Young Entrepreneurs Award

The Young Entrepreneurs Award is an annual UK-wide prize programme run by the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation to support bold, high-growth start-ups led by young founders. A total fund of £300,000 is available, with three cash prizes awarded to the top applicants: £150,000 for first place, £100,000 for second, and £50,000 for third — all intended to be invested back into the winners’ businesses to accelerate growth.

Key eligibility criteria include:

• Age: Applicants must be 34 years old or younger (born in 1992 or later).
• Business Age: The start-up must be registered with UK Companies House within the last five years (from 2021 onwards).
• Ownership & Role: The entrepreneur must own more than 50% of the company’s shares and serve as a director.
• Revenue: The company must have audited annual revenues of at least £500,000, as shown in filed accounts.

Application timeline:

• Applications Open: 5 January 2026.
• Deadline: 5 pm GMT on 23 February 2026 — forms must be emailed to the Foundation.
• Winners Announcement: Scheduled for 31 March 2026 via a ceremony hosted by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou on Zoom.

This award is designed to spotlight emerging UK entrepreneurial talent and provide meaningful financial support to help scale impactful businesses.

Find out more