2026 applicant guidance
Our Enterprise Fellowships are awarded to innovative, creative entrepreneurial engineers who have demonstrated an exceptional innovation in engineering that they want to bring to a market.
Once on the programme, we focus on equipping the awardee with the confidence, skills, experience, and network of expert advisors needed to develop themselves and their innovation.
Awardees will then serve as role models to inspire the next generation of aspiring entrepreneurs, passing on the skills they have gained and fostering a more entrepreneurial culture in the UK.
To date, we have supported over 240 entrepreneurs who have since raised over £633m of investment and now employ more than 1400 staff.
Full details on how to access this support and become part of the Hub are provided below.
Core aims of the Enterprise Fellowships
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To encourage excellence in engineering and bring engineering innovations to market for wider public benefit
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To improve the skills of the awardee, through training and application
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To develop role models of entrepreneurship
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To develop a wider alumni network to further the aims of the Hub.
Who is Enterprise Fellowships for
Researchers
We support outstanding entrepreneurial engineers working at a UK university or PSRE, to spin out a business based upon their research, or the research of their team.
Recent graduates
In partnership with the 1851 Royal Commission and the ERA Foundation, we support recent engineering and design graduates in making their business a success. Recipients of the prize will focus on developing their innovation, developing their skills through training and implementation, and passing on the skills they have learned by acting as a role model.
The fellowships are generously funded by the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 and the ERA Foundation.
Awardees shall be known as ‘1851 Royal Commission Enterprise Fellows’ and ‘ERA Enterprise Fellows.’ Additionally, awardees will have access to further support and networking activities from their respective funder, through participation in events and access to their extensive alumni networks.
Time commitment, other grants and co-applicants
We welcome co-applicants where there is a clearly identified lead applicant. The Enterprise Fellowships must be the lead applicant's only source of employment. Enterprise Fellows are required to devote all their working time to the Enterprise Fellowships programme of work. Enterprise Fellows are encouraged to apply for further funding, but these grants should not include a salary component that requires the lead applicant to reduce their FTE on the Enterprise Fellowship.
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Academics in the lead role may continue to perform some PhD supervision so that existing students are not negatively impacted, but all remaining time and effort must be committed solely to the project – lecturing and teaching are not permitted during the award.
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Co-applicants being supported by the fellowship may contribute any level of FTE, and may have other paid roles and duties, but we expect their time to be carefully monitored.
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The lead applicant will be the primary point of contact for the award, and only they will receive the mentoring and training support on offer.
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Contribution may be made to the salary costs of co-applicants, if their FTE commitment to the project is stated in the equity table. See ‘Eligible costs for all Fellowships’ for more details.
Visa and right to work requirements
The Academy cannot take any responsibility for securing any visas/ work permits required and cannot provide advice. Applicants must be able to remain and work legally in the UK for the duration of the fellowship but there is no restriction on applicant nationality.
Successful applicants will be eligible for fast-track endorsement under the Global Talent Visa route, if they choose the Academy as the Designated Competent Body to assess for endorsement prior to the Home Office assessment.
For more information please contact the Academy's GTV team
Equity, diversity and inclusion
The Royal Academy of Engineering is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all underrepresented groups across engineering. It is the Academy’s policy to ensure that no applicant is disadvantaged or receives less favourable treatment because of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background and trans status.
We want to ensure all applicants can participate and present their best selves during the application process, and for the duration of the Enterprise Fellowship if you are successful.
If you need any adjustments or changes to support your participation in the process or throughout the programme, please contact [email protected] to discuss your needs. All information shared will be treated confidentially in line with GDPR principles.
For more details, please see the Academy’s privacy policy. We encourage you to get in touch at least 10 working days before the submission deadline so we can respond accordingly and tailor possible adjustments to your circumstances.
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