The Unilever Young Entrepreneurs Awards are all about supporting and celebrating inspirational young people aged 35 or under from all over the world with existing initiatives, products or services that are tackling some of the planet’s biggest sustainability challenges.
WHAT UNILEVER IS LOOKING FOR?
In partnership with the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, and in collaboration with Ashoka, Unilever is looking for innovative and scalable technologies or initiatives that are contributing to one or more of the following four categories which are most relevant to our business and entrepreneurs.
Farm to Fork and Cup
Unilever is looking for inspiring entrepreneurs who are working on sustainable initiatives relating to food and drink production right through to consumption. Entrepreneurs who can demonstrate innovation that not only protects the planet’s natural resources, but will help to transform our food systems, offering a long-term approach that can create value and enhanced livelihoods for farmers, and ensure security of supply for the long-term. However, it’s not all about sustainable agriculture – Unilever also wants to hear from entrepreneurs who are working in the area of food and drink consumption and nutrition.
Opportunities for Women
Unilever is looking for initiatives that help to tackle the discrimination and disadvantages millions of women face around the world. You might be working to help provide access to skills and training for women, and creating opportunities for women to actively, safely and fairly participate in the economy. Alternatively, you might be working on a micro-enterprise initiative to help women on low-incomes escape poverty.
Waste
Unilever is looking for ingenious initiatives that help to tackle waste – to reduce, reuse or recycle waste throughout the pre-production, production and consumption lifecycle. Initiatives should demonstrate a clear business (financial), consumer (benefit) social and environmental case.
Water
Unilever is looking for an initiative that tackles water scarcity, or one that addresses water, sanitation and hygiene issues. Initiative should conserve or reduce the amount of water used across communities, from water use during the extraction or cultivation of raw materials, through manufacturing processes. Or perhaps initiatives that are helping people better manage access to water and adopt tools and behavior which help them use less in the home or at work. Unilever also seeks entrepreneurs with initiatives that address how to improve hygiene practices in any country, or offer an innovation to improve access to sanitation in remote areas.
WHAT DO YOU WIN?
The overall winner of the ‘HRH The Prince of Wales Young Sustainability Entrepreneur Prize’ will receive a 50,000€ cash award and extended mentoring support tailored to their specific needs.
The category winners will receive a 10,000€ cash award and mentoring support tailored to their specific needs.
The category finalists will receive a 7,000€ cash award and mentoring support tailored to their specific needs.
HOW DO YOU ENTER?
Competition opens on 15 May 2017 and closes at 12 midnight GMT on 30 June 2017
Prospective applicants can apply through Unilever’s website: www.YoungEntrepreneursAwards.Unilever.com
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Nominate worthy young entrepreneurs through a straightforward process. Nominators fill out a simple questionnaire on the website and Unilever will reach out to the nominee to encourage him/her to apply. Share with your networks and engage in the conversations.
Follow Unilever on Twitter @Unilever
Contact leena.varsani@unilever.com for more information
