An 18-year-old sixth form student from Blackburn has turned his A-level side project into an award-winning technology company.
Aamir Munshi's start-up, PathwayPal, received the Technology for Good Award 2025 at the Charity IT Leaders 25th Anniversary Awards at Inner Temple Hall in London.
The Year 13 student at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School created PathwayPal in early 2025 to make high-quality career guidance easier to access for students aged 16 to 18.
In just six months, the platform has grown from an idea in his school notes into a live product helping young people explore routes such as apprenticeships, university degrees and school leaver programmes.
Aamir said: “It feels surreal to be recognised on a national level for something I started as an idea in my notes. Being honoured like this makes all the late nights, risks and hard work feel worth it.
"Finally, it has shown me that young people do not have to wait until they are older to build something that genuinely helps others.”
The Technology for Good Award celebrates innovative use of technology that brings measurable benefits to people and communities.
PathwayPal impressed judges with its focus on widening access to careers information, and because Aamir has built and grown the platform while studying for A-levels in Economics, Business and Sociology.
READ MORE: QEGS Blackburn student builds free AI tool for UK career advice
PathwayPal allows students to create a profile and explore curated pathways, blending labour-market insight, application tips and real-world examples in a simple, student-friendly interface.
It complements the work of school and college careers teams by giving learners a single place to research options in their own time, on any device.
Since launch, the platform has been adopted by many students across multiple schools and has attracted significant interest from teachers and careers leaders looking for scalable ways to support large cohorts with individualised guidance.
Aamir is now in discussions with schools, colleges and employers about partnerships to pilot PathwayPal more widely across Lancashire and the North West.
He plans to keep developing the platform alongside his studies, expanding content, adding new features and integrating opportunities from employers and universities.
His ambition is for every young person, regardless of background, to have access to clear, high-quality guidance about their next steps.
To find out more, contact Aamir at aamir.munshi@pathwaypal.com
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