Awarding £50k to the next generation of entrepreneurs

Fill out the form at the top of this page to enter our Young Entrepreneur Fund competition. Make sure you read our entry criteria section to be in with the best chance of winning.

The Simply Business Young Entrepreneur Fund is open to UK business owners between 18 and 30 at the time of entry. You’ll need to have a viable business (or a great idea) to apply.

You can read the full terms and conditions for more information.

Entries will be judged on the value of the product or service you offer, whether your business is viable, whether you can prove a demand for your business, how innovative your business is, plus your ambitions and plans for growth.

Entries will also be judged on a well thought out plan for how you’ll use the grant money – plus explaining what you hope to get out of the mentoring programme.

You can only submit one business idea – so submit your best and make sure it’s in line with our judging criteria to ensure that you have the best chance of success.

We’ll accept business ideas, as well as businesses that are up and trading. 

If your entry is successful and you’ve won either a £5,000 grant or a mentoring session with Harpreet Kaur, we’ll email you by 20th November.

Winners will be required to complete a 6-week tailored business support programme, which will begin in January 2026 and take place on Monday evenings from 6-8pm.

Following that, Hatch Enterprise will arrange for the transfer of money to a UK bank account. It will be mandatory to complete the programme in order to receive the grant. 

The business support programme is a key part of the Young Entrepreneur Fund prize. By taking part and working with the Hatch Enterprise team, you’ll get the space, time, and support to focus on what your business needs to grow.

It’s designed to make sure the grant has a lasting impact – helping you plan, test, and take action on the things that matter most to you and your business.

The programme is made up of six interactive online workshops designed to help you grow your business step by step. You’ll learn practical skills like refining your business idea, understanding your customers, managing your finances, and building your confidence to pitch and find future funding.

You’ll also get access to Hatch Enterprise’s online platform, Circle, where you can revisit materials, use helpful tools, connect with other founders, and find extra resources to support your journey.

Throughout the programme, the Hatch Enterprise team will be there to offer guidance and answer your questions during regular drop-in sessions.

At the end of the programme, you’ll have the chance to share your progress and pitch your business in person – with friendly feedback to help you move forward.

The business support programme will begin in January 2026, subject to winners’ availability.

Mentoring sessions will take place between 20 November 2025 and 31 March 2026. We’ll contact runners up to arrange the sessions by 20 November.

We’ll use your personal information to run the Young Entrepreneur Fund competition. This includes things like getting in touch about your application, checking if you’re eligible, and rewarding entrants.

To do this, we’ll be sharing your information with Hatch Enterprise, who we’re working in partnership with. We handle personal data in accordance with our privacy notice.