The StartUp Awards has been launched to recognise the booming startup scene across the UK which has accelerated since the 2019 pandemic. Over 800,000 new businesses were founded in the UK since 2021, a 4.3% increase from the year before.
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.
Fresh Start Charity is a Charity to support 16-24 year olds classed as NEET (not in employment, education or training) founded by Angela Gregg in 2020]. The business has been nominated for two awards, Innovative StarUp of the Year and Social Enterprise StartUp of the Year.
Angela Gregg founder of Fresh Start Charity, said: We are overwhelmed by the attention our Youth Opportunities programme has received and the many 16-24 year olds that come to our venue and gain valuable work experience. To be nominated in two National Awards is just amazing and a recognition for all of us who work at Fresh Start so this recognition is for them too. Let’s hope we win when they announce the winners on 27th June 2023.
Supported nationally by Starling Bank, British Business Bank, BT, Creative Ideaz, GS1 UK, Jeeves, Join Talent, ScoreApp and The Purposeful Project, the programme will celebrate the achievements of the amazing individuals who have turned an idea into an opportunity and taken the risk to launch a new product or service.
The cohort of finalists will be considered for the regional prizes by a panel of seasoned judges with experience founding or supporting entrepreneurial ventures.
Professor Dylan Jones-Evans OBE, the creator of the StartUp Awards, said:
“ Start-up 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. All of the finalists this year represent the best of those 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 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.
This year’s StartUp Awards finalists can be found online at www.freshbusinessthinking.com
Image: Angela Craig founder of Fresh Start Charity
