Motivez holds Sustainable UK Grand Finale
Motivez, one of our incredible charity partners, recently held their Sustainable UK Grand Finale at The Institute of Engineering and Technology. This prestigious event saw STEM students aged 14 and 15 pitch their solutions to real-world climate challenges across sectors including Transport, AI & the Built Environment and Motorsport.
The Spectris Foundation Trustee, Leke Oluwole, was one of the expert judges at the Grand Finale and a mentor throughout the programme. He brought his knowledge and insight as a STEM expert to inspire the next generation.
Sustainable UK: STEM innovation for a brighter future
The Grand Finale concludes Sustainable UK for 2026, which has seen Motivez empower students to address climate problems and develop solutions through considering innovative technologies, design practicality, sustainability principles and consumer safety. Students were mentored by industry professionals, provided with informative STEM resources and encouraged to take part in team-building hackathons along their Sustainable UK journey.
This year was the first that the programme expanded from its London origins to become Sustainable UK, reaching a record-breaking 4,000 children from 28 schools across 11 UK regions. This remarkable accomplishment reflects Motivez’s relentless commitment to supporting underserved young people to become STEM pioneers.
The Grand Finale: industry-level climate solutions pitched to experts
Following competitions at school and borough level, teams with the winning pitches made it through to the Grand Finale. With Deputy Major of London, Mete Coban MBE, as the guest speaker, and judges including The Spectris Foundation’s Trustee, Leke Oluwole, inspiration was all around for finalists.
All teams put forward innovative and novel solutions to our planet’s biggest challenges, from Space & Defence to Consumer Health. After carefully assessing each presentation, the judges announced Affluent Sustainable Enterprises (ASE) from Harris Academy Peckham as the Sustainable UK Champions 2026. ASE’s winning entry was BusFlow+, an app designed to lower carbon emissions and make bus travel more efficient. ASE impressed the judges with their innovation, their understanding of sustainability and the real-world potential of their app.
Speaking about his role as a mentor and judge, Leke Oluwole said, “The energy, passion and creativity on display were genuinely inspiring. Seeing 14 and 15-year-olds confidently present solutions to some of society’s biggest sustainability challenges was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when young people are given the opportunity to innovate.” Leke added that what stood out most to him was the breadth of ideas pitched at the Grand Finale. Noting that ideas ranged from transforming retired busses into clothes recycling hubs to water management systems for the Thames, Leke said, “the level of thought and ingenuity was remarkable.”
An impactful organisation, a partnership we are proud of
Sustainable UK by Motivez exemplifies the best of STEM education, showcasing the remarkable talent of young people and the potential for a world in which our greatest challenges have answers. At The Spectris Foundation, we are grateful to Leke for his time, to the team at Motivez for their dedication and to the 4,000 participating young people for their commitment to solving climate challenges through teamwork and STEM innovation.
We have proudly partnered with Motivez since 2024, supporting their focus on empowering underserved young people to become STEM change-makers and succeed in the workforce. View their LinkedIn page here .
If you run a STEM charity and are interested in applying for funding, please get in touch or submit an Expression of Interest. You can review our funding criteria and find out more about the application process here.