How a 24-hour Hackathon Helped Compass Group Unlock Client-Facing Innovation from the Front Lines
Powering Collaboration and Sustainability Innovation in 24 hours
Corporate Hackathon Case Study
Type: 24-hour internal hackathon
Participants: 90+ (global cross-functional teams)
Projects: 10+
Preparation time: 8 weeks
Key Objectives: Drive digital innovation, elevate client-facing solutions, accelerate sustainability
About Compass Group
Headcount: 500,000+ global employees
HQ: London
Industry: Food & Support Services
Compass Group’s innovation team wanted to unlock the creative potential of their workforce and surface new sustainability-focused solutions developed by those closest to the customer. To achieve this, they launched a 24-hour high-energy global corporate hackathon across France, USA, and India. Hosted in London, the event accelerated Compass Group’s sustainability innovation agenda, strengthened its internal innovation culture, and co-created scalable concepts around client experience, data intelligence, and environmental impact.
Hackathon Objectives
Empower the Front Lines: Capture frontline insights from those closest to Compass Group’s customers.
Drive Digital & Sustainability Innovation: Generate solutions to enhance service delivery and reduce environmental impact.
Build a Collaborative Innovation Culture: Strengthen cross-market relationships and position innovation as a core business lever.
“This hackathon demonstrated the terrific value of a diverse team coming together for a short time frame and being laser focused on solving a problem. The results will help to shape our digital expertise around sustainability.”
Process
The hackathon was co-designed by Compass Group’s innovation and communication teams together with MHD Innovation. Over eight weeks of preparation, the teams aligned leadership, framed the challenge, shared insights, and built momentum across regions.
The 24-hour global corporate hackathon included:
Pre-event sessions to align teams and set expectations
Live ideation sprints with expert facilitation and coaching
Final pitches to senior executives and clients
This structured approach created clarity, energy, and a shared sense of purpose - ensuring the event delivered outcomes that could be carried forward after the hackathon.
French participants of the Compass Group Global Hackathon
Internal Communication content to recruit and inform participants about the hackathon
Personalised Training videos provided to the hackathon participants
Tangible Results
10+ client-facing prototypes focused on sustainability, service excellence and digital experience
High engagement and satisfaction scores across participating regions
Stronger collaboration between countries and business units
Outcome Highlights
Without revealing confidential details, here’s a snapshot of what emerged:
Sustainable Service Prototypes: Waste-reduction and Low-carbon concepts designed for client co-delivery and measurable impact.
User-Centered Design: New digital touchpoints and nudges shaped directly by frontline insight to enhance client experience.
Data & AI Use Cases: Carbon footprint dashboards, gamified eco-scoring, and predictive scenario tools enabling clients track impact, strengthen Scope 3 supplier analysis, and drive sustainable choices.
“I am hugely excited by our innovation capability and the hackathon exemplified the tremendous talent we have working day in and day out at Compass. I look forward to seeing the winning hackathon solutions evolve into products we will offer our clients and consumers.”
Global Celebration and Aligned Vision
Participating teams reported strong alignment with Compass Group’s sustainability and innovation vision. The energy, speed, and outcome-focused design of this corporate hackathon created instant momentum - and set the stage for future co-creation.
Ready to Unlock Innovation in 24 hours?
If you're looking to ignite fresh thinking, unlock internal knowledge, or kick-start innovation around key business goals — we can help. With years of experience leading corporate hackathons, MHD Innovation creates structured, inspiring formats that unlock real outcomes.
Ready to take the first step? Book a Call today or Download the Free Checklist to fast-track your planning.
