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.

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Syed Abid

Syed Abid

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

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Jamil Quarless

Jamil Quarless

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

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Hannah Lee

Hannah Lee

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

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Michael Roberts

Michael Roberts

Reinventing aircrafts to be more accessible and affordable for all.

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Haweya Abdikadir

Haweya Abdikadir

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

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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

Young Innovators 21/22 Success Stories

24/11/2022

Young Innovators 21/22 Success Stories

There are many different routes into innovation, and this is clearly illustrated in the stories of our award winners. Read the stories of our 2021/22 Young Innovators to find out how the Young Innovators programme helped them to navigate and accelerate their entrepreneurial journey.

Read more
Young Innovators Awards 21/22 - Young Innovators look to change the world

26/01/2022

Young Innovators Awards 21/22 - Young Innovators look to change the world

The winners of this year’s Young Innovators’ Awards, announced today by Innovate UK, look set to tackle some of our biggest societal challenges.

Read more
More News

Related Opportunities

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Opens: 08/02/2024 Closes: 21/04/2024

The goal of the WGS24 challenge is to inspire young women in STEM disciplines. Participants will be asked to submit a short research proposal for NATO.

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Future Leaders Fellowships: round 9, business and non-academic

Opens: 07/03/2024 Closes: 25/06/2024

UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £110m for ambitious research and innovation, and tailored support for future leaders’ careers.

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Innovate UK innovation loans future economy: round 14

Opens: 07/03/2024 Closes: 01/05/2024

UK registered businesses can apply for loans for innovative projects with strong commercial potential to significantly improve the UK economy.

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Our Experts

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

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