PRESS RELEASE : Mayor teams up with best-selling video game Minecraft to inspire young designers of the future [January 2023]

The press release issued by the Mayor of London on 26 January 2023.

• The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has teamed up with best-selling video game Minecraft for the launch of his 2023 Design Future London Schools Challenge.
• The Schools Challenge takes place in the new London Minecraft World, where the Mayor makes a special appearance as a non-player character.
• Young Londoners will design sustainable changes to a Minecraft version of Croydon town centre and submit a two minute video entry.

The Mayor of London and chair of C40 Cities, Sadiq Khan, has joined forces with the bestselling video game of all time to encourage young Londoners to pursue future careers designing a better London for everyone.

The Mayor’s 2023 Design Future London Schools Challenge will take place in the new London Minecraft World, a partnership between City Hall, Microsoft’s Minecraft Education and C40 Cities. Young Londoners will use their creative design skills to create sustainable changes to a Minecraft version of Croydon town centre.

The Mayor makes his virtual debut as a non-player character, introducing the game to young Londoners and challenging them to make sustainable changes to the busy hub of the south London borough.

Students will produce a two minute video of their Minecraft creations and explain their vision of a greener Croydon.

Free licenses for Minecraft Education are available to all schools, colleges and universities in London. Faith groups and youth clubs are also invited to get involved.

The Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and Skills, Jules Pipe CBE, is launching the challenge at University of East London today, where more than 300 students are taking part in a three day design sprint based on the challenge.

The challenge builds on a pilot which took place last year and involves a series of partners including Croydon Council, Mayor’s Fund for London and MOBIE founded by architect and TV presenter, George Clarke.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “It was an honour to join the Minecraft family to launch the Design Future London Schools Challenge to young Londoners. The London Minecraft World is a fun and engaging way for young Londoners to think critically about the built environment, collaborate with friends and peers, and be creative in showcasing their vision for the capital’s future.

“I can’t wait to see the brilliant ideas that come out of this challenge and wish all young Londoners taking part the very best of luck with their entries.”

Mark Watts, CEO of C40 Cities, said: “We can’t create a green future without the ideas and leadership of young people. Schools Reinventing Cities offers a unique, engaging opportunity for kids and teenagers from around the world to learn about science-based city climate actions and to reinvent their own city, street by street. C40 Cities is thrilled to work with Minecraft Education and the Mayor of London to help students redesign Croydon, sharing their best and boldest ideas with their teachers, school mates and policy makers, and empowering them to imagine the next generation of good, green jobs to aspire to have access to. I can’t wait to see what they will come up with, celebrate their creative energy, get inspired and support them in building the future they want”.

Clare Barclay, CEO of Microsoft UK, said: “I’m delighted to be partnering with the Mayor of London and C40 to bring free Minecraft Education licenses to schools across London. It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to support the Mayor’s agenda for sustainability and education, and to encourage young people to reimagine the places they live. I can’t wait to see what the students create.”

Allison Matthews, Head of Minecraft Education, said: “Students from around the world have amazed us with their creativity in designing sustainable solutions for their communities in Minecraft build challenges. We are thrilled that through this partnership with The Mayor of London and C40, we will connect these ideas directly to the leadership of London. The Design Future London challenge will empower students with an understanding of how climate change is impacting Croydon, inspire their thinking on future green careers, and show city leaders what kind of city they want to grow up in. We can’t wait to see what they come up with!”

Theo Blackwell MBE, Chief Digital Officer at the GLA, said: “Games can teach important soft skills like creativity and collaboration, but most of all are fun! I’m delighted that the Minecraft London is partnering with the Mayor to bring games into education to design greener and more inclusive spaces.”

George Clarke, Architect, TV presenter and founder of MOBIE, said: “The homes and neighbourhoods of the future will be lived in and created by today’s young people. That is why I am delighted to be part of the latest Design Future London young persons’ challenge with the Mayor and Minecraft Education. Last year we saw some amazing designs created by very talented young people, including many that used Minecraft to produce incredibly imaginative home designs.

“I cannot wait to see the inspirational, future thinking buildings and places that young Londoners come up with this year. I have no doubt we will discover some extraordinary design talent and unleash creativity and imagination across the capital. I really hope the challenge will inspire young Londoners to pursue careers in the built environment, so they can be part of helping to shape the future of this great city.”

Jim Minton, CEO of Mayor’s Fund for London, said: “The Mayor’s Fund for London’s focus is on broadening access to career development opportunities for all young Londoners, so we are really pleased to be working with the GLA on the Design Future London Challenge. We’ve engaged built environment employers from our networks, who are championing change to make the sector more inclusive and open, as mentors for young people in our Access Aspiration schools network (schools with above average pupil premium rates). Corporate mentoring will open those young people’s eyes to potential careers in urban regeneration and town planning, provide a rich learning experience and inspire young people who last year might not have had the confidence to enter this Challenge, to do so this time around”.

Professor David Tann, Dean of the School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering at the University of East London (UEL), said: “We’re delighted that our creative, talented and hardworking students will be taking part in this exciting challenge. This competition will equip our students with the multidisciplinary skills they need for their future careers, where they will play a vital role in shaping new technologies, improving infrastructure and developing sustainable practices and policies.

“Our students have the potential to change the world and the work they do can improve the lives of real people and make positive impacts on the cities we live in. I cannot wait to see what incredible designs they come up with.”