- Santander has selected the 100 shortlisted businesses set to compete in its annual awards competition for early-stage UK start-ups.
- The businesses will go head-to-head in a series of pitching heats to earn a place in this year’s Santander X UK Awards National Final on 14 November.
- This comes as new research by Santander shows that three quarters of Gen Z would like to start their own business, with 39 per cent backing themselves to do so from their smartphone.1
Santander UK has announced the 100 businesses shortlisted for this year’s Santander X UK Awards, the bank’s annual competition for early-stage UK start-ups.
The 100 start-ups, which are all either university businesses looking to launch or incorporated UK businesses that want to grow and scale, will pitch in a series of online and in-person heats to earn a place in the National Final on 14 November at Unity Place, Santander UK’s headquarters in Milton Keynes. At the final, the remaining 12 businesses will pitch live to a high-profile panel of judges, including Mike Regnier, Santander UK Chief Executive, William Vereker, Santander UK Chairman, Sam Jones, Founder of Gener8, Elfried Samba, CEO and Co-Founder of Butterfly 3ffect, and Dame Jess Ennis-Hill.
Recent research by Santander revealed that three quarters of Gen Z are seeking to “be their own boss” and are not planning to work a nine-to-five job for the rest of their career. 77 percent are confident in their ability to launch and run a successful business, and 39 per cent back themselves to do so from their smartphone.
Half of those polled said that Gen Z and Millennials have an advantage when it comes to starting a business because they grew up in the digital age. In comparison, Gen X and Boomers say there were fewer opportunities to start a business in their younger years (34%) as there was more pressure to follow a traditional education and career path.
This year, Santander saw more than 850 businesses apply for the awards, with Gen Z making up two thirds of those that applied. The 100 that have been shortlisted cover a range of industries, including healthcare, sustainability, AI and tech.
Sam Jones, Dragon’s Den star and founder of Gener8, said: “Gen Z is proving to be the most entrepreneurial generation yet, and it’s no coincidence. Unlike previous generations, they’ve grown up fully immersed in the digital age, where information, tools, and global connections are just a click away. This constant exposure has fostered a mindset that values innovation and agility. With a deep understanding of digital landscapes, they’re not just prepared to start their own ventures – they’re uniquely positioned to outpace previous generations in turning ideas into reality.”
Santander’s survey of 2,000 adults found that while Gen Z and millennials may be perceived as the most entrepreneurial, age is not a barrier to success, with big names like James Dyson and Jim Ratcliffe starting their business ventures in their 40s.
Mike Regnier, CEO, Santander UK, commented: “It’s clear that digital-savvy Gen Z have a fantastic entrepreneurial spirit, but the qualities you need to succeed on your own aren’t bound by age – entrepreneurship is driven by passion, curiosity, and the desire to create something meaningful. Some develop these attributes early on, often sparked by a need to solve a problem. While others may discover a business drive later in life, perhaps after spotting a gap in the market.
“Entrepreneurship is vital for the growth of the UK economy. Start-ups and early-stage businesses help to create jobs, boost productivity, and encourage innovation. At Santander we are proud to support those that are just starting out through the X Awards, giving entrepreneurs of all ages the opportunity to win vital funding and support to take their business to the next level.”
Now in its 14th year, the Santander X UK Awards have provided over £1 million in funding and business support to thousands of UK businesses to date.
For more information, visit: https://www.santanderx.com/en/sites/santander-x-uk-awards.html.
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Notes to Editors
Research was conducted by OnePoll, between 14th and 16th August 2024, polling a nationally representative sample of 2,000 adults
Santander UK is a financial services provider in the UK that offers a wide range of personal and commercial financial products and services. At 30 June 2024, the bank had around 19,600 employees and serves around 14 million active customers, including 7 million digital customers via a nationwide 444 branch network, telephone, mobile and online banking. Santander UK is subject to the full supervision of the FCA and the PRA in the UK. Santander UK plc customers’ eligible deposits are protected by the FSCS in the UK.
Banco Santander (SAN SM, STD US, BNC.LN) is a leading commercial bank, founded in 1857 and headquartered in Spain and one of the largest banks in the world by market capitalization. The group’s activities are consolidated into five global businesses: Retail & Commercial Banking, Digital Consumer Bank, Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB), Wealth Management & Insurance and Payments (PagoNxt and Cards). This operating model allows the bank to better leverage its unique combination of global scale and local leadership. Banco Santander aims to be the best open financial services platform providing services to individuals, SMEs, corporates, financial institutions and governments. The bank’s purpose is to help people and businesses prosper in a simple, personal and fair way. Banco Santander is building a more responsible bank and has made a number of commitments to support this objective, including raising €220 billion in green financing between 2019 and 2030. In the first quarter of 2024, Banco Santander had €1.3 trillion in total funds, 166 million customers, 8,400 branches and 211,000 employees.