challenges they face and the role innovation can play in creating lasting change.
“The ideas the students came back with in just two days genuinely impressed us. Comprehensive, considered, and in some cases directly relevant to how we think about delivering impact at NEMI going forward. All of this on top of towards the end of term on top of their normal studies; now that is commitment! When the festival finished I felt inspired, energised and optimistic, and it was great to spend time out of the day-to-day learning from others. A huge thank you to the students for their curiosity, commitment and input.”
(Claire Pearson, Managing Director, NEMI Teas)
“The organisations all had a shared value of the importance of doing good and it was both a pleasure and an honour to be able to work with such an amazing organisation that does so much good for its community already.”
(BSc Mathematics student)
The impact didn't stop when the final pitches were delivered. Social Enterprise partners came away with new ideas, strategies and prototypes to support their future work.
Innovation Fest also demonstrated how events can create a positive impact through the way they're delivered. Of the approximately £18,000 spent on the programme, £14,000 went to Social Enterprise partners and providers, helping to ensure that investment in the event also supported organisations working towards positive social change.
Interdisciplinary teams, shared community
Some of the best ideas happen when people with completely different perspectives come together. Innovation Fest brought together undergraduate and postgraduate students from across UCL, with participants representing disciplines ranging from engineering and mathematics to sociology, arts and humanities.
For many, this was an opportunity to collaborate with students they might never have met through their degrees. Each person brought something different to the table, whether that was technical knowledge, creative thinking, research skills or a new way of looking at a problem. Together, they discovered how much stronger their ideas could become through collaboration.
“Innovation Fest gave me valuable exposure to social enterprise and innovation beyond my usual engineering studies. Working with people from different disciplines showed me how complex social and environmental challenges require a combination of technical knowledge, creativity, communication, and an understanding of user needs.”
(BEng Mechanical Engineering student)
But it wasn't all about working towards the final pitch. Networking lunches, team activities and conversations with mentors created opportunities to build connections beyond the classroom. Students met like-minded people, explored shared interests and formed friendships that could continue long after the event.
While there was a competitive element to the week, many students found that making a meaningful difference for their partner organisation mattered more than taking home a prize. The experience highlighted the value of supporting each other's ideas and working towards a shared goal.
“Somewhere in the middle of the four days, I stopped thinking about the other teams as competitors. During their pitches, my teammates and I were silently gesturing at each other — ""that part was brilliant, we should've done something like that."" And when it turned out both Queertopia teams' pitches didn't overlap but complemented each other, I was genuinely glad. More help for Joanne English, the co-founder, was the whole point.”
(Domie Ko, BSc Bioprocessing of New Medicines)
Student skills development
Innovation Fest was about more than coming up with a great idea. It was an opportunity to develop practical skills, build confidence and discover new possibilities for life after university.
Throughout the week, students took part in workshops covering social enterprise, prototyping and impactful storytelling, alongside mentoring sessions with professionals working across the social innovation sector. From learning how to communicate an idea clearly to managing teamwork under pressure, students gained experience they could take into future projects, applications and careers.
“This programme has been a highlight of my first year at UCL, applying ideas from my interdisciplinary BASc degree, and collaborating with students from different disciplines to tackle real-world challenges.”
(Eva Raheja, BASc Arts and Sciences)
The fast-paced nature of the programme encouraged students to experiment, test their assumptions and learn along the way. With just four days to develop and present their solutions, participants had to think on their feet, respond to feedback and work together to turn ambitious ideas into compelling pitches.
For students who had never developed a prototype or pitched an idea before, Innovation Fest provided a supportive environment to try something completely new. With guidance from experienced mentors and encouragement from their teammates, students were able to push themselves beyond what they thought they could achieve.
- 97% of attendees developed new skills and knowledge through their participation.
- 97% of attendees agreed that they learnt about a range of diverse approaches to social enterprise and innovation through the event.
- 85% of attendees said that the event provided them with valuable networking opportunities.
- 79% felt more ready to make the next steps in their career as a result of participating in the event.
“I found Innovation Fest to be an excellent opportunity to both develop my current skill set, and acquire more skills. The process of ideating and developing a pitch required me to use teamwork in a way that I had never done before. I also learnt how to pitch effectively. Pitching is something that I had never done before. However, after listening to advice from professionals, my group ended up delivering a compelling and thorough pitch. Whilst we didn’t win, the skills I have acquired are valuable, and something I will to continue to apply in my future.”
(BA Philosophy student)
Our winners
My passion for the development and maintenance of inclusive, welcoming 3rd spaces, such as the Common Press, was ignited. CIC's exist and need our help!.”
(Lily Dinh, BSc Sociology, Winning Team)
After four days of brainstorming, prototyping and refining their ideas, students took to the stage to present their final pitches to a panel of judges. It was a chance to showcase not only their innovative solutions, but also the teamwork, creativity and determination that had gone into developing them.
The winning team were granted unique access to a package of industry mentorship, skills development and networking with industry partners from Cambio Consultancy and BSI.
They continued to work with their Social Enterprise partner at The Common Press to implement their recommendations, resulting in the opening of TCP's first ever night cafe.
