The UPP Foundation was proud to sponsor the NEON Awards 2026, held in the historic Jubilee Room at the Palace of Westminster.
Hosted by NEON Director Martin Webster and presented by Gareth Snell MP, the awards recognise outstanding initiatives, partnerships and individuals working to remove barriers to higher education and support student success.
The event brought together universities, policymakers and widening participation practitioners from across the UK to celebrate the innovative work taking place to create opportunities for learners from all backgrounds.
Reflecting on progress – and the work still to do
Closing the event, Lucy Haire, our Director of Sector Engagement, reflected on how far widening participation has come over recent decades.
“When I graduated, only about one in six or seven young people went to university. By the time Gareth graduated, it was closer to one in two,” she told attendees.
Lucy highlighted the significant progress made through initiatives designed to support participation from underrepresented groups and the positive impact higher education can have on individuals’ lives and future opportunities.
At the same time, she recognised that widening access remains an important challenge for the sector.
“We know that our work on widening access is not done. It requires exactly the kind of skill, ingenuity, passion and drive that we have seen in all the winning and shortlisted entries for the NEON Awards today.”
Lucy also acknowledged the pressures many widening participation teams continue to face, including financial constraints, policy change and increasing demands on resources, while encouraging attendees to take time to recognise the impact of their work.
Supporting opportunity through the UPP Foundation
Through its research, partnerships and grant-making activities, the UPP Foundation works to improve educational opportunity and support students from underrepresented backgrounds to access and succeed in higher education.
Current initiatives supported by the Foundation include the University of Exeter’s Tutoring Model, which trains undergraduate students to tutor school pupils in foundational skills; Henley Business School’s Pathways to Property programme; and accommodation bursaries for care-experienced students delivered in partnership with Nottingham Trent University.
The Foundation also continues to support research and collaboration across the sector, helping universities share best practice and identify new approaches to widening participation and student success.
Recognising excellence across the sector
This year’s awards showcased a wide range of inspiring projects supporting learners throughout their educational journey – from raising aspirations among school pupils to improving student retention, progression and graduate outcomes. The awards also celebrated outstanding partnerships between universities, schools, employers and community organisations working together to create new opportunities for learners.
Congratulating the winners, shortlisted teams and individuals, Lucy thanked Martin Webster, the NEON team, Gareth Snell MP and everyone involved in organising the event.
The evening served as a powerful reminder of the difference that can be achieved when universities, charities, policymakers and partners work together to create opportunity. Through the UPP Foundation, we are proud to play our part in supporting that mission.
