What do you get when you combine the ambition of young changemakers, the prestige of Burberry’s London headquarters, and a powerful collaboration between Unloc and Rockborn? You get an electric, inspiring, and unforgettable day that marked the launch of the very first Student Governor Destinations Conference, AND our first ever Student Governor of the Year Award, and we are still buzzing from it.

The conference was held at Burberry’s London Headquarters and welcomed young changemakers and their college professionals from across the country. It was electric.

This wasn’t just another conference. It was a celebration of student leadership, a gathering of passionate voices, and a platform to spotlight those making real change in their colleges and communities. And yes, it absolutely lived up to the hype.

From the very first moment, the energy in the room was undeniable. The space was packed with student governors, governance professionals, and inspiring thought leaders from across the country. The goal? To elevate, connect, and empower a new generation of changemakers. Recognise their input and impact, learn best practice from one another, network and celebrate the difference they make.

The day was filled with dynamic workshops and thought-provoking panel discussions, but it was the atmosphere that truly made it special, the kind of buzz you only get when people are genuinely passionate about what they’re doing.

One Young World’s Ella Robertson McKay was one of the dynamic guest speakers at the event

And the speaker lineup? Next level. We were joined by a stellar cast of changemakers and leaders who shared their insights and stories, including:

Shelagh Legrave CBE – Further Education Commissioner with her poignant and powerful speech

Their collective message was clear: student voice matters, and young leaders are not just the future, they are the now.

But the day wasn’t just about conversation. It was about recognition too. For the very first time, we held the Student Governor of the Year Award ceremony, and the response was overwhelming. For the passt few months colleges across the country have nominated their standout governors, and the calibre of nominees was nothing short of inspiring. Choosing a winner was no easy task for the panel, in fact, it was a total nightmare.

After much consideration, we were thrilled to present the award to Ivy Knight, a 20-year-old floristry student from Moulton College. Ivy has been a force for good at her college since 2021, using her role as a Student Governor to drive meaningful change — and always doing it with integrity, courage, and heart.

Ivy recieves her Student Governor of the Year Award from the Further Education Commissioner Shelagh Legrave CBE

From joining sustainability and EDI groups to calling out issues like bullying, accessibility, and environmental shortcomings, Ivy has shown what it means to lead with purpose. Her attention to detail, her relentless drive, and her commitment to improvement are exactly what this award was designed to celebrate. Ivy always confidently and appropriately calls it out when things need improving, be this bullying of the LGBTQ+ community, poor accessibility for wheelchair users or lack of information around sustainability. Ivy didn’t just speak up — she created change.

Ivy is the absolute A star example of everything a young changemaker should be, taking positive action to create change and improve the world around her.

As Ivy herself puts it:
“I’ve always been passionate about making a difference and having my voice heard, and participating as a Student Governor gave me a platform to channel this alongside my studies.”

Well said, Ivy, and well deserved.

The Student Governor Destinations Conference wasn’t just a success, it was a movement in motion. We’re beyond proud to have launched this event with our brilliant partners at Rockborn and to have celebrated the power of student leadership in such a bold and vibrant way.

To everyone who attended, contributed, nominated, or simply cheered from afar: thank you. You made this event what it was, energetic, empowering, and absolutely unforgettable. Also special thanks to another partner of Unloc, the amazing team at Burberry for providing such a fantastic venue to hold this debut event. We appreciate you!

Our first ever Student Governor of the Year Award recipient, the impressive Ivy Knight from Moulton College. Everthing a Student Governor should be and more. A well deserved win! Congratulations Ivy from the whole team at Unloc and Rockborn!

We’ve got BIG news. For those that saw our three year strategic plan last Summer, we have big plans for our Unloc, expanding our reach, our offer, and our impact on the young people we work with around the country. Unloc is officially stepping into its next era of impact and innovation, and we’re doing it with a major boost: a powerful new social investment to supercharge our mission!

We’ve always said we’re here to shake things up in education, training and youth opportunities, and now, thanks to Big Issue Invest – we’ve got the fuel to take that ambition sky-high!

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Think of social investment as a financial jetpack for mission-driven organisations like us. Its funding is designed not for the ‘day-to-day’ but to scale our impact, test new ideas, and invest in the future. And the best part? It’s built around the idea that doing good should also be sustainable.

