A group of young people in Bradford has created working digital products using artificial intelligence (AI) during a one-day competition designed to help them gain practical workplace experience.
The inaugural Bradford Buildathon, held on Sunday 30 August, challenged participants to develop technological solutions to common barriers young jobseekers face, including a lack of mentorship, work shadowing, and entry-level apprenticeships.
Participants used Lovable, an AI-powered “no-code” platform, allowing them to build functional software prototypes without any prior computer programming or coding background.
Focus on practical problem-solving.
The event aimed to address the growing gap between young people’s potential and their ability to secure meaningful career opportunities due to sparse CVs.
The working prototypes were assessed by a panel of tech professionals, including Product Owner Grant Uzoanya, Multiverse AI Consultant Nelson Uzenabor, NHS Software Test Manager Oluwatimilehin Oni, and Product Marketing Manager Nire Adetimehin.
Judges evaluated the entries across four key criteria: user value, product thinking, prototype quality, and creativity.
Mr Uzoanya noted that while AI tools allow individuals to move from an idea to a working prototype in a matter of hours, technical execution alone is insufficient.
“Building something that works is only the beginning,” Mr. Uzoanya said. “The more important question is whether it solves a problem worth solving.”
Lowering barriers to the tech sector
Organizers said the event forms part of a wider shift toward making technology careers more accessible to individuals from non-traditional backgrounds.
As generative AI and prompt-based tools reduce the need for formal coding skills, industry experts suggest the focus in tech development is shifting from technical execution to user research and problem identification.
The buildathon provided participants with a practical portfolio project to demonstrate their capability to prospective employers, prioritizing hands-on demonstration over formal work experience
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