From 30th June to 4th July 2025, the Cloudy Foundation TechLab Challenge took place at Bucks New University’s Aylesbury Campus, bringing together students from across Buckinghamshire for a week of hands-on digital learning and real-world challenge.
Six teams took part, representing:
- The Royal Latin School
- Aylesbury UTC
- Cressex Community School
- Sir William Ramsay School
- Stantonbury School (Milton Keynes)
- Cloudy Cadets – a cross-county team of selected students
Each team was tasked with designing and presenting an AI-powered chatbot agent for TD SYNNEX, supported by a marketing campaign and promotional video. The format was designed to mirror a real workplace brief — with students stepping into defined roles across development, design, media and project management.
Get a glimpse into the energy, creativity, and collaboration behind TechLab Bucks in our official recap video:
Photo Highlights
A Work Experience Alternative That Works
With many schools now facing challenges in securing high-quality work experience placements, TechLab offered a structured, immersive alternative. Several of the participating schools used the programme to meet work experience requirements — providing students with exposure to real project expectations, deadlines, and collaborative team dynamics.
Unlike traditional placements, where students may observe more than contribute, TechLab ensured every student had an active role — whether in coding, marketing, design, video production or presentation delivery.
At a time when national reports point to a shortage of meaningful work experience opportunities across sectors, initiatives like this are helping bridge the gap between education and employment.
Why This Challenge Matters
This year’s TechLab Bucks event also coincided with newly released figures reported by The Telegraph, showing that entry-level job opportunities in the UK have declined by 32% since the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022. Graduate roles and junior positions are being hit hardest by automation, highlighting an urgent need to equip young people with digital skills and adaptable, work-ready experience.
TechLab is built around that goal. Over the course of the week, students didn’t just explore AI in theory — they planned, developed and delivered live projects. Along the way, they strengthened their skills in communication, critical thinking, teamwork and time management — the kind of qualities employers consistently value.
Friday Showcase and Award Winners
The final day culminated in a live showcase and judging panel. Each team exhibited their chatbot concept and presented their campaign to an audience of peers, mentors, and guests from across the education and local government sector.
Award Winners:
- 🏆 Best Overall Project: Team Nine Tech, Royal Latin School – for their chatbot, CHRONOSYNC
- 🎤 Best Presentation: Royal Latin School and Ten Tech with CoConnect
- 🎥 Best Video: Team ACER, Aylesbury UTC
- 🎨 Best Stand: Team Venus, Stantonbury School
- 🤖 Best CoPilot Agent: Team Test Flight, Aylesbury UTC
Best Overall Project: Team Nine Tech, Royal Latin School
Thanks and Acknowledgements:
This event would not have been possible without the ongoing support of our partners and contributors. Special thanks to:
Alex East and the team at Microsoft
Sabrina Gosney and Mollie Rapson from TD SYNNEX
Elena Baeva from 365 Talent Portal
Nathan Davis at Bucks New University
Steve McNay, Woughton Community Council
Cllr Nidhi Meht, Mayor of Aylesbury and Buckinghamshire Councillor
And to the Cloudy Foundation and CloudyIT team — Aaran, Katie, Ollie, Matthew, and Kirsty — for delivering two full weeks of planning, facilitation and on-the-ground support.
Looking Ahead
Between the Manchester and Bucks events, TechLab 2025 engaged over 80 students from 8 schools, each gaining practical experience and insight into the technologies and team skills shaping the future of work.
In a job market that’s changing fast — and in an education system under pressure to find effective work experience placements — TechLab offers a model that works.
Interested in joining or supporting a future TechLab?
Contact the Cloudy Foundation →