This new investment will allow us to uprade the tech our Facilitators use and offer, whilst providing access to the young people we work with.

Big Issue Invest are an organisation who invest in social enterprises, creating core solutions with an aim to end poverty in the UK. Founded by impact entrepreneurs John Bird and Nigel Kershaw from the well known Big Issue Group, they are one of the UK’s leaders in social impact investing.

Since 2005 they have invested over £100 million in hundreds of social impact organisations, all who share the Big Issue Group’s mission to dismantle poverty and inequality through social business solutions. Through their grants and funding they help grow organisations with a social mission or purpose, providing access to funding, support, and a network committed to their growth and impact. 

Recognising the alignment with our own values to level the playing field, help end inequality and provide young people from all backgrounds, cultures and situations with opportunities and training, we knew they were the right organisation to join forces with. The funding will help move us forward with our expansion plans and develop our offer to young people in the UK.

With the help of this inspiring organisation, we are sharpening our business and marketing strategies, moving forwards and growing our business.

We’re not just throwing money around. Every penny is being strategically invested in projects that push us forward.

Following our success in London and Portsmouth, Unloc is heading up north! We’re so excited to be launching our Leeds Hub in Leeds City Centre, and this funding helps us get off the ground, connect with local partners, and make it self-sustaining in two years. We’re getting northern powerhouse vibes!

We believe in showing, not just telling. So we’re offering free taster workshops, because nothing beats ‘experiencing’ the Unloc magic first-hand. We believe in who we are and what we do, we believe in our product, and we know you will too. One session is all it takes to see changemaking in process.

To grow our amazing community-based work, we’re bringing in a professional Grant Writer to help us win more funding. It’s like levelling up for us, we’re playing smarter and harder to ensure we have the right support, funding and guidance to help us expand for the future.

Our marketing team has been crushing it over the past five years, if you’ve been following Unloc’s growth you’ll have seen a total transformation in our image and brand. Now, with our recent expansion to have an in-house videography team we’re scaling up video content with a focus on engaging young people directly, using youth voice as a tool, launching new programme reels, refreshing our website and supercharging our brand presence. Gen Z? We’re talking directly to you now!

Our Changemaker Studios in Portsmouth and London are getting some serious tech upgrades with new CleverTouch screens, hybrid conferencing systems, iPads and more. Guided by our awesome Innovation Champions, these upgrades will make our spaces more creative, collaborative, and cutting-edge than ever.

This isn’t just about money. It’s about momentum. It’s about doubling down on our mission to empower the next generation. It’s about dreaming bigger, working smarter, and showing what’s possible when you back a bold vision with the right support. 

We have an amazing team of vibrant, visionary and dynamic staff. We just needed a bit of support to build the infrastructure around them to deliver in new regions, the tools and tech around them to help support them, and the means to deliver the words and experiences of the young people they work with each and every day.

Most of all, it’s about the young people, they are, after all – the very reason we’re here in the first place. They are quite literally the future, the spark, the reason we do what we do.

We’re building a better, bolder Unloc. This investment is just the beginning.

Calling all Student Governors! Get ready for an unforgettable day on Thursday 26th June, as student governors from across the UK come together in the heart of London for a high-energy celebration of leadership, impact, and empowered changemaking!

We’re taking over Burberry’s iconic London headquarters for a jam-packed day of inspiration, insight and empowerment as we mark the first year of our Student Governor Changemaker Programme! If you’ve served as a student governor this year – this is your moment.

Over the past year, in partnership with Rockborn, we’ve been on a mission to equip student governors from across the UK with the tools to lead, and the voice to succeed. Through our range of invigorating bootcamps, dedicated skills development sessions, guest speakers and workshops, we’ve worked closely with you to bring out your inner leader, give you the confidence to speak your mind, share your thoughts, and take affirmative action to make positive change a reality in your college.

Now, it’s time to celebrate that journey together.

Our Destinations Conference is dedicated to bringing together young leaders from around the country, sharing what you’ve learnt, connecting with your peers, and celebrating with us the landmark first year of the first dedicated nationwide programme created specifically to provide Student Governors with the highest level of training and support. We’re also opening up this opportunity to invite along your Governance Professional to help celebrate your success! 

