5 young creative entrepreneurs honoured for creating positive social change will receive a prize fund of £60,000

London, UK – 28  June 2022: The Deutsche Bank Awards for Creative Entrepreneurs (DBACE), in collaboration with MeWe360, announce this year’s winners. Awarded for their commitment to driving positive social impact through creative enterprise the 5 young (18-30) UK entrepreneurs include:

• Chamiah Dewey, Chamiah Dewey Fashion, the UK’s first clothing brand for people with dwarfism, offering stylish, timeless pieces, made using eco-conscious fabrics. (Funding awarded: £15k)
• Andrew Shaw & Ryan Gauge, Convenience Gallery, an arts organisation based in Birkenhead working with contemporary artists and the local community to build innovative and challenging art projects. (Funding awarded: £10k)
• Jem Collins, Journo Resources, a social enterprise that helps underrepresented people into the journalism industry, with free-to-access tools, resources and support. (Funding awarded: £10k)
• Sabella Ibáñez, Alice Moxley & Jason Thompson, Pivot, a social enterprise that empowers people experiencing homelessness to Pivot their lives through making and craftsmanship. (Funding awarded: £15k)
• Tumisha Balogun, Shian James & Alvin Owusu Fordwuo, Tag agency, a youth culture & marketing agency that transforms young lives through the power of culture, community and storytelling. (Funding awarded: £10k)

The five winners will receive a collective prize fund of £60,000, plus a £100,000 value of bespoke mentorship to develop their vision and leadership skills via the MeWe360 Incubator. In addition to the winners, five strong DBACE 2022 candidates will also receive MeWe360 business support bursaries, benefiting from guidance and industry mentoring. Recognising the increasing need to empower young innovators, the mentor programme will provide individually tailored business and leadership training, 12 months of business support through MeWe360’s roster of mentors and Deutsche Bank professionals, access to a host of leading industry contacts and peer to peer support.

Focussed on reaching ambitious individuals from all backgrounds, four years ago DBACE partnered with MeWe360, a non-profit that champions and supports entrepreneurs in the arts and creative industries. MeWe360 have worked with DBACE to ensure the awards are open and accessible to all. Applicants from across the visual art, design, fashion, architecture and performing arts fields are able to apply at any stage of their entrepreneurial journey from the genesis of an idea to an established business and DBACE makes key resources for young entrepreneurs available for free on its website. 

Above image clockwise from top left: Chamiah Dewey Fashion, Convenience Gallery, Journo Resources, Pivot and Tag agency

This year the applicants were narrowed down to a group of 9 finalists – one more than in previous years – who were then invited to pitch their business models to a set of illustrious judges at the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. Judged on a set of 4 criteria – social impact, business model, value add and founder and leadership potential – the panel of judges included: Kevin Osborne, Founder and CEO, MeWe360; Lareena Hilton, Global Head of Brand Communications & Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Deutsche Bank; Jackie Davidson MBE, Founder, JD Management; and John Newbigin OBE, co-founder and Chair of Creative England; and Bola Awoniyi, Co-Founder of Black Ballad (DBACE 2019 Winner).

On behalf of Deutsche Bank, Lareena Hilton, Global Head of Brand Communications & CSR at Deutsche Bank, says: “DBACE sits at the heart of Deutsche Bank’s social responsibility within our Made For Good social enterprise pillar and today we are proud to be celebrating these five young business leaders. As a judge I saw how all of the winners have consistently demonstrated through their work a commitment to driving change and tackling some of the biggest challenges facing our society. The creative industries remain one of the hardest hit from the pandemic yet these entrepreneurs today demonstrate the talent that is at the forefront of the UK’s recovery. They have presented ideas and businesses that offer exciting new opportunities and ways to create a better future. I look forward to seeing these businesses flourish over the course of the DBACE mentorship programme and into the future.”

Commenting on the winners Kevin Osborne, judge and founder of MeWe360 added “This has been one of the strongest selection of applicants I’ve seen in the four years MeWe360 have been supporting DBACE. I’m looking forward to working with each of the five winners throughout the year as we provide them invaluable hands-on support, networking and tailored mentor programmes alongside the significant financial investment.”

“As a judge it is incredible to see each of the applicants and watch these amazing young creative entrepreneurs pitch to us each year. It is also incredible to see our winners develop throughout the year and grow sustainable businesses that will lead the UK’s creative sectors.”

Following a gruelling day of pitching the finalists were treated to an awards evening with a keynote speech by Indhu Rubasingham MBE, theatre director and the current artistic director of the Kiln Theatre. Talking to the winners Rubasingham, said: “Culture and creativity in its many facets brings people together, and makes them empathise. It decides whose story is important, whose views we hear and who defines our sense of self.  Your ideas, vision and entrepreneurship can shift this dial. You’ll ensure that those with different stories and voices are heard. You’ll empower others, challenge the status quo and help heal the rift and bridge the differences in our society.”

Since 1993, Deutsche Bank has through DBACE overseen the launch and growth of over 230 creative ventures, supporting the work of the business leaders of tomorrow and celebrating those on a mission to tackle some of today’s most significant issues. One of the longest running creative enterprise programmes, the awards are open UK-wide and aim to cultivate young talent, providing them with start-up capital, bespoke business support and expert mentors. 

DBACE is Deutsche Bank’s flagship CSR programme forming part of the bank’s global Made for Good social enterprise pillar which supports entrepreneurial ventures that create wider social good including microenterprises, start-ups, nonprofits and commercial businesses. DBACE is one of the UK’s longest running creative enterprise programmes. Previous winners include Bethany Williams, founder of Bethany Williams London, a recycled and organic clothing brand; Ryan Mario Yasin, founder of Petit Pli, a pioneering material technology company promoting slow fashion; Anthony Daulphin, founder of Standing Ovation, which empowers youth through arts; and Ndubuisi Uchea & Hayel Wartemberg, co-founders of Word on the Curb, a youth insight and content agency, which stands to connect with underrepresented Millennial and Gen-Z audiences.