Queen Mary wins two London Higher awards for student employability and research collaboration
The awards, introduced for the 25th anniversary of London Higher, are for Higher Education Institutions in London.
Queen Mary University of London has received recognition for its civic engagement work in the capital, winning two categories at the recent London Higher Awards:
1) Outstanding Contribution to Student Employability – SKETCH -
Queen Mary’s interdisciplinary Student Knowledge Exchange programme (SKETCH) was awarded Outstanding Contribution to Student Employability. SKETCH enables students to work directly with external organisations — often local groups — to address real-world challenges. Initially funded by the Office for Students and Research England, the programme spans six strands of work: the Queen Mary Legal Advice Centre, qLegal, qNomics, qTech, the School of Business and Management Entrepreneurship Hub, and the Student Consultancy Project.
Bringing together legal, business, financial, and technology expertise, SKETCH equips students with high-level employability skills valued across sectors, including communication, teamwork, and creative problem-solving. Last year alone, over 700 students participated, developing 11 key skills that have helped graduates progress into successful careers, while also delivering tangible benefits to partner organisations.
2) Best Research Collaboration in London – Tower Hamlets HDRC -
Queen Mary, alongside London Metropolitan University and the University of East London, won Best Research Collaboration in London for their work on the Tower Hamlets Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC). Funded by the NIHR for five years and led by Tower Hamlets Council in partnership with Tower Hamlets Council for Voluntary Service (THCVS), the HDRC aims to make the borough a hub for co-produced, high-quality, and impactful research into the social, economic, and environmental factors influencing health.
Queen Mary’s involvement reflects its strong civic commitment to improving health outcomes in East London. Working with strategic partners Tower Hamlets Council and THCVS, the collaboration supports research that informs local policy, enhances services, and addresses health inequalities in one of the most diverse and dynamic areas of the capital.