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  1. Careers and Enterprise
  2. Enterprise
  3. Funding for entrepreneurs
  4. Try It awards

Try It awards

Win £500 to test your business, freelance or social enterprise idea

Applications are now closed

If you have an business idea, side hustle or social enterprise you’d like to set up, you can apply for up to £500 of funding to help you to test your concept. We also welcome ideas for students or graduates looking to be self-employed. If you are successful, you will be fast-tracked for a place on  to receive training and mentoring from industry experts over the course of a 8-week programme.

At this stage you don’t need to have a business plan, just a problem you want to solve and some idea of how you might do it.

Check out Burg in the video below who are Try It award recipients and then went on to win a Launch it award a few months later and Build it award last summer.

We encourage you to book an Enterprise Appointment with the Enterprise team before submitting your application form and video. To book an appointment, call 020 7882 8533 or book online. 

How to apply

  • Complete our application form on QM Careers Hub. 
  • Create a 2-minute video pitch (max) that introduces your idea. In your pitch you should include:
    • A summary of your idea
    • What problem are you solving and your solution
    • Who your customers/ users are (e.g. who you think would pay for it)
    • Why you need funding, and how this funding will allow you to test your concept
  • Upload your video to any hosting service such as YouTube or Vimeo, and write the link on your application form. Do not send your video via email as they are often very heavy and we won't be able to watch them. 
  • If your application is successful you will be invited to pitch online or in person at a panel interview.

Please note, you cannot apply if:

  • You are a current international student. Due to T4 Student Visa restrictions, we are not able to fund you or your business idea. However you can apply to our Build it Award. 
  • You have not yet validated your business idea. You will need to demonstrate in your application form and in the interview people engaging, using or paying for your product and/or service.

We encourage you to book an Enterprise Appointment with the Enterprise team before submitting your application. To book an appointment, call 020 7882 8533 or book online

Funding deadlines

Applications are now closed.

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