Empowering young people with design thinking & sustainability skills for the future.
We bridge the gap between student innovation and business sustainability challenges.
Registered Charity no.1215681
Mission
“Young people are deeply concerned about their future and the planet. Businesses face a growing talent gap.
We connect the two."
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Services
Rebel Punkworx smashes the gap between education and the real world. Through hands-on challenges rooted in sustainability and design thinking, we equip students with future-ready skills while giving organisations fresh thinking and meaningful outcomes
Education:
Inspirational sessions, hands-on workshops, structured build programmes.
Business:
Inspirational sessions, Co-creation, hands-on workshops, facilitated innovation sprints.
Community:
Inspirational sessions, hands-on workshops, community projects.
How It Works
We bring education and business together through a structured, facilitated process that turns real challenges into meaningful learning, innovation, and impact.
01
Book a discovery call.
We start with a clear, honest conversation to cut through assumptions, define priorities, and decide whether working together will create real value.
02
Discuss your challenges and requirements.
We go beyond surface issues to define the challenge that actually needs solving—focusing time and energy where it will make the biggest difference.
03
Co-create a brief.
Together, we shape a bold, focused brief that challenges students to think differently while keeping outcomes practical, relevant, and grounded.
04
Launch the project
We facilitate hands-on workshops and real-world challenges, connecting students and organisations to generate ideas, build skills, and create visible impact.
Education
By working with Rebel Punkworx, students gain first-hand experience of real-world business and sustainability challenges, helping them explore future career possibilities in a meaningful way.
Our programmes equip young people with practical design thinking and problem-solving tools, building confidence, creativity, and resilience. These transferable skills prepare students for further education and future employment in a rapidly changing world.
Derived from working with schools and businesses.
Meets Gatsby Benchmarks 1–8.
Cross-curricular application.
Business
By partnering with Rebel Punkworx, businesses gain fresh perspectives on real-world challenges through collaboration with emerging talent.
Our structured, professionally facilitated programmes deliver measurable ROI by supporting innovation, strengthening ESG outcomes, and building a future-ready talent pipeline. In doing so, organisations enhance their employer brand, improve long-term workforce readiness, and position themselves as employers of choice.
Strategic value:
Innovation acceleration, talent pipeline, ESG value.
ROI Overview (annual):
Measurable ROI for organisations.
KPIs:
50–100 students, skills and confidence developed, innovation outcomes, evidence of innovation ROI.
Research:
Design Council, McKinsey, CIPD, ISE, Deloitte, Edelman, Kantar.
Impact
Metrics: learners engaged, NEET progression, CO₂ impact, landfill
“One of the most thoughtfully structured and impactful experiences of my degree.”
– UoB Engineering Student.
Case Study
We work on real briefs with real constraints.
Students collaborate with organisations to explore challenges around sustainability, circular economy and innovation. They research, test, prototype and present. Along the way they build confidence, resilience and the ability to solve problems that don’t come with neat answers.
Chiltern Railways
Challenge: increase passengers, cut carbon, boost customer experience.
Approach: 6 students, 3 stations, empathy mapping, inclusive design.
Outcomes: AR/VR Heritage Journeys, AI Journey Wizard, Inclusive Smart Ticketing.
Chiltern Railways
Challenge: increase passengers, cut carbon, boost customer experience.
Approach: 6 students, 3 stations, empathy mapping, inclusive design.
Outcomes: AR/VR Heritage Journeys, AI Journey Wizard, Inclusive Smart Ticketing.
Chiltern Railways
Challenge: increase passengers, cut carbon, boost customer experience.
Approach: 6 students, 3 stations, empathy mapping, inclusive design.
Outcomes: AR/VR Heritage Journeys, AI Journey Wizard, Inclusive Smart Ticketing.
Chiltern Railways
Challenge: increase passengers, cut carbon, boost customer experience.
Approach: 6 students, 3 stations, empathy mapping, inclusive design.
Outcomes: AR/VR Heritage Journeys, AI Journey Wizard, Inclusive Smart Ticketing.
Chiltern Railways
Challenge: increase passengers, cut carbon, boost customer experience.
Approach: 6 students, 3 stations, empathy mapping, inclusive design.
Outcomes: AR/VR Heritage Journeys, AI Journey Wizard, Inclusive Smart Ticketing.
Chiltern Railways
Challenge: increase passengers, cut carbon, boost customer experience.
Approach: 6 students, 3 stations, empathy mapping, inclusive design.
Outcomes: AR/VR Heritage Journeys, AI Journey Wizard, Inclusive Smart Ticketing.
Chiltern Railways
Challenge: increase passengers, cut carbon, boost customer experience.
Approach: 6 students, 3 stations, empathy mapping, inclusive design.
Outcomes: AR/VR Heritage Journeys, AI Journey Wizard, Inclusive Smart Ticketing.
Chiltern Railways
Challenge: increase passengers, cut carbon, boost customer experience.
Approach: 6 students, 3 stations, empathy mapping, inclusive design.
Outcomes: AR/VR Heritage Journeys, AI Journey Wizard, Inclusive Smart Ticketing.
Chiltern Railways
Challenge: increase passengers, cut carbon, boost customer experience.
Approach: 6 students, 3 stations, empathy mapping, inclusive design.
