previous winner artist Albany is in the running for 2025 awards for working collaboratively to bring the work of independent artists to customers in a rural setting
Stonham Barns Park-based startup Sakura Studio Gallery has been named a finalist ahead of the East of England final of the StartUp Awards 2025.
The UK StartUp Awards was launched to recognise the booming start-up scene across the UK which has accelerated over the last few years with 846,000 new businesses founded in the UK in 2024.
Over 750 businesses have been shortlisted for this year’s UK StartUp Awards and the contribution of these firms – all of which were started in the last three years – is significant, having created over 4,600 new jobs since they were established and generating annual sales of £200 million.
Founded by Albany Tripp in 2023, the business won the Creative StartUp of the Year Award for the East of England in 2024.
Sakura Studio Gallery is an art space dedicated to showcasing independent artists and providing a space for visitors to try out and experiment with their own creativity with the wide variety of workshops on offer in the expanded studio space. The business has been shortlisted for Rural StartUp of the Year and Creative StartUp of the Year Awards in East of England for the second year running.
Albany, founder of Sakura Studio Gallery, said: ‘I can’t express how grateful I am to be able to have this art space where I am able to create and share my love for art, support and exhibit other artists and share our creative passions through workshops, all while raising my baby and toddler. To receive the news that my little creative space is a regional finalist in not one, but two categories for the second year in a row is just amazing!’
‘As a small rural business, we wouldn’t be where we are without the support of our artists and visitors, along with our fellow local businesses and the team at Stonham Barns Park!’
Supported nationally by Airwallex, Ideas Fest, Join Talent and V Rum, the programme will celebrate the achievements of the amazing individuals who have turned an idea into an opportunity and taken the risk to launch a new product or service.
The cohort of finalists will be considered for the regional prizes by a panel of seasoned
judges with experience founding or supporting entrepreneurial ventures. The winners from each region will then be invited to the first UK final taking place at Ideas Fest – the Glastonbury for Business – festival in Hertfordshire on 12th September 2025.
Professor Dylan Jones-Evans OBE, the creator of the UK StartUp Awards, said: ‘New businesses are the driving force behind any thriving economy, generating employment, pioneering innovation and contributing to prosperity across the UK. This year’s finalists embody the very best of entrepreneurial spirit – spotting opportunities and, through dedication, skill, and resilience, turning them into thriving ventures that are making a tangible difference in their industries. More importantly, all the winners will go on to represent their region at the 2025 UK National StartUp Awards final later this year.’
The UK StartUp Awards was created in collaboration with the team behind the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, one of the most successful awards programmes in the UK. The UK StartUp Awards are running for the fourth year after launching in 2022.
This year’s regional UK StartUp Awards finalists can be found online at https://startupawards.uk/
