AI Innovator of the Year: Abhinav Tavva

“I’m motivated by having a positive impact on people.”

On Friday 24 April, Abhinav Tavva won AI Innovator of the Year at the Undergraduate of the Year Awards, an achievement that would have surprised his younger self.

Until he was sixteen, Abhinav expected to follow in his cousins’ footsteps and pursue mechanical engineering, having decided that the sleepless nights associated with the medical profession were not for him. Then, over the summer holidays after his GCSEs, he found himself playing so many console and PC games that a thought popped into his head: “If I enjoy playing games, why don’t I try to create one?”

And that’s exactly what he did. Using C-Sharp in Unity (a cross-platform game engine), Abhinav programmed from scratch a game so popular that all his peers were playing it when he went back to school. The experience sparked his interest in computer science and he hasn’t looked back since.

“I’ve done so many internship applications, what’s one more?”

In a similar series of events, Abhinav initially didn’t think the Undergraduate of the Year Awards were right for him, ignoring the first few emails that he received from targetjobs (the programme organisers). It wasn’t until he saw the award categories listed and ‘AI Innovator’ caught his eye that he felt motivated to apply.

The initial application only took Abhinav about 20 minutes to complete, submitting his CV and answering a few questions about his experience. This category, however, did have more stages that some of the others: a programming assessment, a 45-minute interview with representatives from Skyscanner and then an assessment centre at their headquarters in Edinburgh. “It sounds really demanding,” Abhinav explained, “but I genuinely enjoyed every single stage.” 

And the fun wasn’t the only benefit! Abhinav later added, “I learned so much [more] throughout the experience compared with other recruitment cycles.” We all know practice makes perfect and this includes applications, interviews and assessment centres. The awards were also a great opportunity for networking. As well as making a good impression on employers, Abhinav is still in contact with his fellow nominees, creating a network of future professionals, all passionate about AI.

“It’s a genuinely enjoyable process even if you don’t win.”

When asked whether he has any advice for students considering applying, Abhinav was quick to respond: “Just go for it!” He recommends taking the time to read through the awards before choosing. Are you passionate about this category? Do you have any relevant experience? What makes you stand out as a candidate?

A huge congratulations once again to Abhinav for this achievement! We hope that his story inspires his fellow students to take a chance and apply to those opportunities that may initially feel out of reach.

Applications for the 2027 Awards are now open!

Could you be the next Undergraduate of the Year? Head to the Undergraduate of the Year Awards website to explore the 2027 categories. Apply before Monday 25 January. 

To stay up to date on this and other upcoming opportunities, keep an eye on our Competitions and awards webpage, follow our Instagram or subscribe to our weekly newsletter via JobsLive.