This is your chance to reflect on how far you’ve come, the change you’ve led, and the skills you’ve built, while connecting with others who share your drive to make a difference in their colleges and communities.

Unloc’s Co-Founder and Chief Executive Hayden Taylor

Don’t miss out on the student leadership event of the year.

Seats are limited, energy will be high, and we cannot wait to celebrate all you’ve achieved .

We are thrilled to announce that in partnership with Rockborn, we are launching a search nationwide for the UK’s Student Governor of the Year 2025! This new award aims to recognise and appreciate the important contribution that student voice and leadership has to a college environment, celebrating those Student Governors who work as the voice of students to improve their college, it’s services and support, and ensure that student needs are met.

It’s estimated that around 900 Student Governors work within their colleges around the country each year. As the voice of student leadership, their platform provides young people with the opportunity to inform and have a say in their education, helping to shape their college environment and the services they offer.

Together Unloc and Rockborn have long recognised the importance of student leadership and student voice in the education environment, rolling out our comprehensive Student Governor Changemaker Programme across the UK this year to provide the highest level of support and training to Student Governors as they get to grips with their role and learn how to have a positive impact, working with both education professionals, school boards, key figures and students themselves to achieve tangible outcomes that enhance and improve their education experience.

At Unloc we have long championed, supported and invested in Student Governors across the FE sector, most notably through their dedicated training and support programmes, student voice workshops, and in-depth governance training for young people. 

Rockborn boast an impressive track record of success as management and governance consultants in the Further Education sector, long supporting Further Education boards through governance reviews, training, consultancy and project managing mergers in the sector. 

Both our organisations cultivate exceptional learning environments, working with staff, boards and young leaders to develop rich and vibrant educational spaces that allow young people to flourish. Now we are asking colleges across the country to nominate their Student Governors, recognising them for the excellent work they do, and the important contribution they make to their college.

To nominate a Student Governor is very easy, colleges are invited to complete a very simple online application form by clicking the button below. It only takes a few minutes, and asks for a few details about the young person being nominated, and why they should win the award.

The deadline for nominations is 30th April 2025.

The 2025 Student Governor of the Year will be announced this Summer at Unloc’s Student Governor Destination Conference to be held in London. Further details to be announced.

All nominees will also receive a certificate of commendation to recognise their contribution to their college and the wider education sector. 

Unloc’s Co-Founder & Chief Executive Hayden Taylor

“We are incredibly excited to be launching the 2025 Student Governor of the Year Award, a chance to recognise and celebrate the contributions, impact and dedication of Student Governors across the country, acknowledging the positive change they make within their colleges, and to the community around them. Recognising the important contribution young governors make in their learning environment is so important, so we’re asking colleges to take five minutes out to nominate the Student Governors who make a difference in their college, one of which will be picked as our 2025 Student Governor of the Year!”

“Rockborn is really proud to be sponsoring the Unloc Student Governor Changemaker Programme and to be getting behind this new award. We’d like to encourage colleges that want to nominate a Student Governor to fill in a very short application form, it will only take five minutes, and recognise your Student Governor’s contribution!”

Hit play to hear from both Unloc and Rockborn about the launch of this new award

Two of the UK’s leading education specialists are joining forces to ensure young people across the country receive the very highest standard of Student Governance training available. Unloc are working together with the highly respected Further Education specialists Rockborn in order to roll out an in-depth programme of events, training and bootcamps for the UK’s Student Governors.

The recently developed Student Governor Changemaker Programme takes young Governors on a personal development changemaker journey. Not talking at them, lobbying them with historical practice or overwhelming them with knowledge, but working with them at ground level upwards, supporting student governors on their next steps, whilst empowering them to be the best they can be in their roles using tangible training and skills  – empowering them both as governors and future leaders.

Award winning organisation Unloc have long championed, supported and invested in Student Governors across the FE sector, most notably through their dedicated training and support programmes, student voice workshops, and in-depth governance training for young people.  Their mission to create, empower and grow young changemakers has seen them go from strength to strength over the past few years, building a strong reputation for excellence in the education sector, and launching their own Unloc Changemaker Alliance bringing leading businesses together to create opportunities and level the playing field for young people.

