Business Collaborates with Professor Green on Young Business Owner Scholarship Program
Young Entrepreneur Fund Launches in Partnership with AbbeyAutoline and Hatch Enterprise
A new opportunity for young UK-based entrepreneurs has emerged, as the Young Entrepreneur Fund, backed by Simply Business, AbbeyAutoline, and Hatch Enterprise, is now open for applications. This significant development in Northern Ireland's business landscape aims to empower the next generation of UK business founders by providing vital funding and mentorship.
The Young Entrepreneur Fund offers £5,000 grants to ten young entrepreneurs aged 18-30, with the goal of helping them start or grow their businesses. Winners will also benefit from a six-week business support programme delivered by Hatch Enterprise, starting in January 2026.
Eligibility
To be eligible, applicants must be UK residents aged between 18 and 30, and only one entry per person and business is allowed. Full terms and conditions can be found on the Simply Business website.
Application Process
Applications for the Young Entrepreneur Fund open on August 14, 2025, and close on October 9, 2025. Interested candidates can submit an entry form online, answering questions about their business and ambitions. The judging panel, which includes the Simply Business UK CEO, entrepreneur Professor Green, Harpreet Kaur (BBC’s The Apprentice winner), and Hatch Enterprise’s CEO, will evaluate entries based on business uniqueness, growth ambitions, innovation, and social impact.
Prizes
Ten winners will each receive a £5,000 grant, and each winner will undertake the six-week business support program delivered by Hatch Enterprise. Three runners-up will receive exclusive one-to-one mentoring with Harpreet Kaur.
Mentoring and Support
The fund aims to address barriers young entrepreneurs often face, such as access to finance and mentoring support, to help more young people realize their business ambitions. Winners will be announced on or before November 21, 2025.
AbbeyAutoline's Involvement
AbbeyAutoline, Northern Ireland's largest insurance broker, has announced a new partnership with Young Enterprise as part of a larger movement to invest in the next generation of entrepreneurs in Northern Ireland. This collaboration is a significant development in the region's business landscape, expected to have a substantial impact on the future of business in Northern Ireland.
Enterprise Education in the National Curriculum
During National Careers Week 2025, a new research paper was released, advocating for enterprise education to be integrated into the National Curriculum. The paper suggests that this integration will help equip young people with the skills they need to succeed in the business world, addressing the issue of millions of young people dreaming of being their own boss, but only a fraction are able to turn that ambition into a reality.
In summary:
| Aspect | Details | |-------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | Eligibility | UK residents aged 18-30, one entry per person/business | | Application | Online entry by Oct 9, 2025 | | Prizes | £5,000 grant each to 10 winners + 6 weeks tailored business support | | Mentoring | Additional mentoring for runners-up | | Judging Criteria | Value proposition, growth ambitions, innovation, social impact | | Announcement | Winners announced by Nov 21, 2025 |
This fund supports young entrepreneurs not only financially but also through structured mentoring and training to boost their success chances. The partnership between AbbeyAutoline and Young Enterprise is a step towards investing in future insurance business leaders and entrepreneurs.
