As we enter a new year, the Hippo team have been reflecting on some of the moments that made 2024 special. It was a tough list to narrow down because it was a year filled with plenty of achievements and meaningful experiences. In this blog post, we’ve pulled together our year in review video and a few stand out topics from throughout the year.

Here’s to making 2025 even better! 

 

 

8 years and 500 Hippo later

Since Hippo was founded in 2016, it’s been a consistent journey of growth – and in 2024, we reached some incredible milestones, like welcoming our 500th team member, Tess Robinson.

What began as a small team focused on user-centred solutions has grown into a 500-strong organisation with offices in six cities across the UK. Along the way, we’ve stayed committed to delivering impactful work, supporting local communities, and maintaining a culture that puts people first.

Earlier this year, our CEO, Adam Lewis, shared some thoughts about what makes Hippo unique. From our focus on user needs to how we’ve scaled while staying true to our values.

Read more about this milestone and Adam’s reflections in our blog post.

A Leeds Digital Festival to remember

Hippo was delighted to play a role in Leeds Digital Festival, a celebration of innovation and collaboration in digital culture that happens every year in the city. It was a standout festival for the herd, featuring:

  • 66 Hippos presenting or part of panels.
  • 9 events hosted at our hippocampus.
  • 3 award nominations.
  • 1 award win.

This incredible experience wouldn’t have been the same without the hard work from the Hippos that made it all happen. If you missed it, you can read all the highlights in our blog. 

Creating lasting social value together

It’s hard to believe that it was 2023 when we launched our Social Value Strategy and that it’s only been this year we’ve seen the impact it’s made through our first social value report. Reflecting on the past year, we’re proud of the progress we’ve made and the positive difference we’ve seen in our communities, exceeding our target by 28% and generating over £25 million in social value.

Some of the measurable impacts include:

  • 150 new jobs were created, with 104 filled by local talent and 8 supporting people facing employment barriers.
  • 302 hours dedicated to mentoring and youth engagement, helping to inspire the next generation of digital leaders.
  • 472 hours spent volunteering, from food security initiatives to environmental projects.
  • £20.7M invested in local SMEs and social enterprises, strengthening our communities.

Looking ahead, we’re excited to continue this journey and work towards our £100M goal by 2030. You can download the full report here. 

A visit from the Government of Barbados for AI study tour

As we reflect on the year’s standout moments, one that truly stands out is the visit from the Government of Barbados as part of their AI-focused UK study tour.

Government Ministers and officials from Barbados visited Hippo to explore how AI can be harnessed to enhance public services. The UK ranked fourth globally for AI capability and provided the perfect backdrop for discussions on responsible AI, citizen-centred service delivery, and the creation of standardised approaches to data sharing and AI infrastructure. 

Our team shared how responsible AI is being integrated into public services to enhance outcomes for citizens. From AI workshops at Hippo to collaborative sessions across the region, the visit highlighted the power of knowledge-sharing and international collaboration. 

You can read more about the visit and hear from participants on our video and blog.