West Thames College students showcased exceptional innovation, confidence and teamwork at the Transport for London (TfL) Innovate 2026 Hackathon Finale, achieving outstanding success and representing the College with pride.
The finale, held at TfL's headquarters in Stratford, brought together young people from across London to present innovative solutions developed throughout the TfL Innovate programme. The programme is designed to help young people aged 16 - 19 build confidence, enhance communication and teamwork skills, and increase awareness of career opportunities within the transport and engineering sectors.
Throughout the programme, students participated in a range of skills-development workshops, masterclasses, industry talks and collaborative challenges before presenting their final ideas at the Hackathon Finale.
Three West Thames College students - Nikodem, Guldeep and Preethi - excelled throughout the competition, securing an impressive second-place finish overall. In addition, Gracie Mooney - received special recognition for her confidence, professionalism and outstanding presentation skills. These achievements reflect the commitment, creativity and resilience demonstrated by our learners throughout the programme.
Innovative Idea: Ride Rewards
A highlight of the Hackathon was the innovative concept developed by the West Thames College team called Ride Rewards.
The students proposed a feature within the TfL app that would allow young people aged up to 24 to earn points and rewards every time they travelled using TfL services. Points could then be redeemed for discounts, special offers, experiences and rewards from partner organisations. The concept was designed to encourage greater use of public transport amongst young people while promoting sustainable travel habits in an engaging and accessible way.
Developing and pitching the Ride Rewards concept provided students with the opportunity to apply their creativity, problem-solving and entrepreneurial skills to a real-world challenge. Presenting their ideas to industry professionals enabled them to gain valuable experience of working in a professional innovation environment and significantly increased their confidence.
A Transformational Experience
For many students, the experience was truly life-changing. Presenting to TfL representatives, industry professionals and fellow participants provided a unique opportunity to develop essential employability skills in a professional setting.
The Hackathon challenged learners to think creatively, work collaboratively and communicate with confidence and skills that are highly valued by employers across all industries.
Amar Singh, Employability Coach at West Thames College, said:
“The Hackathon Finale was an incredibly inspiring experience for our students. Seeing their confidence grow throughout the programme and watching them present their ideas so professionally was remarkable. Achieving second place and receiving individual recognition for confidence are fantastic accomplishments. Most importantly, our students left believing in their abilities and with a greater understanding of the opportunities available to them. We are extremely proud of everything they achieved.”
Student Voice
Students spoke positively about the experience, highlighting the impact it had on their confidence, teamwork and personal development.
One student said:
“This was the best experience I have ever had. At first, I was nervous about presenting in front of people, but the programme helped me build my confidence. By the end, I felt proud of myself and what our team had achieved.”
Another student reflected:
“I found the Hackathon really engaging because we got to work together, come up with ideas and present them to professionals. It helped me believe in myself and showed me that I can achieve more than I thought.”
Students also highlighted how the experience improved their communication and teamwork skills while providing valuable insight into future career opportunities within the transport and engineering sectors. Many commented that presenting to a live audience was initially daunting but ultimately became one of the most rewarding aspects of the programme.
Recognising Outstanding Support
West Thames College would like to extend a special thank you to Tracey Weekes for her invaluable support in helping to organise and coordinate the Hackathon experience. Her dedication to creating opportunities for students played a significant role in ensuring learners were able to participate in this inspiring programme and gain meaningful industry experience.
We would also like to thank Zahid Khokhar, Gloria Gaspard and the wider TfL Future Skills Team for their commitment to supporting young people and providing such a valuable and impactful learning opportunity.
The Power of Employer Partnerships
The event highlighted the strength of the partnership between West Thames College and employers committed to supporting the future workforce. Through initiatives such as TfL Innovate, students gain meaningful exposure to industry, develop valuable employability skills and build the confidence needed to progress into employment, apprenticeships and higher education.
At West Thames College, employer engagement remains at the heart of the student experience. Across Construction, Motor Vehicle and other curriculum areas, learners benefit from industry projects, guest speakers, workplace visits, competitions and work placement opportunities that help bridge the gap between education and employment.
The success of our students at the TfL Innovate 2026 Hackathon Finale demonstrates the talent, creativity and potential of West Thames College learners. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and look forward to continuing our involvement in future TfL Innovate programmes.
Congratulations to all of the students who took part, and thank you to the TfL Future Skills Team for delivering such an inspiring and impactful programme.
