Camlin has been named the regional winner in the Global StartUp of the Year category at the UK StartUp Awards 2026 for Wales.
The events consultancy will now go on to represent the region at the UK national final, taking place at Ideas Fest on 9th September 2026 at Champneys, Tring, Hertfordshire.
The UK StartUp Awards was launched to recognise the startup scene across the UK, which has accelerated significantly in recent years with around 832,000 new businesses registered in the UK in 2025. Over 900 businesses have been shortlisted for this year's UK StartUp Awards across ten nations and regions. The contribution of these firms, all of which were started in the last three years, is significant, having created nearly 5,000 new jobs since they were established and generating annual sales of over £150 million.
Established in 2024, Powys-based Camlin is a specialist consultancy that partners with governments, foundations, and institutions to tackle the world’s most consequential challenges. The firm focuses on high stakes convening, ensuring that the right stakeholders are brought together to make tangible progress on critical global subject matter.
“We're hugely proud to win Global StartUp of the Year,” said Elinor Camlin, Founder and Managing Director.
“From a base in Wales, Camlin works with organisations around the world on some of the most consequential challenges of our time, from AI safety to biosecurity and nuclear security. This recognition reflects the talent and dedication of our team, and it's a real signal that world-class work can be built and delivered from here. We are very much looking forward to the UK national final at Ideas Fest on 9th September 2026.”
Currently operating with a dedicated team of four, Camlin has demonstrated significant momentum by doubling in scale and impact every year since its inception. Ambition is at the heart of the firm’s growth, with over 90% of its projects now working internationally. This rapid expansion highlights the company’s ability to provide world class advisory and event services on a global stage while maintaining a strong Welsh identity.
The UK StartUp Awards judging panel said:
“Camlin stood out for building a global events and advisory business from Wales, working on complex, high-stakes projects in fields including AI safety, biosecurity and nuclear security. The business combines strategic judgement with hands-on delivery, helping mission-driven organisations convene the right people and achieve meaningful outcomes. With international clients and work delivered across Europe, the US, and Asia, the judges recognised a global startup with exceptional niche positioning, calm execution, and impressive international credibility.”
Professor Dylan Jones-Evans OBE, co-founder of the UK StartUp Awards, said:
“New businesses are the driving force behind any thriving economy, generating employment, pioneering innovation, and contributing to prosperity right across the UK. Our regional winners represent the very best of British entrepreneurial talent, and they have earned their place at the national final on merit alone. We look forward to seeing them take to the main stage at Ideas Fest on 9th September, where one of them will be crowned the UK's best startup in their category.”
The UK StartUp Awards, founded by Frankie James and Professor Dylan Jones-Evans as part of Ideas Community, is the UK's largest independent startup awards programme. Now in its fifth year, the awards received over 2,000 entries in 2026. Regional winners compete at the national final, held at Ideas Fest , aka the Glastonbury of Business, on 9th-10th September 2026 at Champneys, Tring, Hertfordshire. For more information visit startupawards.uk
This year's regional UK StartUp Awards winners can be found online at https://startupawards.uk/
