A female founder has revealed how a £150k Havas entrepreneurship scheme helped to boost her business.
Last year, Havas Media Network brought its Boost Business programme to Manchester to support underrepresented entrepreneurs in the North West. The goal was to find someone doing powerful work in the local community and help them to scale it.
To enable this, £150,000 worth of media, strategic support, and agency power was up for grabs for the successful candidate.
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Christina Taylor spotted an advertisement for the exciting media campaign on her morning commute and decided to take the plunge. Only a few weeks after sending in her application, Christina was in the pitch room in Manchester, presenting to a panel of Havas leaders, DE&I specialists, and entrepreneur Sian Gabbidon.
So, what happened next? Find out everything you need to know about the Boost Business initiative and how to apply for this year's competition below.
How does the Havas Boost Business initiative work?
Christina took home the award for Aim Sky High Talent, a talent agency that supports underrepresented voices across sport, entertainment and youth culture.
What started as a small dance studio in the local town has risen to meteoric success since the competition and has enabled young performers to work alongside huge names such as Stormzy, Giggs, and Justin Bieber.
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Since winning Boost, Christina’s story has been covered in Campaign UK, Little Black Book, The Media Leader, Prolific North, and more.
Applications are now open for this year's business initiative (Getty/mapodile)
So, how can you apply for the 2025 Havas Boost Business initiative?
Are you a business owner inspired by Christina's story? Well, the 2025 Boost Business competition is now open to applications until Friday, October 31.
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This year, the programme has expanded to cover Yorkshire, the North West, and the North East of England.
The winning business will be awarded up to £150,000 in the form of investment, media value, mentoring, and resources.
To be eligible, your business must be between two to five years old with a purpose beyond profit. Applicants must come from an underrepresented background or have experienced challenges accessing opportunities.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to present a 15-minute presentation to a panel of judges detailing their business in January 2026. The winner will then be announced in February 2026.
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"The North is a hotbed of innovation and creativity. With Havas Boost, we are putting a spotlight on the incredible, yet often overlooked, talent within our communities. Our experience in Manchester demonstrated the tangible success that comes from backing entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds," Managing Director of Havas Market Alex Walker said.
"We are thrilled to expand its reach to Yorkshire, a region with a rich history of industry and a burgeoning entrepreneurial spirit. By expanding Havas Boost, we are not only investing in businesses but in the people and the communities that will continue our mission to make our industry more inclusive and representative of the UK as a whole."
Applications are now open for 2025 Havas Boost Business until Friday, October 31. Good luck!
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Topics: Business
The LADbible Team