Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award
Terms and Conditions of Entry
1. Introduction & Overview
By submitting an entry to the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award (the “Award”), the entrant agrees to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. The Award is organised and administered by Cockermouth & District Chamber of Trade (“the Organiser”).
2. Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible to enter the Award, applicants must meet the following criteria at the time of entry:
Age: Entrants must be aged between 16 and 25 years old.
Location: Entrants must be residents of, or have their business operating within the CA13 postcode area.
Business Status: The business can be at the pre-launch/idea stage, a prototype stage, or already actively trading. However, it must be entirely the original work of the entrant.
Structure: Entries can be submitted by individuals or teams. For team entries, a lead entrepreneur must be nominated, and all team members must meet the age eligibility requirements.
3. How to Enter
Submission Method: All entries must be submitted via the official online application form here. Submissions via email, post, or other channels will not be accepted unless explicitly agreed upon in advance.
Deadlines: The award entries open on June 5th 2026 and close at midnight on August 31st 2026. Late submissions will be automatically disqualified.
Completeness: Incomplete application forms may not be considered.
4. Intellectual Property & Confidentiality
Ownership: Entrants retain full ownership of all intellectual property (IP) rights in their business plans, products, and concepts.
Confidentiality: The Organiser, judges, and partners will treat all sensitive financial data and proprietary business details submitted in the application form as confidential.
Publicity Materials: By entering, the entrant grants the Organiser a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use the business name, logo, non-confidential summary, and images/videos of the entrepreneur for promotional, marketing, and media purposes related to the Award.
5. Judging Process & Criteria
The Panel: A panel of independent judges selected by the Organiser will assess all valid entries.
Criteria: Entries will be judged based on innovation, market viability, financial sustainability, social/environmental impact, and the entrepreneurs’ commitment to their business plan.
Decisions: The decision of the judging panel is final and binding in all matters. No correspondence or discussion will be entered into regarding the judges’ decisions or feedback.
6. Prizes & Awards
Prize Structure: All prizes will be awarded to the 2026 winner. This list includes the prizes currently available. The organiser reserves the right to change these inclusions based on the needs of the recipient. This list may be subject to change:
- A professionally built website
- A professional photographic session
- Graphic design of logo & brochure
- Press release & media guidance
- Paid social media advertising
- A professional accountant session
- Business & marketing guidance
- A coworking desk for up to 12 months
Prizes are non-transferable and no cash alternatives will be offered for non-monetary prizes. The prizes and value of prizes offered by our third-party sponsors are delivered at their discretion.
Use of Funds: Financial grants awarded must be used explicitly for the development and growth of the business outlined in the winning application. The Organiser reserves the right to request proof of expenditure.
Taxation: Winners are solely responsible for any tax implications, reporting, or liabilities arising from the receipt of any prize funds.
7. Disqualification & Liability
Plagiarism & Fraud: The Organiser reserves the right to disqualify any entry at any stage if there are grounds to believe the entrant has provided false information, plagiarised work, or breached intellectual property rights.
Code of Conduct: Entrants must not bring the Award, the Organiser, or its sponsors into disrepute. Offensive, illegal, or unethical business models will be disqualified immediately.
Limitation of Liability: The Organiser accepts no responsibility for network, computer, or software failures of any kind that may restrict or delay the sending or receipt of an entry.
8. Data Protection (GDPR)
(a) By entering, applicants agree that the Organiser will process their personal data (name, contact details, age) for the administration of the competition.
(b) Personal data will be handled securely in accordance with UK Data Protection legislation and will not be shared with third parties for marketing purposes without explicit consent.
9. General
(a) The Organiser reserves the right to amend, cancel, or suspend the Award or these Terms and Conditions at any time without prior notice due to unforeseen circumstances.
(b) These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales / Scotland / Northern Ireland.
10. By agreeing to these terms and conditions, all entrants agree to the use of their contact details for receipt of electronic promotional materials via email, namely a newsletter subscription. The recipient of any such material retains the option to opt-out/unsubscribe at anytime. Please see our GDPR privacy policy.
