• Aston University is launching the Adrian Cadbury Entrepreneurial Awards
• They have been designed to recognise starter businesses that are doing things differently
• Three prizes worth a total of £75,000 will be given to the most innovative AI, social enterprise and international business start-ups.

Aston University is launching the Adrian Cadbury Entrepreneurial Awards to recognise starter businesses that are doing things differently.

Three prizes worth a total of £75,000 will be given to the founders of the most innovative AI, social enterprise and international business start-ups.

The new annual event has been created to highlight excellence in business that is aligned to Aston’s 2030 strategy and is named after Adrian Cadbury to reflect his legacy of ethical leadership, enterprise and long-term impact.

The organisers will be accepting submissions from 26 January until 6 March 2026 and are seeking entries from early-stage businesses that have bold ideas, a clear purpose and the drive to turn opportunity into reality. Instead of providing an application, each competitor is required to describe their business and ambitions in a five-minute video.

To be eligible, businesses must be early stage, typically less than five years old and be based in Birmingham, the West Midlands region, or be willing to relocate. They should show innovation in a product, service or business model and provide potential for economic, social or international impact.

Professor Aleks Subic, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Aston University, said:
“I am delighted to launch the Adrian Cadbury Entrepreneurship Awards as the Aston University annual flagship awards that demonstrate our commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship that drive positive socioeconomic impact in business and community. Aston University defines itself as inclusive, entrepreneurial and transformational, and these awards reflect our ethos. The three prizes will provide exceptionally talented and progressive entrepreneurs the freedom to focus, the space to create, and the support to move faster towards achieving their commercial goals. Big ideas deserve big backing.”

The winners will be named on 23 March 2026 at the official opening of the new Aston Business Hub, which will be located at 10 Woodcock Street in Birmingham. The three chosen applicants will each receive £10,000 in cash and £15,000 in industry support provided at the new hub, from where they will run their enterprise. To enter visit https://www.aston.ac.uk/business/adrian-cadbury-entrepreneurial-awards