Santander launches annual entrepreneurship competition, with new SME Category added to support more businesses across the UK.

Applications for the Santander X UK Awards1 2025 are now open.

Now in its 15th year, Santander’s annual entrepreneurship awards have provided over £1.1 million in funding and support to thousands of UK businesses to date.

New SME category this year provides support for even more businesses across the UK, at a time when Santander research shows that business confidence has dipped, with confidence in growth dropping to 70% from 74% since autumn 2024.1

Last year, Santander saw more than 850 university and start-up businesses apply for the awards, covering a range of industries including healthcare, sustainability, AI and tech.

Santander is offering early-stage startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the UK the opportunity to win a share of £135,000 in funding and business support through the Santander X Awards.

The Santander X UK Awards is one of the UK’s largest early-stage business pitching competitions, having provided over £1.1 million in vital funding and business support to thousands of UK businesses to date.

This year the competition has three categories to support businesses at critical points in their business journey:

• University: for new businesses looking to launch
• Startup: for early-stage businesses looking to grow
• SME: for growing businesses looking to scale

150 businesses (50 per category) will be shortlisted by 1 September. The shortlisted businesses will join a series of online pitch workshops. All 150 businesses will then pitch through a series of online and in-person pitching heats to select the final nine (three per category). On 13 November, the 9 finalists will pitch live at the National Final at Unity Place (Santander UK headquarters in Milton Keynes) to a high-profile panel of judges, including Mike Regnier, Santander UK Chief Executive.

The nine winners (three per category) will win a share of £135,000 in funding and secure an automatic place in the Santander X Global Awards, the bank’s international entrepreneurship competition, where they will have the opportunity to compete against some of the best early-stage startups from across Europe and Latin America in Spring 2026.

Mike Regnier, CEO, Santander UK said: “The Santander X UK Awards are back – and this year with a brand new category, opening the competition up to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). At a time where business confidence has been hit by global economic uncertainty, the X Awards offers a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to come together, develop important business skills, and be in with the chance of winning vital funding. We are proud to celebrate 15 years of championing entrepreneurs and supporting hundreds of UK businesses each year through the Santander X Awards programme. If your business is disruptive with the ability to grow or scale, look no further and apply today.”

Sarah Bailey, Founder of Even, and Santander X Awards 2025 Winner said: “We first participated in the Santander X Awards in 2022 and loved the pitch training and community of founders so much, we returned in 2024 - and won! I highly recommend applying to any early-stage founders. The visibility and network has been exceptional, and the Santander X team have been incredibly generous with creating opportunities for Even.”

For more information, and to apply to enter the Santander X UK Awards 2025, click here

Applications close on 16 July 2025.