Young innovators shine in Foundation of Light’s 2026 Harrison Challenge

Foundation of Light’s 2026 Harrison Challenge winners have been crowned following the final presentations at the Beacon of Light.

The Harrison Challenge tasks learners with discussing a piece of technology they use and present ideas to a panel of judges on how to improve it.

For learners working with the Foundation’s Study Programme, this gives them a chance to build real-world employability skills including speaking and presenting, innovation, and critical thinking.

Foundation of Light’s winning group was announced as Kenneth Morris and Taylan Turkmen-McKenna after they delivered a confident presentation to the panel of business executives including Harrison Foundation trustee, Daniel Harrison MBE.

Kenneth and Taylan’s idea was a goals-based mental health app helping people to develop positive habits, stay active, and track their emotional wellbeing.

The pair wowed the panel having even developed a prototype of the app and its website, before answering all their questions with clarity.

On the Harrison Challenge, Foundation of Light Youth Skills Coordinator, Neil Jones, said: “This year was probably our strongest Harrison Challenge yet.

“In terms of the learners’ presentational skills, the range of ideas, the quality of the ideas, we were impressed across the board.

“The goal of the Harrison Challenge is all about building that confidence, those social awareness skills that help you in the business world, and I think this year’s cohort achieved that.”

“Kenneth and Taylan stood out for their ownership of the challenge and their idea,” Neil added on the winners.

“They did their own research and development around a real-world issue, even building the app. It was amazing to see the initiative they took in tackling the challenge head on.”