Rockborn boast an impressive track record of success as management and governance consultants in the Further Education sector, long supporting Further Education boards through governance reviews, training, consultancy and project managing mergers in the sector. Rockborn are sector experts with directors and associates having held positions as College Principals, Chief Executives, HR Directors, Marketing Consultants, organisational change leaders, and governance professionals. Their strong belief in the transformational power of Further Education aligns perfectly with Unloc’s mission to empower young people and the next generation, with both organisations understanding the responsibility that goes with such a goal.

Both organisations are experts at cultivating exceptional learning environments, working with staff, boards and young leaders to develop rich and vibrant educational spaces that allow young people to flourish. This partnership initiative builds upon Unloc’s experience with governance training, then elevates and expands it to new heights that allows for a multi-regional offer, reaching more students around the country than ever before.

Our Student Governor training provides young changemakers with a wealth of skills and the very best in training for young leaders entering into their new role.

The programme will provide the most comprehensive and expansive personal development programme possible, giving college students in a governance position access to dynamic opportunities which include Changemaker Summits run in different locations across the country, building the tangible key skills required to have impact and drive change in their college.

Student Governors will also have access to a series of 3 online digital masterclasses focused on developing students’ wider skill-sets as student leaders and changemakers. Each session will last 90 minutes with a guest speaker and accompanying workshop topics, including Finding Your Leadership Style, Communication, Motivation and Influencing Others and Running Effective Campaigns.

Young Student Governors at one of Unloc’s events to develop their skills as Governors.

Delegates will also be invited to The Student Governor Destinations Conference, a one-day event in London held towards the end of the academic year. They’ll explore ‘what next?’ in their Changemaker journey, whether that’s taking their learnings into a second term, or utilising all they’ve learnt as a Student Governor post-College. 

They’ll also hear from ex-Student Governors turned changemakers at a national and global level; exploring how to maximise their impact in the next phase of their lives, an ongoing changemaker journey.

Unloc’s Co-Founder and Chief Executive Hayden Taylor said:

“We simply couldn’t ask for a better partner than Rockborn for our Student Governor Changemaker Programme. Rockborn, as an organisation, has such a strong commitment to creating the highest level of outcomes for young people, and a deep understanding of the education space that we work within.”

“The events being held throughout the year will provide young Student Governors with a wealth of high quality training that sets them on their first steps into leadership, and empowers them with the skills and knowledge they need to impact positive change. Working with Rockborn we’re able to deliver such a high standard of support to these young changemakers in the making, we’re so excited to roll these events out and see them in action.”

Rockborn’s Company Director Peter Ryder said:

“We are really pleased to have created this partnership with Unloc. We share a deep commitment to FE, to the importance of Governance, the Student Voice and the development of young people. We have always seen our role as supporting FE and this is an opportunity to reinforce and develop that commitment. We are excited about the opportunities ahead.”

Student Governors embracing their new role at one of Unloc’s historic training events

Our new series ‘Courses Up Close’ looks more in-depth at some of the wide variety of programmes, courses and bootcamps that we offer at Unloc. One of our favourite courses to deliver is our Unloc Leadership Academy. Available to Secondary Schools and Further Education, the Unloc Leadership Academy is a fun and dynamic initiative to incubate passionate young leaders, support their personal development, and channel their energy into tackling the kinds of social issues faced by young people in their school, college or community. 

Young people participating will take part in a core leadership and social action training programme at the beginning of their time at the Academy before specialising in a social issue they would like to address. This could be from a wide range of topics which impact their everyday lives such as Climate Change, Equal Rights, Politics, Homelessness or Food Poverty (for example).

It’s a brilliant opportunity to get young changemakers thinking critically about the world around them, the issues which impact them and their communities, and to challenge them to consider how they can pro-actively do something to help or improve that problem. 

Typically this leads to some fantastic and engaging discussions, peer on peer debates and challenging each other’s views and perceptions – which really grow young people’s confidence and encourages them to speak their truth and feel empowered to do something on a topic they feel strongly about.

Academy participants will then deliver social action projects (usually peer-led presentations) of their own design, focusing on one the priorities they’ve chosen. Often this can include multi-media approaches such as film and video, photography, designing a campaign, slideshow, poster or fundraising.

