Heathrow Early Careers Innovation Competitionis now open for entries!

Heathrow has submitted shovel-ready proposals for a fully privately financed third runway, with the potential for flights to take off within the next decade. With the right government policies in place, the airport is positioning itself to play a central role in supporting the UK’s national mission for economic growth.

To help deliver this expansion and uncover innovative solutions, New Civil Engineer in partnership with Heathrow is excited to launch an early careers competition, to encourage the next generation of engineers, contractors and suppliers to push the boundaries of design and delivery of aviation infrastructure and assets.

This new national initiative aims to shine a spotlight on emerging talent in aviation engineering and construction, inviting early career professionals to submit their ideas that could dramatically improve the delivery of construction and engineering for airports.

Heathrow are looking for innovations from supply chain organisations that improve:

• Project and programme delivery 
• Enhanced productivity
• Cost savings
• Sustainability

Successful entrants will be shortlisted and join multidisciplinary teams to work a single idea up into a real-life solution that could be deployed as part of Heathrow’s expansion.

Who can enter?

Civil engineering apprentices or graduates from supply chain organisations with no more than 5 years of experience in the aviation sector

Who the challenge is available for?

The challenge will only be available for individuals working in the UK from Heathrow’s preferred supply chain and wider engineering and construction firms that work in the aviation sector and not Heathrow employees.

What’s involved?

Applications are for individuals only, to champion an idea you believe will improve the design or construction of aviation infrastructure and be supported by a senior colleague in the industry. Once the applications are reviewed, successful individuals will be shortlisted and allocated to teams to take forward one idea into final stage judging. Each team will work on a different idea and be supported by a mentor from Heathrow to drive the innovation as far as possible while remaining feasible.

Potential challenge applicants will need to be able to attend all aspects of the challenge, including:

• Launch workshop to meet your teams and mentors – 11 March 2026 
• Mentor meetings via committee – Teams will be invited to catch up meetings with their mentors during preparation for their final presentations 
• NCE Airports final presentation to judges – 19 May 2026