The winner of Marketing Derby’s Rising Star Award in 2027, now open for entry, will get 12 months of Chamber membership, plus a year’s membership of Marketing Derby’s Bondholder network, thanks to new collaboration with the Chamber.
The collaboration celebrates 10 years of Marketing Derby’s Rising Star Award – established in 2016 – with the expanded prize set to give the recipient greater opportunity to boost their profile and make new connections from publicity, invitations to major events and access to influential business leaders.
Marketing Derby’s Rising Star Award aims to give fledgling businesses and up-and-coming entrepreneurs a helping hand when they need it most.
Chamber Chief Executive Scott Knowles said: “I’m delighted, as a Bondholder for more than 20 years, for the Chamber to collaborate with Marketing Derby to support the next generation of business leaders with 2027’s Rising Star Award.
“The Chamber’s Generation Next network has supported more than 500 young professionals since its launch in 2020 and working collaboratively with Marketing Derby to celebrate Derby’s next Rising Star, feels like the next evolution in our partnership.”
Marketing Derby Commercial Development Manager and Rising Star Lead Lindsey Hatfield said: “We have been running Rising Star for over a decade now as a way for fledgling businesses to tap into the wide range of benefits that Bondholder membership brings.
“We’re absolutely delighted to be working with East Midlands Chamber on our Rising Star Award for 2027.
“The Chamber is one of our original Bondholders, working with us and key stakeholders to help support and attract investment to Derby over the past 20 years.
“We hope that our combined offer will appeal to lots of local companies and help the winning business at the start of their journey.
“This award is all about giving a new business the connections, support and opportunities they need when they are first starting out.
“With the Chamber offering a year’s membership alongside the Bondholder support we’ve provided in previous years, we’re opening even more doors and creating exciting new opportunities for our winner.
“I’m always blown away by the quality of applications and entrepreneurial ideas in the city and look forward to reading all the applications this year.
“We hope that our combined offer will appeal to lots of local companies and help the winning business at the start of their journey.”
Many former Rising Star Award winners are still Marketing Derby Bondholders and go out of their way to welcome new Rising Star organisations to the fold.
Ethical cleaning firm and Chamber member Upbeat Clean is a former Marketing Derby Rising Star Award winner, then in 2026 also received the CSR Leadership Award at the Chamber’s Derbyshire Business Awards. In 2025 Upbeat Clean became the first in Derbyshire to receive the King’s Award for Enterprise in the category of Promoting Opportunity through Social Mobility accolade.
Enter Marketing Derby’s Rising Star Award
Applicants must be in their first 18 months of trading in the Derby area and must be willing to attend at least 10 Bondholder events during 2027 as Rising Star – including Marketing Derby’s Annual Business Event in early 2027 at which the winner will be officially announced. As well as businesses, applications from social enterprises and charities are welcome.
To apply, visit www.marketingderby.co.uk/the-rising-star-award.
The deadline for entries is 4th December. To find out more email lindsey.hatfield@marketingderby.co.uk.