Unloc’s Co-Founder and Chief Executive Hayden Taylor
  1. Functional knowledge around project planning, facilitation and communication.
  2. The personal confidence, skills and qualities for leadership and employability more broadly.
  3. Been provided with a creative outlet for school improvement ideas.
  4. Connected with external role models.
  1. A plan for a school/college improvement idea.
  2. A presentation explaining their idea. 

Whether your students have leadership experience already, or are completely new to the concept of leadership, our Leadership Academy will provide an empowering experience for all.

Get in touch for more information and a no obligation chat on how we can help.

Giveus a call us on: 02394 008 180

Or email us at [email protected]

As the 2025 Young Entrepreneurs Challenge applications begin to flood in, we thought we’d catch up with our 2024 Winner Ethan Waisberg to reflect on the process and how he found the whole experience.

The 2024 Grand Final event was held at Verizon’s Headquarters in Holborn, London, with leaders from across industry sectors gathering to witness our young hopefuls pitch their business ideas to our panel of judges, including ex Dragon’s Den star Piers Linney.

Ethan competed with strong contenders from across Europe to win £10,000, mentorship, a technology support package to help kickstart his business proposal, and a trip to the One Young World 2024 Global Summit. 

With a strong pitch and well defined business plan, Ethan talked about his product AngioGenius.  With eye disease screening programs worldwide not performing well enough and  millions around the world to going  blind, Ethan developed an app where anyone can take a photo of their eye at home to help detect and monitor eye disease progression.  

From his research work with NASA astronauts, Ethan found a way to use Generative AI to allow the eyes of astronauts to be better monitored while in spaceflight, where limited imaging equipment exists. Ethan is bringing this same technology to Earth with AngioGenius at a fraction of the cost to current and widely used eye disease screening programs.

Young Entrepreneurs Challenge 2024 Winner Ethan with his winners cheque!

Ethan, it’s so great to catch up with you following your 2024 win! Tell us, how did you find entering the Young Entrepreneurs Challenge?

The application process was really easy and straightforward. I didn’t need any support or advice during the process, as I just had to record a 60 second video explaining my idea. 

Once you found out you were a finalist, how did you find the experience attending the Grand Final?

During my train ride to London, I reflected on the exciting opportunity to be in the finals and pitch my company to a large audience. I arrived in London the day before the competition, so I was able to relax and explore the city. I was not nervous as I felt prepared.

The Unloc and Verizon teams were welcoming, supportive and they greeted me with warm smiles and genuine enthusiasm. They were dedicated to bringing out the best in the finalists, and created a friendly, less competitive atmosphere.

Was there anything that you were afraid of?

As a clinician and scientist, my biggest fear was that I might not be able to convey all the important aspects of my business idea within the allotted time for the pitch. 

As someone who has conducted research in this area for the past 5+ years, I had a wealth of detailed information to share with the audience and judges. Nevertheless, I was able to be concise during my pitch and prioritize key messages.

Ethan with his fellow Finalists, Unloc’s Hayden Taylor (left) previous winner Jamie Bankhead & Verizon’s Sanjiv Gossain (right)

What did you think of the other finalists and their business ideas? 

It was really exciting to meet the other finalists, and to learn about their interesting business ideas. It’s tough to pick only one idea that stood out from the other finalists, since they each had a lot of potential and were all very impressive. 

As I interacted with the finalists, I couldn’t help but admire the passion and creativity behind their business ideas.

How did it go when it was time to deliver your pitch to the Judges?

Overall, I was happy with how my pitch went. I felt that I was able to effectively communicate the value proposition and core ideas of my business idea and that I had captured the attention of the judges and audience. 

Moreover, the Judges asked insightful and thought-provoking questions, which challenged me to delve deeper into various aspects of my company and provide detailed explanations. I appreciated this opportunity to further elaborate on key points.

Ethan speaking on stage at the 2024 One Young World Summit, part of his prize package as Grand Prize Winner

How did you feel when you were named the winner? 

I was surprised and elated to be chosen as the grand prize winner! I felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and validation for the sacrifices that I made along the way to reach this point.

What do you intend to do with the grand prize money?

