Winning a King's Award for Young Founders is a powerful recognition of the next generation of entrepreneurial leadership in the UK.
Launched as part of the Awards’ 60th year celebrations, the category shines a spotlight on founders aged 18–30 who are actively leading ambitious businesses and creating meaningful commercial and societal impact.
More than a recognition of early success, the award celebrates vision, resilience, innovation, and leadership potential at a national level.
From strengthening credibility with investors, customers, and partners to accelerating growth opportunities and raising profile in competitive markets, a King’s Award for Enterprise – Young Founder provides exceptional independent validation at a defining stage of business growth.
How to Win a King's Award for Enterprise -Young Founder
To enter the Young Founder category, you must;
- be aged between 18 and 30 on 6th May 2027
- be actively leading and involved in the day-to-day running of the business
- have been running your business for at least 2 years
And your business must;
- be based in the UK
- have a minimum 2 full-time employees
- have generated over £250k turnover and be able to show demonstrable growth and financial viability
- have strong environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices
Choosing the Right Category for Your Story
The awards are rigorous, but certainly not impossible to win — so long as you fit the criteria for the chosen category and sub-category, have a compelling narrative, and can tie up your strategy, your story, and your results in a way that shows you are outstanding.
Find out if you're eligible to enter the Innovation category by completing our Eligibility Form here.
If the Young Founder category isn’t the right fit for you, have a look at the other categories available for you to enter;
Are you Ready to Win a King's Award?
Find out if you are ready to enter the awards and how likely you are to succeed in the Innovation category by contacting us today
Arrange your consultation using the form below, and we will provide an honest assessment of your chances of winning.
You can find out more about our service here.