Win £10,000
To help start – or revive – your business
Small business, big impact
Covid-19 has had a significant impact on small business owners and the self-employed. With 67 per cent forced to temporarily stop trading, almost half expect to lose up to £10,000. Two-fifths are at risk of having to permanently close their business.
But small businesses are the beating heart of the UK economy – accounting for 99 per cent of all British business. Put simply, we need small business to bounce back if we're to recover economically.
Thankfully, the self-employed are resilient. Research suggests 75 per cent intend to continue or restart their business, with a further 10 per cent even planning to take the leap and start a new one.
That’s why Simply Business are giving away £10,000 to one entrepreneur, to start – or revive – their business.
Win a £10,000 business boost
At Simply Business, we know that the self-employed are resilient.
And with finance so often a stumbling block, we wanted to give one entrepreneur a £10,000 cash injection.
We want to help the self-employed bounce back – so whether you're starting a business or reviving an existing one, enter today.
Terms and conditions apply as usual
Sorry, entries are now closed
We’ll be announcing our Business Boost winner on 6 November. Stay up to date with our competition on Simply Business social channels
Our 2020 £10,000 Business Boost winner
We narrowed down almost 15,000 inspiring entries to a shortlist of just 11 – all of which highlighted the resilience, innovation and diversity of UK small businesses.
And after much deliberation from our judges, we’re delighted to announce that artisan textile business Rowan Bay, from Norfolk will be receiving our 2020 grant. Rowan Bay is owned by Larissa Cooper, who produces woven baby wraps and slings from sustainable yarns.
Here’s Larissa's story…
How it works
28 February
Applications open! Tell us a bit about your business, or the business you intend to start.
28 September
Remember to get your entry in before the deadline.
9 October
We’ll announce our #TakeTheLeap twelve-business shortlist. We’ll contact the winners by email, so keep an eye out. An expert judging panel (more to come…) will decide our final winner.
6 November
The winner will be selected.
Our £10,000 Business Boost finalists
With the Business Boost competition reaching its final stages, we're delighted to share the 11 shortlisted businesses in with a shot for our cash grant.
Almost 15,000 self-employed people entered for a chance to win. And with countless stories of resilience, creativity, and innovation, we were blown away by the quality. Narrowing this down to just 11 businesses was no easy task.
But now the competition is closed, we’re delighted to announce our shortlist…
See our shortlistMeet our Business Boost judging panel
The Business Boost judging panel includes a range of representatives from across UK business and industry. Included on the panel is leading British businessman, investor and former star of TV’s Dragon’s Den, Piers Linney.
Piers is joined by Lee Wilcox, CEO of Electric House – one of the fastest growing social media and publishing groups in the UK, and Tony Robinson OBE, a microbusiness campaigner and founder of the #PayIn30Days campaign.
Completing the panel are Anneka Hicks, Founder of ExcludedUK, a support group campaigning for the 3 million people excluded from the UK government’s coronavirus support schemes, and Alan Thomas, the UK CEO of Simply Business.
Learn moreTips to help you Take The Leap
How to go self-employed in the UK
Wondering how to become self-employed? We’ve got some tips for getting started – from weighing up the pros and cons of self-employment, to understanding tax and benefits when you’re self-employed.
Setting up a part-time business
Thinking of starting a part-time business? From business plans and having a part-time business at home to tax, insurance and legal responsibilities, here’s how to start a part-time business – at home or somewhere else.
How to start a home business
From the big idea itself to the legalities and regulations, proper planning should help you build a really successful home business. Read our guide to businesses you can run from home.
Business startup costs: what to consider
While there can be significant costs to consider when starting a business – and potentially even more once you’re up and running – a little forward planning can help you figure out if your business idea is financially feasible.
Business Name Generator
What's in a name? Find an entertaining, punny name for your new business by using our dynamic name generation tool. Just select a trade and let our algorithm do the rest!
How to register as self-employed with HMRC
So you’ve decided to take the leap? Congratulations – you’re at the beginning of an exciting journey. Before you get stuck in, there are a few things you should have covered, like setting up as self-employed with HMRC.
Important tax dates and deadlines for the self-employed
So you’ve decided to take the leap? Congratulations – you’re at the beginning of an exciting journey. Before you get stuck in, there are a few things you should have covered, like setting up as self-employed with HMRC.
7 common business mistakes to avoid
Starting a business is a huge moment in any entrepreneur’s life. It’s when you can put your passion into action, and turn your skills into a way to make a living. But setting out on your own can also be daunting, and there are potential pitfalls along the way.
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