I plan on using this prize money to conduct further clinical testing of my idea. Clinical testing is a crucial step to not only validate the safety and efficacy of my solution, but to also provide insights to further refine and optimize my business idea. 

What advice would you give to other young people out there considering entering the 2025  competition? 

My advice would be to not think twice about applying! Never doubt your abilities and ideas. I had entered the competition hoping to make an impact, and never imagined I would win.

Ethan thank you so much for catching up with us today, you were an absolutely outstanding entrant and a well deserved winner. We’ll be watching your progress closely and can’t wait to see all the amazing things you do next!

The Young Entrepreneurs Challenge 2025 is now open for entries! If you’re 16–25 and have a fresh & innovative tech-led idea – The Young Entrepreneurs Challenge 2025 could help you get your business off the ground, or if you’ve already launched a business, boost it to the next level. 

There’s a staggering £10,000 up for grabs, as well as a mentorship package and entry to the One Young World Global Summit, so what are you waiting for? Apply now!

Our latest impact report for the 2023-24 academic year is now available! Inside you’ll find a whole wealth of information of the work we’ve been carrying out in schools and colleges across the UK over the past 12 months, as well as case studies, interviews and insights into the work and projects we’ve formed with young people and partners such as Verizon Business, Burberry, Juniper Networks, GRP Solutions and Palo Alto Networks.

Gain insight into the past year with stats such as:

There’s also coverage of the 2024 Young Entrepreneurs Challenge, our Young Women in Tech programme, Inpsring Change, Portsmouth Inspires, One Young World, Seed 2030, school and college forums, Changemaker Moments, the release of the fantastic rap track to stand up against Knife Crime and Youth Violence, our General Election Special Events and a whole lot more!

Unloc 2024 Impact ReportDownload

The ballots are counted, the seats are filled, and collectively, the entire country is waiting to see how the new government kicks into gear. It’s been a tumultuous time, a different election to any we’ve experienced before. So what did we, as specialists supporting young people to be changemakers, learn during this period? 

The General Election was an eye opener for many of us, and the Academic sector was no exception. Working with young people in schools and colleges across the country each day, we have seen young people more interested and invested in political debate during this year’s election (and whilst the data is not yet readily available, it’s expected that the chasm between 18-24 year olds and 65+ in terms of voter turnout will have shrunk).

‘Why is that?’ That’s a complicated question. There’s no doubt that we live in complex times, and young people – more than many other sections of society, have faced huge disruptions to their lives over the past four years, especially because of the Covid19 pandemic. Whilst many workers nationwide were furloughed, young people were expected to carry on and achieve just as much – all be it from the safety of their home, or behind protective screens, masks and social distancing in schools. 

From their routines being abandoned, their educations hugely impacted, confinement inside the house during lockdowns, and perhaps most importantly – being isolated from their friends and peers at a time when socialisation is so vitally important to their development, their mental health and their sense of general wellbeing.

Add to this the perception of a lack of job opportunities and work experience for young people, housing costs soaring, waiting lists for mental health assessments and counselling reaching three years, Brexit and the Cost of Living crisis – many young people have felt like they’ve been strapped into a rollercoaster and thus (in the main) did one of two things; the majority engaged in this general election with vigour, energy and interest particularly motivated by their own recent rollercoaster-like lived experiences, or sadly, they disconnected altogether.

Our Changemaker Moments: Election Special event in London

Indeed this was never more evident here than during the series of televised election debates and Question Time specials, where the British public were witness to shouting, accusations, fingers in people’s faces, and aggressive and confrontational behaviour that many young people found surprising. In the build up to the election, we showed the BBC’s Election Debate highlights reel to hundreds of young people and the near-unanimous response was shock – is this how we ‘do’ politics in this country?

This feeling was emboldened by the campaign’s reliance on rhetoric; where conflation and confusion between what is truthful, facts or policy is mainstream. This ran counter to many of the young people I spoke to in the build up to 4th July, who were genuinely interested in talking about and debating the issues and policies that matter to them the most. 

I think young people expected more from the National Debate around the future of our country – yearned for more meaningful conversation and discussion. With Unloc’s Public Speaking and Debating programme as one of our core offers, we’ve shown young people for over a decade how to have constructive debate, embrace nuance and compassionately and considerately engage with people and situations where a difference of opinion is apparent. 

