FUEL is the perfect opportunity for future entrepreneurs and anyone passionate about driving social and environmental change. It’s all about using a mix of funding, knowledge and mentoring to achieve your goals.
With FUEL, you’ll have the chance to win a cash prize of up to £3,000 to invest in your idea or existing business. Prizes are offered in the following categories:
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Innovative Concept Award
This award celebrates individuals or teams at a pre-launch stage who have developed an innovative and viable business or social enterprise idea, and have proven their concept. For this category, we are looking for clear evidence of innovation in your concept.
Winner prize: £3,000
Runner up prize: £1,000
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New Business Award
This award recognises start-ups who are actively trading, have registered their business and have launched products or services in the past 24 months. This category is open to both businesses and social enterprises needing funding to achieve a specific goal and grow their start-up.
Winner prize: £3,000
Runner up prize: £1,000
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Digital & Tech Award
Some of the fastest growing businesses in the global economy in the last 5 years have been apps and online ventures. If you think that your app, hardware or online product has the potential to change the status quo, then we want to see your application.
Winner prize: £3,000
Runner up prize: £1,000
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Creative & Design Award
From crafts and music to marketing and publishing, the creative industries are exciting and varied. This category welcomes entries from those whose businesses require a creative flair or for someone looking to launch their freelance career.
Winner prize: £3,000
Runner up prize: £1,000
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Social Impact & Green Business Award
Is your business making the world a better place? This category is for ethically and environmentally conscious businesses that positively impact the society and/or the environment.
Winner prize: £3,000
Runner up prize: £1,000
Each winner and runner-up will be given a place on the Catalyst 2019 summer accelerator to receive further training, plus be in with a chance to win a share of £30,000 cash prize (subject to completing the accelerator programme and pitching to win a share of this additional investment). Click here for more information about Catalyst.
The FUEL Awards replace our previous Dragons’ Den competition. It’s organised by the Brookes Enterprise Support team and supported by Santander Universities UK. Interested in getting involved? FUEL is open to students and recent graduates of Oxford Brookes University. You can apply individually or as a team. Although community members can be included in the team, we require that the person leading the project and managing the funding is a Brookes student or recent graduate. You’ll also need to make sure you only submit projects that you have the right intellectual property (IP) rights for.