Are you an ambitious, high-growth international company looking to scale in the UK?
The UK Government is backing 10 exceptional scale-ups to accelerate their UK expansion.
Pitch live to investors at Birmingham Tech Week 2026 to win the support you need.
If you’re in deep tech, clean tech, life sciences or advanced manufacturing, apply now!
ENTER THE SCALE-UP GAMES
Why Apply?
10 lucky Finalists receive:
UK Landing Package
Dedicated Dealmaker, expansion strategy, location assessment, investor readiness support and personal assistance from the UK Government’s Global Talent Taskforce.
Birmingham Tech Week VIP Experience
Full event access, free accommodation, exclusive investor dinner, ecosystem introductions from West Midlands Growth Company.
Global Entrepreneur Programme
Invitation to join the UK Government’s exclusive Global Entrepreneur Programme, which endorses the Innovator Founder Visa.
Grand Prize winner receives everything the finalists receive plus:
Professional Services Package
Estimated value £15-25k, including company formation, tax, immigration, employment law, IP, banking and more.
Full Service Soft Landing
to 9 months’ workspace for a team of 3, plus regional growth support from West Midlands Growth Company.
UK Boardroom Week
Curated return UK visit with 10+ investor meetings, corporate introductions, customer discovery, government engagement and regional ecosystem visits (includes free flights and accommodation).
Am I eligible?
If you meet the criteria below, we would love you to apply!
Sectors
You operate in Deep Tech, Clean Tech, Life Sciences or Advanced Manufacturing
International
You are based outside the UK
Expanding to UK
You are considering an R&D presence, European HQ or Global/Rest of World HQ in the UK
Scaling
You are at Late Seed, Series A or Series B stage
Founders
You have a strong and credible founding or leadership team
Timeline
FAQs
How will the judges evaluate my entry?
Companies will be judged on innovation and IP, commercial traction and team capability. The winner will be selected by a panel of expert judges based on the above criteria and the vision and clarity of their pitch.
Do I need to attend the Grand Final at Birmingham Tech Week 2026?
Your company will need to be present at the Grand Final in the UK. We will reimburse your accommodation costs.
Enter Scale-Up Games
If you encounter problems submitting this form, please email your entries or contact us on global.entrepreneurs@businessandtrade.gov.uk