Our Changemaker Moments: Election Special event in Portsmouth

At Unloc we proudly play an impartial role in connecting young changemakers to policymakers, politicians and activists – giving them access to those in society that can help make a difference, and helping to create platforms for young people’s voices to be heard. With the General Election announced far earlier than anyone expected, we recognised this eagerness in young people to be actively involved in what was happening, and identified that they had little platforms to do so. Whilst lots of these young people won’t have been old enough to vote this time around – it was evident that they have plenty to say about our future society. 

MP Stephen Morgan at our Changemaker Studios: Portsmouth space for our Election Special


So, during the build up to the General Election, we invited young people from across our network to attend a series of events that provided space for them to meet with representatives from all major parties – and discuss, face to face,  the issues they care about most.

Events were held in our Changemaker Studios: Westminster space and also in our Changemaker Studios: Portsmouth space, where respected members from the Labour Party, The Conservatives, The Green Party, The Liberal Democrats and Reform UK agreed to take part and face tough questions from young people in person. These events were the brainchild of Unloc’s Youth Board – instead of a traditional hustings or question time event, they wanted to give young people dedicated time with candidates in small groups, enabling discussions and conversations that go beyond the soundbites.

Young people engaging face to face with Labour MP Stephen Morgan at our Portsmouth event
We were honoured to meet the Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer
and talk with him face to face about his priorities

As the new Labour Government kicks into gear over the coming months, we know that Unloc can continue to play a powerful role in connecting young changemakers with the policymakers that serve them. We met the Prime Minister, Sir Kier Starmer, a few months ago, and pressed the message that the new Government needs to invest in young people as changemakers and directly invest in their ideas; unlocking their potential to be drivers of social progress and change.

Over the next five years, Unloc will continue to push to ensure young people are front and centre of future government policy.

We will continue to take an active part in giving young people a voice, connecting them with government and politics, with speaking and debating, and with leadership –  and through our workshops, programmes, Changemaker grants and Changemaker Studios spaces –  we will scale our support available to young people who step up as Changemakers.

Hayden Taylor is the 27-year old Chief Executive of Unloc

We’re thrilled to reveal that we and our partners Verizon Business won not just one, but two awards at The Better Society Awards 2024! The event, held a few days ago, saw leading businesses from across the UK come together at the London Marriot Hotel in Grosvenor Square for a stunning night of celebration, where leaders from across all sectors were recognised for their contributions and positive impact on society and improving the lives of others.

Through our combined work via the Unloc Changemaker Alliance, we were thrilled to pick up two awards, joining winners from major industry leaders including British Airways, Deloitte, Santander, MacMillan, The National Youth Advocacy Service, Octopus Energy, Vodafone, the NSPCC and Omaze (to name but a few).

The first award is for the National Commitment to Skills & Training  Award,  something we at Unloc are hugely proud of as we roll out our skills focused programmes, workshops and bootcamps across the UK. 

Verizon Business’s Xavier White with our own Hayden Taylor

The second award is the Philanthropy Award category, given to celebrate individuals and organisations who advance innovation, new solutions, and demonstrate meaningful progress in a community, association, or other nonprofit organisation.

Talent and opportunity in the UK is often mis-aligned, with young people growing up in the most challenging socio-economic communities facing life expectancies up-to 6 years below the national average and lifetime income earning potential up-to 40% below the national benchmark (such as Portsmouth). Our joint skills and training programmes are helping to redress this imbalance.

Unloc’s very own Ben Dowling, with Xavier White and Rob Nicol from Verizon Business

This uniquely collaborative approach between a global corporate,  and our own non-for-profit skills and training organisation has:

Unloc’s Founders Hayden Taylor and Ben Dowling with our two award trophies!
Xavier White, Head of EMEA Social Purpose & Senior ABM Lead, from the EMEA Marketing Team for Verizon Business Group with the two awards

The outcomes described above are the combined results of the six bespoke and innovative programmes in entrepreneurship, leadership, career pathways and amplifying student voices, which are curated and delivered by Unloc’s expert youth-focused facilitation team, working in close collaboration with Verizon employee mentors, guest speakers and industry experts. These are:

The Unloc and Verizon Business teams

Download our free changemaker toolkit