Creative Enterprise Awards
A Creative Enterprise Award can help you if you are looking to start your own business or grow an existing one. They provide a package of funding and support to help grow new business ideas and nurture enterprising initiatives developed by UAL students and graduates.
Many UAL graduates go on to launch exciting new creative businesses or social enterprises and these awards, provided by UAL Careers and Employability, celebrate and support them in their first steps.
The prizes
The awards are run in partnership with industry leaders and organisations. Prizes include seed funding, award trophy, showcasing opportunities, leading industry mentorship and specialist business advice.
Our partners have included: Adobe, B Artmonsky, The Dots, Cockpit Arts, Creative Champs and IBM iX.
Categories
Maker and Product
Open to individuals or businesses who produce and sell creative work or products.
Freelance and Service
Open to self-employed individuals or companies who provide a creative service to clients.
International
Open to businesses with a substantial proportion of international clients, customers or production, or businesses that are based outside the UK.
Climate and Environment
Open to businesses that have a focus on environmental issues and sustainable practices.
Social and Community
Open to enterprises that have a focus on community engagement or intervention, or with socially led objectives at the heart of what they do.
Digital and Technology
Open to businesses or individuals whose work demonstrates innovative uses of technology, including digital technologies, engineering, production and science.
What we are looking for
In each category we are looking for an idea or business that demonstrates the following:
- An original or innovative idea that addresses a clear market need.
- Promotes a positive social and ethical practice.
- An idea with good growth potential.
- Scope for international relationships/trade.
Eligibility
The awards are open to:
- Current UAL students and graduates who are within 2 years of graduating.
You must:
- Have a business, social enterprise or community project.
- Be based in the UK unless you are applying for the International category.
If you are an international student applying for any category other than the International category you must hold, or be in the process of applying for, a visa to remain in the UK to start a business. Refer to the website for more information about Start Up visas.
How to apply and deadlines
Before you start your application make sure you have read the guidelines (PDF, 89KB).
Step 1
Complete the application form (Word, 42KB). You will be asked to show:
- A clear and viable business model.
- How your business will make money.
- Your business plans and potential for growth.
- Evidence of your skills, experience and determination to succeed.
You will also be asked to include a 1 minute video pitch.
Step 2
Complete the submission form. You will be asked to attach your application form to it and will have the opportunity to include an additional document if you want to show visuals of your work.
- Deadline for applications is Monday 13 June 2022, 5pm (BST).
- You will be advised if you have been shortlisted by Wednesday 22 June 2022.
- If you are shortlisted, you will be invited to present to a panel week commencing 27 June 2022.
- All nominees are invited to the Awards night on 7 July when winners and runners up will be announced.
Please note that all decisions are final.
Supporting you
If you have any questions or believe there are any barriers to your participation in this opportunity, or you have any access requirements you wish to discuss, we would be happy to talk to you.
Please contact enterprise@arts.ac.uk
Meet the 2022 Winners
Maker and Product
Winner: My Hapii – Mariam Sesay
A gender-neutral black hair and skin care brand dedicated to zero waste and clean beauty.
Joint runner up: DeeCee Archive - Daniella Chukwuezi
Original tufted rugs which represent stories of home and the post-colonial condition.
Joint runner up: fluid – Eleanor Pipe
A sustainable, size inclusive, slow fashion brand allowing customers to feel comfortable in their changing body and identity.
Runners up mentored by David Crump from Cockpit with training from Cockpit
Freelance and Service
Winner: The Collective Makers – Joseph Ijoyemi
Providing empowerment, connection and mentorship for emerging visual artists.
Support from The Dots and mentored by Michael di Giorgio from Levels
Runner up: The Filthy Fox Auction Club – Paula Pfitzner and Alexandra Hochgürtel
An auction service that sells artworks by London’s art graduates to kickstart their careers.
International
Joint winner: Novy Zine – Johana Kasalicka
Independent Czech publication implementing an augmented reality experience.
Mentored by Yann Mathias from MTArt Agency.
Joint winner: Humanity Centred Designs – Vishal Tolambia
Transforming human-centred design into humanity-centred designs through sustainable practices in the fashion industry.
Mentored by Joao Maraschin
Climate and Environment
Winner: CQ Studio – Cassie Quinn
A regenerative design lab developing innovative textiles for fashion. Making textiles from a range of biological sources including flax, food waste and algae.
Mentored by Becky Artmonsky.
Runner up: Rebox.eco - Filip Harding
Making new boxes from old boxes. Helping brands send online retail deliveries more sustainably by capturing value in used materials and reducing waste.
Social and Community
Winner: Create on the Estate – Isabel Conde
A series of free art workshops for the children of Penmayne House and Landulph House in Lambeth.
Runner up: haav – Neha Mathew
Collaborating with unemployed South Asian women in London to create unique home wear.
Both mentored by Nick Howe from NatWest.
Digital and Technology
Winner: Bobbll.app – Leon Zussner
An app which gamifies the recruitment experience for the next generation of talent.
Joint runner up: Mart – Joshua Davis
A social network to buy, sell & share art and access free art resources.
Joint runner up: unhacked – Moogz O’Donnell
A cybersecurity subscription targeting online micro-businesses, protecting them from email and social media hacking.
All awarded business credits by Miro.