Women in Innovation Award 2026 Now Open for Applications

The Women in Innovation Award for 2026 is now accepting applications, offering substantial support to ambitious female entrepreneurs across the United Kingdom.

The award provides women founders or co-founders of UK registered SMEs with a comprehensive support package that includes up to £75,000 in equity-free funding and bespoke business support for 12 months. This programme is designed to help successful applicants further their ambitious growth plans and scale their innovative businesses.

Women leading or co-leading small and medium-sized enterprises are encouraged to apply for this opportunity to accelerate their business development. The equity-free nature of the funding means recipients can access substantial financial support whilst retaining full ownership of their companies.

The deadline for applications is 4 February 2026. Full details about eligibility criteria, the application process, and programme benefits can be found on the Innovate UK Business Connect website.