Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, the entrepreneur behind easyJet, is providing bold younger enterprise homeowners the possibility 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 funds airways and inns to storage, delivery and retail. Now, via the Stelios Philanthropic Basis, he’s backing the subsequent era 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. Not like many awards and competitions, the funds are money grants reasonably than fairness investments or loans, permitting founders to retain full management of their companies.
“That is a part of my means 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 best 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 at the least £500,000 in annual income. The brink 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 could be specializing in fundamentals reasonably than hype. “It is going to be the numbers – is it a great worthwhile enterprise, is it rising and does it make use of numerous folks?” he stated. “Resulting from my very own background, I might reasonably reward consumer-facing companies as a result of they’re extra relatable and higher recognized.”
Final yr’s winner, Ayan Mohamed, exemplifies the form of entrepreneurial drive the awards intention to help. 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 development 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 increase.”
Past the monetary help, winners additionally achieve 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: “You must apply. This isn’t only a medal, it’s actual cash that may assist your small business.”
