Young business owners in Somerset are being encouraged to apply for the 2026 UK Young Entrepreneur Awards, launched by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, creator and owner of the easy family of brands.
The award programme will see £300,000 in cash prizes awarded to three young UK entrepreneurs whose start-ups are already generating at least £500,000 in annual revenue.
The awards are now open for entries and offer not just funding, but national recognition and profile for ambitious young founders.
Who can apply?
The 2026 UK Young Entrepreneur Awards are open to:
- Entrepreneurs aged 34 or under (born in 1992 or later)
- Owners of UK-registered limited companies set up in 2021 or later
- Businesses with latest annual revenues of at least £500,000
- Founders who are directors of the company and own more than 50% of the shares
Key dates
- Applications close: 5pm GMT, Monday 23 February 2026
- How to apply: Download the application form from stelios.foundation and email the completed form to maya.turnbull@stelios.com by the deadline
- Winners announced: 31 March 2026, during an online ceremony via Zoom hosted by Sir Stelios
Last year, the awards received 180 applications, more than double the previous year. Former winner Ayan Mohamed, founder of Digitech Oasis, said “These awards are so useful to a young British entrepreneur like me. The prize money has been so vital to my company this past year, but the recognition and publicity from being associated with Sir Stelios has also been such a big boost for us.”
About the awards
The Stelios Philanthropic Foundation is launching and funding the UK Young Entrepreneur Awards as part of its mission to support job creation and enterprise in the communities where Sir Stelios and his family have lived and worked, including the UK.
The foundation has been running similar entrepreneur awards programmes in Greece, Cyprus, Ireland, Monaco and France for many years, helping to support local economies through business growth and employment. The majority of the profits of easyGroup go to the Foundation.
How to apply
- Download the application form: via the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation website
- Submit applications by email: maya.turnbull@stelios.com
- Deadline: 5pm GMT, Monday 23 February 2026
