News & views

26 March 2026

The applications for the Santander X UK Awards 2026 are now open.

Apply here

Deadline: 6 May 2026

About the Awards

The Santander X UK Awards are one of the UK’s largest pitching competitions, having provided over £1.2 million in equity-free funding and support to high-potential businesses since 2011.

2026 categories

• University – for student and university entrepreneurs preparing to launch
• Startup– for early-stage UK businesses ready to grow
• SME– for established UK businesses looking to scale

Nine winners (three per category) will share £150,000 in funding and progress to the Santander X Global Award, representing the UK and competing against businesses from across Europe and Latin America.

New for 2026: all applicants will gain access to a series of expert-led webinars covering key growth topics, including cyber security and raising finance.

Information webinars

We’re hosting two short webinars to introduce the Awards and answer questions:

• Thursday 16 April | 12:30–13:30 – Register here
• Tuesday 28 April | 12:30–13:30 – Register here