Are you a young entrepreneur?
Join our nationwide competition that gives young people the platform to turn their big ideas into a reality
Are you killing it on Depop? On the path to making positive social change? Are you the next up and coming artist? Or have an idea for the next big thing?
Then the Side Hustle Initiative is for you…
We’re on a nationwide search for 14-18-year-olds who are already delivering a side hustle or who have an amazing business idea that they are passionate about launching.
Through the Side Hustle Initiative, the top 30 finalists will gain access to one to one professional mentoring with industry specialists that match our finalist’s Side Hustle to support them in evolving their ideas. As well as being invited to attend a ‘Dragons Den’ style pitch in front of our panel of judges in London. The winners and runners-up will then receive a share of the £10,000 investment fund to go straight into growing their business.
A business you have started which is making a profit
Inspiring social change through non-profit or charity. This can be an idea or a business you are already running.
A big idea for a business that you have not started yet!
Don’t take our word for it, here’s what some of last year’s finalists had to say…
Register your interest
Sign-up to keep up to date with what’s going on and be first to know when entries open
Entries open
The submission form will be open where our young applicants will pitch their entrepreneurial business ideas and demonstrate a financial model (our partners FinnCap and ACCA will be providing support and guidance).
Entries close
Applicants must submit their entries before 12 pm.
Entries reviewed
The Side Hustle team will be reviewing all entries to ensure they meet the criteria.
Voting open
All qualified entries will be live on the Side Hustle website for the entrants to start sharing and campaigning for votes.
Finalists LIVE event
30 finalists (10 from each category) will be invited to attend a ‘Dragons Den’ style pitch in front of our panel of judges in London. The winners and runners-up will then receive a share of the £10,000 investment fund to go straight into growing their business.
Stuck with the entry? Got a question you need answering? Or simply need a bit of help and advice? We know these competition forms can feel a little daunting which is why we’ve launched a digital Q&A!
Simply click the button below, submit your question and the Side Hustle team will be in touch with some guidance to help you with your entry.
Discover their stories – meet last years 5 winners and our bursary award winner…
“YourGamePlan was launched to ensure that young people across the UK have the skills and confidence to pursue any career they want, we wanted to go a step further around entrepreneurship, the best way to ensure a fairer distribution of societal wealth is to engage more people from different backgrounds into launching their own companies, but to do that they need a platform, this is what we hope the Side Hustle Initiative will give them.”
Danny Heath, founder of YourGamePlan
“We live in the era of the side hustle, and many established and successful entrepreneurs are those who have managed to take their side hustle full time and turn it into a small business. The side hustle is often the first step in converting a passion into a viable business – and every young person deserves an equal opportunity. I’m incredibly excited about enabling young people to unleash their entrepreneurial spirit and embrace their side hustle. This initiative empowers the next generation of entrepreneurs, giving them vital access to expert advice, networks and funding along the way.”
Sam Smith, CEO, finnCap Group
“ACCA is thrilled to be supporting Side Hustle again this year. It’s all about encouraging young entrepreneurs whatever their background to achieve their dreams. We’ve seen how a side hustle can become the main hustle for someone with the right drive and determination to flourish when backed by the expert advice to get them there.”
Claire Bennison, Head of ACCA UK
Interested in entering the Side Hustle Initiative 2022 but not ready to submit your application yet? Fill in your details below and we’ll send you some helpful tips on how to ace your entry and keep you up to date with the latest news on the competition so you don’t miss anything.