Some years in business are about playing it safe. 2025 isn’t one of them. Across the UK, founders are backing instinct over convention, stepping into crowded markets with something fresh, and making daring calls in the face of uncertainty. You can see this shift reflected in the 2025 Great British Entrepreneur Awards shortlist. Over 800 finalists whose companies together employ tens of thousands and generate billions in combined turnover, despite most being less than a decade old. They’re proof that boldness is more than a buzzword this year, it’s a business strategy.
From early-stage businesses that have grown a single idea into a national presence, healthcare ventures reshaping how vital services reach those who need them most to tech scale-ups carving out space in markets dominated by global giants, to makers and manufacturers building sustainable brands from scratch, founders across sectors are challenging expectations, carving out space in competitive industries, and proving that decisive, sometimes unconventional moves lay the groundwork for lasting success.