Main image: Young innovators getting involved in engineering. Photo by Vanessa Loring
The Digit<all> CODE (Champions of Digital Engineering) Awards were created to help young digital leaders shine and this year Archives of IT (AIT) sponsored the inaugural IT Pioneer Award.
These awards highlight innovation in areas such as coding, robotics, tech for good and digital wellbeing.
For the IT Pioneer Award, we were looking to celebrate young individuals or groups inspired by technology or influential IT figures. We asked them to create a digital presentation inspired by historical IT figures or a written essay highlighting the importance of diversity in technology; or designed a project exploring future tech trends.
The winner was Ariana from Bromley High School for the fruit recognition system she created using machine learning, as we felt it was a really impressive use of an emerging technology accompanied by a very informative video presentation.
Future computer scientists and role models
AIT’s CEO, Tola Sargeant, said: “The team at AIT were very impressed with the quality of the entries – it’s inspiring to see so many future computer scientists, engineers and tech entrepreneurs sharing their passion for the topic! Many congratulations to Ariana, winner of the IT Pioneer Award, and Charlotte and Ben, who were highly-commended in the category. We look forward to seeing what you achieve in the future!”.
Like Digit<all>, AIT is passionate about empowering schools and community groups to help young digital leaders shine and the CODE Awards were a great way of doing this.
Peter Marshman, CEO, Digit<all>, said: “It was wonderful to have the new category of IT Pioneers this year where teachers and youth leaders were able to submit entries with young people who have been inspired by historic figures of the past and also looking into new and emerging technology of the future. We hope these awards help to create the future role models and influential figures of tomorrow and thank Archives of IT for supporting this award.”
So, a huge well done to all the finalists and commended entries and to the volunteers that judged the awards, including: Professor Yota Dimitriadi, Stuart Ball, Hallima B, Tig Willams, Julie Price, Grace Blake and Kiara Jones.
Both winners and finalists won Amazon vouchers as prizes: £75 for the Junior winner, £25 for finalists; £100 for the Senior winner, £50 for finalists.
The CODE Awards 2026 reopen for entries from February and to keep updated you join the Digit<all> mailing list.
If you are interested in sponsoring the awards please visit Digit<all>.
The full list of winners:
– IT Pioneers sponsored by Archives of IT – Ariana from Bromley High School
– Digital Leadership sponsored by Leading Peaple – Marta from the British School Al Khabairat
– Visual storytelling sponsored by Canva – Ben and Hudson from Willow Tree Academy
– Tech for Good sponsored by Digit<all> – Freda from Donhead Preparatory School
– Digital Wellbeing sponsored by youHQ and Tech Entrepreneurship sponsored by Orbitr – Sabrina from Platanos College
– Communication and Collaboration sponsored by 8×8 – Joshua from Rishworth School
– Techincal Innovator sponsored by Micro:bit Educational Foundation – Rosie and Elissa from Tornaveen Hall
– Coding Inspiration sponsored by Jonas Software – Freya from Wyke Sixth form College
– Esports sponsored by Digital Schoolhouse – Michael, Boston, Aidan and Luiza – The Trinity School