
BRILLIANT Awards 2025
**Entries close on Thursday 31st July 2025**

Celebrating BRILLIANT Education
The BRILLIANT Awards shine a light on schools, colleges, and universities that are leading the way in innovation, creativity, industry engagement and future-focused learning. If you're helping young people thrive in an ever-changing world — we want to celebrate your work.
BRILLIANT invites you to join its mission to empower educators, transform education, and equip students with the skills and mindset needed for a brilliant future. Together, we can revolutionise teaching and learning, nurturing a generation of innovative thinkers and problem solvers.
Who Can Enter?
You’re eligible to enter if:
You are a school, college, or university based in the UK.
Your project, initiative, or work aligns with BRILLIANT’s mission: to inspire, innovate, and connect education with industry, technology, creativity, and future-ready skills.
Entries are welcome from individual educators, leadership teams, departments, or cross-institution collaborations. There are no restrictions on size or location — if you’re doing something BRILLIANT, we want to hear about it.
Entry Criteria
Entries must relate to work carried out between January 2023 and July 2025.
You can submit the same project to multiple categories if relevant — our entry portal makes it easy to duplicate submissions.
Judging is fair, transparent, and led by an expert panel from education, tech, and industry. Entries will be reviewed independently with optional supporting material considered.
Key Dates
Early Bird Entry: 18 November 2024 – 20 January 2025
Final Entry Deadline: 31 July 2025
Shortlist Announced: 30 September 2025
Awards Ceremony: 11 November 2025, Exhibition Centre Liverpool
🕓 Entries close on 31 July 2025
If you're unsure whether your work qualifies, contact us at martyncollins@brilliantfestival.com — we're happy to advise.

1. Innovators in Science Award
Recognising projects that drive scientific exploration, foster curiosity and encourage real-world impact in science education.
Examples of evidence:
Innovative science projects or research conducted by students.
Participation in national or international science competitions.
Evidence of hands-on experiments, fieldwork, or industry collaborations.
Testimonials from students, teachers, or external partners on the impact of science initiatives.
Judging criteria:
Creativity and originality in science projects and teaching methods.
Impact on student engagement, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Collaboration with external organisations, universities, or industry.
Demonstration of real-world applications of scientific learning.
2. Tech Excellence Award
Celebrating initiatives that embrace cutting-edge technology, equipping students with the digital skills needed for the future.
Examples of evidence:
Integration of coding, AI, robotics, or emerging technologies into the curriculum.
Case studies of student-led digital innovation or app development.
Engagement with tech industry partners or participation in national tech challenges.
Use of VR, AR or other advanced technologies to enhance learning.
Judging criteria:
Innovative use of technology in teaching and learning.
Demonstrated impact on students’ digital literacy and problem-solving abilities.
Evidence of industry links, mentorship, or real-world applications.
Scalability and sustainability of tech initiatives in the school.
3. Engineering Changemakers Award
Honouring programmes that inspire design thinking, problem-solving and hands-on engineering innovation.
Examples of evidence:
Student-led engineering projects or prototypes solving real-world challenges.
Collaboration with engineers or STEM organisations to enhance learning.
Participation in engineering competitions such as F1 in Schools or VEX Robotics.
Showcasing sustainable or community-focused engineering initiatives.
Judging criteria:
Innovation and creativity in engineering-based projects.
Practical application of engineering principles and design thinking.
Industry partnerships and real-world engagement.
Student impact and opportunities for skills development.
4. Creative Visionaries in Art & Design Award
Recognising activities that champion creativity, artistic expression and design thinking.
Examples of evidence:
Student artwork or design projects exhibited at galleries or competitions.
Integration of digital design, animation, or fashion into the curriculum.
Cross-disciplinary projects combining art with technology or science.
Collaboration with artists, designers, or creative industry professionals.
Judging criteria:
Originality and creativity in artistic or design projects.
Engagement with the wider creative community or industry.
Impact on student confidence and creative thinking.
Use of innovative techniques or cross-disciplinary approaches.
5. Maths Mastery Award
Celebrating projects that excel in mathematics education, inspiring students through innovative and applied learning.
Examples of evidence:
Innovative teaching approaches that improve student engagement and performance in maths.
Participation in national maths challenges, Olympiads, or problem-solving competitions.
Case studies of students applying maths in real-world scenarios (e.g., finance, coding, engineering).
Partnerships with universities or industry to enhance maths learning.
Judging criteria:
Innovation in teaching methods and student engagement.
Demonstrated improvement in mathematical understanding and application.
Evidence of real-world connections and interdisciplinary approaches.
Participation and achievement in external maths challenges.
6. Outstanding Industry Engagement Award
Honouring partnerships that build strong links with businesses and industry, preparing students for the world of work.
Examples of evidence:
Successful collaborations with businesses, apprenticeships, or work experience programmes.
Industry-led workshops, mentoring schemes, or employer engagement initiatives.
Student projects co-developed with industry partners.
Feedback from students and industry professionals on the impact of engagement.
Judging criteria:
Depth and quality of industry partnerships.
Impact on student career awareness, skills and opportunities.
Innovation in work-related learning experiences.
Sustainability and long-term benefits of industry links.
The 6 Award Categories

Sponsorship Opportunities
Want to align your brand with innovation and excellence in education?
We’re actively seeking partners who share our values.
To learn more about sponsorship, click here or email martyncollins@brilliantfestival.com
Become a Judge
Our panel of judges is made up of experts from education, technology, and industry.
If you'd like to be considered for a future BRILLIANT Awards panel, please get in touch with martyncollins@brilliantfestival.com