In celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD), UNiDAYS, the world’s leading Gen Z affinity network that enables students and graduates to discover savings, is launching its sixth annual Student Woman of the Year competition. Running until 31st March 2024, the competition, open to all UK-based students who identify as female, includes a £12,000 prize fund to reward entrepreneurial initiatives and impactful projects.  

Building on this year’s IWD theme of #InspireInclusion, the competition aims to champion the next generation of boundary-breaking women students striving towards aspirational goals that will shape their future and that of their communities. The winner will receive a £10,000 cash grant, with the first two runners-up each receiving £1,000 to help realise their ambitions or invest in a cause they believe in. 

The initiative is part of UNiDAYS’ ongoing mission to boost Gen Z employability and earning opportunities through mental health support, career advice, and access to affordable resources that help them thrive both inside and outside of the classroom. The contest is intended to inspire ingenuity and help redefine what it means to be entrepreneurial by empowering those working to overcome stereotypes and discrimination.

According to GUESSS, a large, global research project about student entrepreneurship, more than 28% of all students are in the process of founding a new venture, one in ten already own and run their own business, and half plan to be an entrepreneur within five years of completion of studies. 

Nominations are open from 8th to 31st March. To enter, applicants need to post a 60-second video spotlighting the ways they are breaking down barriers with their work and how they would use the £10,000 cash prize to further their efforts. Submissions will be judged on how well they explain their ideas and how their project inspires inclusion, as well as the content and creativity of the video. Participants must have a UNiDAYS account to access the application form. 

UNiDAYS will shortlist six stand-out entries before a specially selected panel of judges will choose the winner and two runners-up, to be announced on 28th April. The panel this year includes 2023 Student Woman of the Year, Lydie Kitenge, and senior members of the UNiDAYS team, including the Customer & Channel Director and Creative Services Director. 

Last year’s Student Woman of the Year, Lydie Kitenge, explains how the £10,000 prize has helped her business Journey2Med, which provides supporting resources to increase access to medical school. “The grant played a pivotal role in advancing Journey2Med’s mission. By allocating funds, we secured the services of a dedicated editor who worked tirelessly to optimise our online content. This strategic move has proven immensely beneficial, particularly in reaching students from disadvantaged backgrounds who may not have otherwise been aware of crucial events and resources.”.

“Our most recent research tells us the current cohort of students has a lot on their plate, but they’re also resilient,” said Tamara Castelli, Chief Operating Officer, UNiDAYS. “ We want to encourage and inspire the most entrepreneurial generation yet, to take the initiative and make an impact. Whilst there have been some positive changes, it’s clear we still have a long way to go to combat female underrepresentation. We hope our competition shows that students can make a difference and create a more inclusive world.”

For more information and details on how to enter, visit https://www.myunidays.com/GB/en-GB/content/swoty