Young Innovators

The Young Innovators Awards are an annual competition from Innovate UK that finds, supports and celebrates young people with great business ideas.

The Young Innovators Programme

The Young Innovators programme, which includes annual awards for young people with creative and ground-breaking business ideas and a high-profile #IdeasMeanBusiness campaign, is all part of Innovate UK’s commitment to changing the world by investing in young people with big environmental, societal and economic ambitions.

Hear from Young Innovators Awards winners

In this video, Young Innovators Awards 2022/23 winners share the most significant milestones the Awards have helped them achieve.

Programme Benefits

By 2023, the programme will have awarded more than 250 aspiring entrepreneurs across the UK with a support package that includes:

£5,000 financial grant

We help you cover eligible project costs, including travel to meet customers and partners, attending relevant training courses, equipment, hiring office space, or IT support with a £5,000 grant.

Allowance for living costs

To enable our award holders to focus on their business idea, we offer a contribution to your living cost which is paid at an hourly rate matching the UK real living wage for 2 days (15 hours) per week throughout the duration of the award.

One-to-one business coaching

Tailored business support and mentorship, including advice on business planning, strategy, financial planning, media and communications, branding, growing your networks, access to additional funding, pitch training and more.


Our Winners

This year, 94 Young Innovator Awards winners were selected from hundreds of applicants. The winners are tackling some of our most pressing environmental, economic and societal challenges. The range and scope of their ideas is truly impressive. Use the button below to find out more about the individual winners, their business and how the Young Innovators competition is helping their businesses grow.

Alicia Showering

Alicia Showering

Creating the first ever microbiome long-lasting mosquito repellent.

Read more
Syed Abid

Syed Abid

The modular vehicle chassis taking electric vehicle technology into new sectors.

Read more
Jamil Quarless

Jamil Quarless

Creating biodegradable fruit and veg bags for a more sustainable future.

Read more
Hannah Lee

Hannah Lee

Transforming the way we consume media by identifying bias in articles.

Read more
Michael Roberts

Michael Roberts

Reinventing aircrafts to be more accessible and affordable for all.

Read more
Haweya Abdikadir

Haweya Abdikadir

Developing low-sugar vitamin gummies to reduce the risk of chronic illness.

Read more

What are we looking for?

What are we looking for?

The aim of the Young Innovators Awards is to find the UK’s next generation of innovators – high-potential young people with great business ideas! We are looking for…

  • People with great ideas that can be commercialised
  • Ideas that address a problem and market need
  • Ideas that offer significantly better solutions to existing ones in that market
  • Ideas that are ready to be developed into a new business
  • People who can become relatable role models to inspire others

Diversity & Inclusion in Innovation

Innovate UK is creating a better future by inspiring, involving and investing in businesses developing game-changing innovations, to build a better, more resilient economy and society.

The UK’s diverse population is a key asset for innovation. However, we know that whilst talent is evenly distributed across the UK, opportunity is not.

As such, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of the Young Innovators programme which forms an integral part of Innovate UK’s 2021-2025 Plan for Action for UK Business Innovation and its commitment to “increase the diversity of upcoming innovation talent and make innovation support more visible, accessible, and inclusive to all.”

We are encouraged that, of our 2021/22 Young Innovators award winners, 49% are female; nearly a third are Black, Asian or from an ethnic minority background; 17% have a disability and the projects cover all regions across the UK.

Get Involved

Through our social media channels and newsletters we share useful resources for future innovators to gather inspiration and grow their business. Follow us and keep up to date with upcoming funding opportunities, events, and news.

Related News

No Limits platform launches

12/02/2024

No Limits platform launches

Innovate UK has launched a new digital platform called No Limits to help better support innovative talent across the UK by connecting innovators and businesses to talent and skills opportunities.

Read more
Future Flight Challenge announces ‘Closing the skills gap’ cohort

10/08/2023

Future Flight Challenge announces ‘Closing the skills gap’ cohort

From virtual reality drone training and upskilling for local authorities, to new university course modules and mentoring in schools, 13 new projects have joined the UK Research and Innovation Future Flight Challenge to address skills gaps in the UK’s rapidly growing future flight industry.

Read more
More News

Related Opportunities

Contracts for Innovation: AI tools for education

Opens: 09/09/2024   Closes: 09/10/2024

Organisations can apply for a share of £994,000 to develop AI Education tools for assessment of progress and feedback for pupils using an AI code library.

More Information

Biomedical Catalyst: Accelerating Femtech

Opens: 09/09/2024   Closes: 13/10/2024

Commercial help and funding for early-stage companies, university spinouts and entrepreneurial-minded academics focused on women’s health.

More Information

HS2 Accelerator 7.0

Opens: 12/09/2024   Closes: 13/10/2024

High Speed 2 Limited (HS2) has launched its search for six small businesses to develop new tech business cases and funded pilot projects for rail.

More Information

Our Experts

Join the Community today

We are now proud to be supporting a vibrant Young Innovators community. Join the community today to stay in the know.

Close

Connect with Innovate UK Business Connect

Join Innovate UK Business Connect's mailing list to receive updates on funding opportunities, events and to access Innovate UK Business Connect's deep expertise. Please check your email to confirm your subscription and select your area(s) of interest.