A new study by Capital on Tap has revealed the UK’s young entrepreneur capitals and the industries they’re breaking into. Manchester tops the list as the UK’s leading hotspot, home to around 290 founders aged 24 or under, equal to 74 per 100,000 residents.
As part of the research, Capital on Tap spoke with young entrepreneur Monet Davis, founder of Faceflavour, a UK-based catering company redefining corporate catering, to shed light on the experiences and challenges facing young business owners today.
Four years ago, at just 19, Monet Davis decided to take control of her future and start her own business. What began as a way to bring her local community together through food has since grown into Faceflavour, a thriving venture built on passion, creativity and connection.
Monet founded the company with one clear mission: to bring culturally diverse food into professional spaces. She says: “If sandwiches and wraps are welcome in boardrooms, then jerk chicken and rice & peas should be too.” Her vision was to use food as a bridge between communities, making corporate events more inclusive and representative of the people they serve.
The defining moment that opened the doors to entrepreneurship came when Monet won a scholarship at the University of Nottingham, which offered her a paid placement year to work full-time on her venture. Monet says: “I knew I wouldn’t get that kind of opportunity again. It gave me the push I needed to take being an entrepreneur seriously.”
Supported by her family, mentors, and university network, Monet immersed herself in business education through the Ingenuity Lab and EPIC Programme, later winning the 20/20 Levels pitch night competition. These opportunities provided funding, mentorship, and community, three things she credits as vital to her early success.
Starting a business so young came with challenges. Monet says, “One major challenge was accepting that I still had so much to learn. Rather than seeing that as a setback, I embraced it. I put myself in rooms where I could learn, business schools, networking events, and that mindset of continuous learning has helped me evolve as a business owner.”
At times, Monet faced doubt from others because of her age, but she used those moments as motivation: “I had to prove myself through action. The more I took on, the more confident I became.”
Her advice for other young founders: “Just start. You won’t learn how to run a business by standing on the sidelines; you learn by doing. Take that chance on yourself, believe in your vision, and use the resources available to you.”
“My entrepreneurial journey has taught me that you truly get out what you put in. Success is about consistency and staying committed even when the journey gets tough.”
Hugh Acland, Chief Commercial Officer at Capital on Tap, shares actionable advice to help young founders build smart financial habits, find support, and turn passion into profit.
Hugh comments: “Young entrepreneurs bring fresh energy and ideas to the business world, but finding the confidence to start can take time. Understanding how to manage cash flow, access local funding, and make smart investments early on helps build businesses that last and grow alongside their founders.”
