Chester Business Club Young Business Person Awards 2025

The number of young entrepreneurs are rising, and more and more young people than ever are choosing to run their own business in a bid to find a fulfilling career.  Some are turning a bedroom side-hustle, which may have started out in their school years, into a successful business.

Others are executing ideas, which may have come to them as a lightbulb moment during childhood, into enterprises to help shape their future.

The age of new technology, AI and social-media, means huge opportunities now exist for young people to develop and create new products and services. And rising numbers of young entrepreneurs are making the most of them to do just that.

The newly-launched Chester Business Club (CBC) Young Business Person Awards aims to celebrate this and to find, recognise, nurture and champion the city’s brightest young business brains.

How it works:

Our Awards have two categories and there will be three winners.

The Vision Awards 

Who Can Enter: Those aged 16 and Under (up to year 11) living or attending a school in the CH1, CH2, CH3 and CH4 postcodes.

Those aged 16 to 18 (from Year 12) living or attending a school/college in the CH1, CH2, CH3 and CH4 postcodes.

What judges are looking for: An idea for a new business in Chester which the applicant thinks would be a big success. Please explain in at least 750 words: What your idea is; Why you think it would be successful; Where the business would be based; How you would go about setting it up; Any challenges you would have to overcome; And the support you think you might need in making it a reality.

In addition to your business idea, judges welcome any evidence which demonstrates business acumen you have shown in the past. This might be either at home through a side-hustle or work you’ve been carrying out while studying. Or it could be a project or piece of coursework you’ve completed as part of your school/college work.

APPLY FOR THE VISION AWARD >>

Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Award

Who Can Enter? Those aged up to 25, who have been running a business in the CH1, CH2, CH3 or CH4 for at least a year.

What judges are looking for: Please explain in at least 1,000 words how you achieved business success and excellence.

Applicants should include information which signposts the growth, traction and success of their business so far.

Submission should include evidence of how applicants have established significant scalable businesses or brands, demonstrated personal ambition, shown leadership and commercial acumen, and had an impact in their sector through disruption or setting high standards. An outline of the business’ future plans and its vision should also be included. Examples of how the business is already making a difference in Chester would be particularly welcomed.

APPLY FOR THE YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD >>

Judging

Applications need to be in by May 1, 2025.

A shortlist of three finalists will be announced in each category on May 29.  Shortlisted candidates may be required to submit further information ahead of a final judging decision on who has won.

The shortlisted finalists will be invited to an Awards Ceremony at the Chester Business Club’s Annual Banquet on Monday 8 July 2025, together with one adult each.  They will also be able to buy tickets for additional members of their families and supporters at CBC Members’ guest prices.

Prizes

*The three winners will receive access to 12 hours mentoring support with the City’s business leaders who sit on the Chester Business Club’s Executive Committee. Our committee members boast expertise in a range of fields including law, marketing, tech, engineering, finance, accounting, property, and event management.

*The winners of the Business Vision Awards will each receive a £300 Chester Bid Voucher to spend in the City of Chester. All four runners up will each receive a £100 voucher.

*The Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Award will receive a £500 Chester Bid Voucher to spend in the City of Chester and one month’s free PR support from competition sponsors Magnify PR. The two runners up will receive a £150 Chester Bid Voucher to spend in the City of Chester.

*All shortlisted finalists will receive two free tickets to the Chester Business Club Annual Banquet on 8 July 2025 where they will receive a certificate.