Santander Entrepreneurship Awards

Win up to £25,000 with Santander Entrepreneurship Awards 2019

Do you have a great idea for a business? Or are you already running a start-up?

Enter the 2019 Santander Entrepreneurship Awards to be in with the chance of winning £25,000 of equity-free seed funding, mentoring from business experts, a fully funded intern, access to an exclusive acceleration week, plus a £500 digital growth voucher!

In collaboration with Santander Universities we are looking for the ten best business ideas on campus. Whether a product or service, hobby or problem you’re eager to solve, your business idea could make you the next Santander Emerging Entrepreneur.

How does the competition work?

You'll submit your idea to us by completing Santander’s Business Model Canvas and attaching it to the Expression of Interest form. If you are shortlisted you will be offered support from the Student and Graduate Enterprise team to develop your idea, invited to attend specialist workshops and asked to pitch your idea to a panel of judges.

Following the pitch the panel will nominate two ideas to put through to the next stage of the competition. 

What's next?

Before you submit your entry we strongly recommend you see the Student and Graduate Enterprise team for advice on your entry at their weekly drop-in, every Tuesday and Thursday between 1pm-3pm (teaching weeks only) in the Advice and Support Zone, Student Central, City Library. If you're unable to make one of our drop-in times, please email nu.enterprise@northumbria.ac.uk.

You must also carefully read the Santander Entrepreneurship Awards 2019 Information Pack.

Once you have submitted your entry a panel of judges will conduct a shortlisting process to choose the ten best business ideas. If successful you will be expected to complete a video pitch and invited to present your idea to us on 2 April, 2019 (please note this date has changed, presenting will take place on April 2nd).

Completing your canvas

The Santander Business Model Canvas is a business planning tool that will help you map out your business idea. It covers four key areas known as "building blocks"; Value Proposition, Customers, Cost Structure and Revenue Streams. Once you've downloaded your canvas read the Santander Guide to help you complete it.

Deadline for entries

Submit your entry no later than Friday 15 March, 2019 at 5pm.

Eligibility criteria

• To enter you must be a current student or graduate from July 2017 or later of Northumbria University (Visa restrictions apply)
• You must be available on 2 April, 2019. You must also be available for the next stages of the competition (dates to be announced)
• You must have incorporated a company or have registered as self-employed with HMRC within the last twelve months from 26 April 2018
   or
• be prepared to incorporate/register by 25 April, 2019
• Funding generated must be no higher than £100,000 (including but not limited to investment, grants, loans, revenue and prizes)
• The company can have a maximum of five employees (please note this does not include founders)

*Further eligibility criteria is outlined in the Santander Entrepreneurship Awards 2019 Information Pack.