After interning at Amazon, Alex returned to City St George’s and founded City Innovation Hub, a student-led society that connects students with top tech firms.
After an intensive placement at Amazon working as a front-end developer and digital marketer, Alex saw just how challenging it can be for newcomers to break into the competitive tech industry.
Determined to change this for his peers, he founded City Innovation Hub, a student-led society designed to connect students with top tech firms, including Amazon, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Anthropic, Accenture, and more.
"It started as an idea to bridge the technical skills gap for students.”
What began as a simple concept quickly grew into something much bigger.
"After my internship, I spoke with City St George’s Students’ Union about launching City Innovation Hub. They were incredibly supportive. In our first year, we organised a dozen successful events together."
Bringing students and industry professionals together
Alex wanted to create a space where students could directly connect with people working in the tech industry.
"I felt the best way to engage students was to bring in industry leaders they recognised. We focused on offering the right events, including panels, workshops, and networking opportunities, which helped us grow quickly."
The society started with just Alex. Now it has grown into a 15-person team with a community of over 1,500 members. It has also officially integrated with the AWS Cloud Clubs programme.
City Innovation Hub hosts large-scale events focused on AI, Cloud Computing, Intellectual Property, and other emerging technologies, giving students a chance to learn about the latest trends. But it’s not just about gaining knowledge.
"We bring in professionals who are actively hiring, so when students ask about roles, they get clear guidance and a real advantage."
Creating opportunities for students to gain experience
"Our collaboration with AWS has been one of our biggest achievements. So far, we’ve held two student immersion days, each bringing 100 City St George’s students to Amazon headquarters. They got exclusive exposure to the environment, met professionals, and saw what the industry is like firsthand."
Alex encourages students to make the most of the support around them, including their lecturers at City St George’s.
"Something I’ve always said is don’t be afraid to ask your professors for advice. If you’re working on an exciting project, tell them. They always have someone who can help you take it further, and they have an amazing network. Use it."
Building connections that open doors
Alex shares some words of wisdom to students.
"If I could tell students one thing, it would be to go out there and network as much as you can. The more you put yourself out there, the more doors will open for you."
With a growing community and industry partnerships, City Innovation Hub is giving students even more ways to explore careers, gain experience, and build connections for the future.