The StartUp Awards National Series recognises the booming startup scene across the UK which has accelerated following the economic recovery after the Covid pandemic. Since 2021, over 800,000 new businesses have been founded in the UK, a 4.3% increase from the year before, creating jobs and prosperity across many sectors of the economy. 

A record number of businesses applied to this year’s StartUp Awards, with 1,100 firms shortlisted across ten UK nations and regions. The contribution of these firms - all of which were started in the last three years - is significant, having created over 5,000 new jobs since they were established and generating annual sales of £584 million.

The National StartUp Awards was created in collaboration with the team behind the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, one of the most successful awards programmes in the UK. The StartUp Awards are running for the second year after launching in 2022.

Supported nationally by a range of organisations including Starling Bank, British Business Bank, BT, Creative Ideaz, GS1 UK, Jeeves, Join Talent, ScoreApp and The Purposeful Project, the awards will celebrate the achievements of those amazing individuals who have turned an idea into an opportunity and taken the risk to launch a new product or service.

Professor Dylan Jones-Evans OBE, the creator of the StartUp Awards National Series, said: “​​Startup businesses are the lifeblood of any economy, being responsible for new jobs, innovation and in supporting communities in every nation and region across the UK. From social enterprises making a difference in their local communities to innovative firms developing leading-edge technologies, all of the finalists this year represent the best of those group of entrepreneurs who have spotted an opportunity and through their sheer hard work, talent and perseverance, have created an amazing new business that is creating real impact in its sector.”

The cohort of finalists is broken down into regions and will be considered for each award by a panel of experienced judges from the entrepreneurial community. The winners of each category will be announced at the awards that will take place across the UK in April, May and June.