Santander Entrepreneurship Awards

Are you a current Teesside University student, a recent graduate (within the last two years), or a member of staff running your own start-up business?

If so, we are delighted to offer you the opportunity to pitch for seed funding from our partner Santander X.

We have three cash prizes of £5,000 up for grabs for Teesside University’s most promising entrepreneurs.

---

How to apply

Complete a short form by Friday 29 May 2026, where in no more than 300 words, you must:

• describe your business
• outline your successes to date
• explain why you should be invited to pitch.

Six entrepreneurs will be shortlisted and invited to a special pitch-off event at our grand final on Wednesday 10 June 2026.

Three winners will be selected and awarded a cash prize of £5,000 to spend on business growth activity.

Apply now

---

Eligibility

To apply, you must:

• be a current Teesside University student, a recent graduate (within the last two years), or a member of staff
• have a registered UK business (Sole Trader, Ltd or CIC)
• have started trading after 1 January 2025
• have a business bank account.

Please check the Terms & Conditions on the Santander page for further information.

* Unfortunately, due to visa restrictions around starting a business, we cannot accept applications from our international students.

---

The selection process

The selection panel will evaluate your application based on the following criteria:

• the quality of your proposal, market opportunity and value proposition
• the originality of the business – particularly any innovations or unique selling points
• achievements to date including revenue generation, commercial projects, and clients or customers
• overall feasibility – future plans, potential for growth and long-term sustainability
• ability of you or your team to execute their plans.

These will be scored on a scale of 1-5.

If invited to pitch, you will be judged on:

• your pitch delivery and the quality of the proposal
• how well you explain your business model, unique selling points and routes to market
• achievements and future plans
• how receiving the grant would impact your business (you need a clearly defined grant spend and rationale).

If you would like to discuss your idea or any aspects of the pitching contest, please email Scott Watson: scott.watson@tees.ac.uk

---

About this funding

Teesside University has joined the Santander Universities Programme, bringing new funding and opportunities to support student and graduate entrepreneurs. Over the next two years, this partnership will back ideas with real potential, helping students, graduates and staff move from concept to business.

Through Santander X, three awards of £5,000 are available to support early-stage ventures. Whether it’s getting an idea off the ground or building momentum, this funding is designed to help take that next step.

Applications are now open, and you have until Friday 29 May to submit. A University panel will shortlist six finalists, who will then be invited to present their ideas at a live pitch event, a valuable opportunity to get your business in front of experienced voices from across industry and academia.

The final takes place on Wednesday 10 June in the Assembly Hall at Launchpad. Each finalist will deliver their pitch to a live audience, with winners decided on the day by our expert panel.

Successful funding is paid directly into business accounts, giving winners immediate support to move forward with their plans.

Where could this take your idea? Whether you’re just starting out or already building momentum, this is a chance to secure funding and put your plans into action - don’t miss your chance to get involved and apply now.

---

About the donor

Santander Universities is a global initiative dedicated to empowering students and universities through education. Since 1996, it has partnered with more than 1,000 universities, investing billions in scholarships, research, internships, start-up support and courses that promote social mobility. A key focus is creating opportunities for under-represented groups while driving innovation, employability and international experiences.

Santander Universities collaborates with around 75 partner institutions, funding initiatives such as travel grants, enterprise awards, diversity and inclusion projects, and employability programmes. Its mission is to use education as a catalyst for positive social and economic change, helping students thrive and communities grow.

Not a registered business or in the initial startup phase and looking for support? Explore our range of FUEL support.