Outcomes: AR/VR Heritage Journeys, AI Journey Wizard, Inclusive Smart Ticketing.
Chiltern Railways
Challenge: increase passengers, cut carbon, boost customer experience.
Approach: 6 students, 3 stations, empathy mapping, inclusive design.
Outcomes: AR/VR Heritage Journeys, AI Journey Wizard, Inclusive Smart Ticketing.
Chiltern Railways
Challenge: increase passengers, cut carbon, boost customer experience.
Approach: 6 students, 3 stations, empathy mapping, inclusive design.
Outcomes: AR/VR Heritage Journeys, AI Journey Wizard, Inclusive Smart Ticketing.
Testimonials
Our partners and participants speak for the impact better than we can. What we consistently hear is this: students grow in confidence, businesses gain fresh thinking, and everyone leaves with a clearer sense of what’s possible.
“I’ve worked alongside Rebel Punkworx on sustainability and innovation projects. Their caring attitude, creativity, and practical problem-solving approach are top drawer. When we reconnected through Rebel Punkworx, the collaboration reignited that same spirit of curiosity and drive to make a difference. Top collaborators, coaches, and innovators.”
Shahriyar Miah
Department for Business & Trade / University of Birmingham
“I’ve worked alongside Rebel Punkworx on sustainability and innovation projects. Their caring attitude, creativity, and practical problem-solving approach are top drawer. When we reconnected through Rebel Punkworx, the collaboration reignited that same spirit of curiosity and drive to make a difference. Top collaborators, coaches, and innovators.”
Shahriyar Miah
Department for Business & Trade / University of Birmingham
“I’ve worked alongside Rebel Punkworx on sustainability and innovation projects. Their caring attitude, creativity, and practical problem-solving approach are top drawer. When we reconnected through Rebel Punkworx, the collaboration reignited that same spirit of curiosity and drive to make a difference. Top collaborators, coaches, and innovators.”
Steven Davis
Environment & Sustainability Manager, whg
“I’ve worked alongside Rebel Punkworx on sustainability and innovation projects. Their caring attitude, creativity, and practical problem-solving approach are top drawer. When we reconnected through Rebel Punkworx, the collaboration reignited that same spirit of curiosity and drive to make a difference. Top collaborators, coaches, and innovators.”
Shahriyar Miah
Department for Business & Trade / University of Birmingham
“I’ve worked alongside Rebel Punkworx on sustainability and innovation projects. Their caring attitude, creativity, and practical problem-solving approach are top drawer. When we reconnected through Rebel Punkworx, the collaboration reignited that same spirit of curiosity and drive to make a difference. Top collaborators, coaches, and innovators.”
Shahriyar Miah
Department for Business & Trade / University of Birmingham
“I’ve worked alongside Rebel Punkworx on sustainability and innovation projects. Their caring attitude, creativity, and practical problem-solving approach are top drawer. When we reconnected through Rebel Punkworx, the collaboration reignited that same spirit of curiosity and drive to make a difference. Top collaborators, coaches, and innovators.”
Shahriyar Miah
Department for Business & Trade / University of Birmingham
About
Rebel Punkworx exists because too many young people are being prepared for a world that no longer exists.
We bring education and business together around real sustainability challenges so students can build the skills, confidence and judgement they’ll need in the years ahead. Our work is practical, structured and rooted in the real world.
For schools, we strengthen learning.
For businesses, we develop future talent.
Registered charity no.1215681. Registered address: 10 Proffit Street, Walsall, WS2 8AP
Founders:
Richard Haynes
Richard Haynes FRSA BA MSc is an award-winning innovator and systems thinker who tackles complex challenges across housing, health, sustainability and education through human-centred design and collaborative leadership.
Jay Birdi
Jay Birdi MCIPS is a procurement transformation leader recognised for simplifying complex commercial challenges, championing operational excellence and advancing strategic use of technology.
Trustees & NEDs:
Fiona Joseph
Fiona Joseph is an experienced trustee, chair and Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) specialist with deep expertise in people, culture and transformational leadership, bringing strategic insight and compassionate governance.
Steve Davis
Steve Davies is a senior Environment & Sustainability leader with over 20 years’ experience delivering culture change, ISO 14001 excellence and award-winning environmental performance across infrastructure, housing and transport.
Niamh Mulryan
Niamh Mulryan is a values-driven International Relations student at the University of Birmingham who combines academic excellence with hands-on community leadership, mentoring and inclusive youth work.
Sabrina Shadie
Sabrina Shadie FIEDP, FIoL, FInstCPD is a multi-award-winning Equity, Diversity & Inclusion strategist and founder of D’Rose Business, known for values-driven leadership that empowers organisations and diverse leaders.
Victoria Landjova
Victoria Landjova is a dynamic proposals and business development professional driving growth in the transportation sector through strategic insight, analytical excellence and global experience.
Values:
Practical
Learning should be applied, not abstract. We focus on doing.
Honest
We work on real challenges, not polished case studies.
inclusive
Opportunity should not depend on background or postcode.
Future Focused
We prepare young people for the world ahead, not the one behind us.
Responsible
Sustainability is not a theme, it is a responsibility.
Get in Touch with us
Hi, I’m Amanda. Need help? Use the form below or email me at hello@punkworx.org.