Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, the entrepreneur behind easyJet, is providing formidable younger enterprise homeowners the prospect to safe as much as £150,000 in funding because the third annual Stelios Awards for Younger Entrepreneurs formally open within the UK.
Greater than 30 years after founding easyJet on the age of simply 27, Sir Stelios has constructed an “simple” model empire spanning greater than 200 companies, from finances airways and motels to storage, transport and retail. Now, via the Stelios Philanthropic Basis, he’s backing the following technology of founders with £300,000 in money grants designed to assist scale high-growth UK start-ups.
The general winner will obtain £150,000, with second and third prizes of £100,000 and £50,000 respectively. In contrast to many awards and competitions, the funds are money grants moderately than fairness investments or loans, permitting founders to retain full management of their companies.
“That is a part of my manner of giving again to society,” Sir Stelios stated. “I need to encourage younger entrepreneurs aged 34 or below to create and develop start-ups within the UK, which to my thoughts is one of the simplest ways to generate new jobs and unfold prosperity.”
The competitors is open to founders aged 34 or below who personal and run UK-registered companies producing not less than £500,000 in annual income. The edge has been raised from £200,000 in earlier years after a surge in high-quality purposes, with 180 entries submitted within the final spherical alone.
Sir Stelios stated he can be specializing in fundamentals moderately than hype. “Will probably be the numbers – is it a great worthwhile enterprise, is it rising and does it make use of a number of individuals?” he stated. “Resulting from my very own background, I might moderately reward consumer-facing companies as a result of they’re extra relatable and higher identified.”
Final yr’s winner, Ayan Mohamed, exemplifies the sort of entrepreneurial drive the awards purpose to assist. She based Digitech Oasis, a Manchester-based firm offering autonomous robotic options, after educating herself to code whereas finding out enterprise at college. The prize cash helped speed up progress and create new jobs within the area.
“These awards are extremely helpful to a younger British entrepreneur like me,” Mohamed stated. “The funding has been important, however the recognition and credibility that comes with being related to Sir Stelios has additionally been an enormous enhance.”
Past the monetary assist, winners additionally acquire one thing tougher to quantify: entry to Sir Stelios himself. He stays actively concerned with earlier winners, providing mentoring and recommendation as they scale.
“I’m accessible to them and comfortable to assist,” he stated. “It’s very rewarding to see what founders do with the cash – and it’s a two-way studying course of. Younger entrepreneurs know issues I don’t, particularly about social media.”
Functions shut on 23 February 2026, with winners to be introduced at a hybrid ceremony in London on 31 March 2026. Sir Stelios has a easy message for potential candidates: “It is best to apply. This isn’t only a medal, it’s actual cash that can assist your corporation.”
Amy Ingham
Amy is a newly certified journalist specialising in enterprise journalism at Enterprise Issues with duty for information content material for what’s now the UK’s largest print and on-line supply of present enterprise information.
