The HEIST Awards, now in their 34th year, celebrate excellence and innovation in education marketing and engagement.
The headline win came in the category of Best Widening Participation Initiative, awarded to the Festival of Engineering 2024. This six-day celebration of engineering, held across six London boroughs and 53 locations, welcomed over 7,000 attendees and showcased UCL’s inclusive and forward-thinking approach to public engagement. The Festival was co-created with schools, community groups and national partners, and delivered by 364 staff and student volunteers. It offered hands-on experiences, lab tours, and even a live link to the International Space Station - helping thousands of young people, many from underrepresented backgrounds, see themselves in engineering.
UCL was also shortlisted in two other categories:
Best Event Experience for the Flourish Welcome Party , part of UCL Accommodation’s residential life programme. Flourish helps new students settle in and connect through weekly events and activities, including museum tours, theatre trips and community socials.
Best Use of Content for Bending the Curve of Biodiversity Loss , a campaign by the Faculty of Life Sciences launched alongside COP16. The initiative showcases UCL’s biodiversity research and its role in shaping healthier outcomes for people and nature.
These achievements reflect the dedication of UCL staff across departments, faculties and professional services. From event planning and communications to teaching and research, colleagues played a central role in shaping experiences that are inclusive, impactful and aligned with UCL’s values.
Sarah West, Head of Marketing, Communications and Experience for UCL Estates, said:
" Having the UCL Accommodation Flourish Welcome Party shortlisted for Best Event Experience at the Heist Awards is a proud moment. It is a testament to the dedication of an incredible team - including Campus Experience and Infrastructure staff, our catering partner Gather & Gather and over 70 student ambassadors supporting on the day. To be recognised for creating an impactful experience to welcome nearly 3,000 new students moving into UCL Accommodation is brilliant.
Julia Weston, Head of Marketing and Communications for the Faculty of Life Sciences, said:
" We were delighted that our Bending the Curve of Biodiversity Loss campaign was shortlisted for one of these prestigious awards. The potential loss of biodiversity has huge, worrying implications for people and the planet alike, and our team will continue to work hard to raise awareness of this critical issue.
Professor Clare Elwell, Vice Dean (Impact) for the Faculty of Engineering Sciences, said:
We’re incredibly proud of what the Festival achieved. It was a celebration of collaboration, creativity and community-and a powerful reminder of the difference we can make when we work together to inspire the next generation.
Watch our highlights video for a reminder of what made the Festival so special!
