Student Innovation Shines at OneAdvanced Offices during Birmingham Tech Week

As part of Birmingham Tech Week, OneAdvanced proudly hosted a Student Hackathon at The Mailbox, welcoming forty eager students for a day of creativity, collaboration, and innovation. The atmosphere was buzzing from the start, as students experienced a day in the life of the OneAdvanced office, exploring how technology can be used to make a real difference. 

This year’s theme focused on an issue that could not be more relevant: Health and Wellbeing. With student mental health increasingly in the spotlight, we challenged participants to think about how technology can become a catalyst for positive change. The statistics speak for themselves – seventy-two per cent of colleges have reported a rise in suicidal thoughts among sixteen to eighteen-year-olds. Against this backdrop, our goal was to inspire students to develop solutions that could have a meaningful impact on the wellbeing of their peers, while encouraging teamwork and innovation. 

The day began with a series of insightful sessions delivered by OneAdvanced experts. James Elwood joined Aaron Spencer to discuss the importance of mental health and wellbeing, highlighting how mindfulness, meditation, and physical activity can improve our overall balance. Their conversation sparked plenty of fresh ideas among the students. Holly Foxcroft then energised the room with an interactive quiz on cyber security, keeping everyone engaged and curious. Finally, Julie Klinko shared her expertise on accessibility, emphasising that it should never be an afterthought but rather a core consideration in every product design. Julie guided students in thinking inclusively, ensuring that their ideas could benefit as many people as possible. 

Working in teams, the students developed six prototype concepts across three key wellness areas: 

• Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing 
• Physical Health and Fitness 
• Nutrition and Healthy Habits 

The results were outstanding. Each group presented thoughtful, creative, and technically sound solutions, showcasing not only their digital skills but also their empathy and awareness of the issues facing young people today. From apps promoting daily mindfulness routines to gamified fitness trackers and nutritional planning tools, the students’ innovations reflected both imagination and purpose. 

The enthusiasm and talent in the room did not go unnoticed. I can only sum it up saying that the OneAdvanced Student Health and Wellbeing Hackathon was a masterclass in curiosity, collaboration, and creativity. The energy was electric, the ideas inspiring, and the teamwork off the scale. Huge kudos to all the students – your passion lit up the room 

Aaron Spencer echoed my sentiment, adding: 

“It was inspiring to be surrounded by such brilliant minds. Our future innovation is in safe hands with this next generation. An absolute credit to their colleges.” 

By the end of the day, every student left not only with new technical insights but also with a deeper understanding of how technology can make a genuine difference to people’s lives. The hackathon embodied everything Birmingham Tech Week stands for – innovation, collaboration, and community. 

The future of tech-driven wellbeing looks bright, and if this event is any indication, it is in very capable hands. 

If you want to learn more about #LifeAtOneAdvanced, do not miss James Elwood blogpost “It’s okay to feel. It’s brave to share”.