Deutsche Bank Awards 2022 winners announced

Line up of the 2022 DBACE Winners with neon signs

The Deutsche Bank Awards for Creative Entrepreneurs (DBACE) have announced this year's winners, and the awardees include the UK’s first clothing brand for people with dwarfism

The Deutsche Bank Awards for Creative Entrepreneurs (DBACE) have awarded five young creative entrepreneurs a total of £60,000 for “creating positive social change”. The Awards, held in collaboration with MeWe360 – a non-profit championing and supporting entrepreneurs in the arts and creative industries – were set up to honour those with a “commitment to driving positive social impact through creative enterprise”.

Among the winners, Chamiah Dewey, of Chamiah Dewey Fashion, won £15k for the UK’s first clothing brand for people with dwarfism, offering stylish pieces made from eco-conscious fabrics. Meanwhile, Andrew Shaw and Ryan Gauge were awarded £10k for their Birkenhead-based Convenience Gallery; an arts organisation working with contemporary artists and the local community on challenging art projects.

Jem Collins, of Journo Resources, a social enterprise helping underrepresented people into the journalism industry, with free-to-access tools, resources and support, was also awarded £10k; Sabella Ibáñez, Alice Moxley and Jason Thompson, were awarded £15k for Pivot, a social enterprise that empowers people experiencing homelessness to ‘Pivot’ their lives through craftsmanship; and Tumisha Balogun, Shian James and Alvin Owusu Fordwuo received £10k for their Tag agency: a youth culture and marketing agency that transforms young lives through culture, community and storytelling.

The prize money goes towards bespoke mentorship, which aims to develop their vision and leadership skills via the MeWe360 Incubator. Additionally, five of the strongest DBACE candidates will receive MeWe360 business support bursaries, which will benefit from guidance and industry mentoring via a roster of mentors and Deutsche Bank professionals.

The Awards are open to entrepreneurs aged between 18-30 from across the design, fashion, visual art, architecture and performing arts fields. This year’s judges included Kevin Osborne, Founder and CEO, MeWe360; Lareena Hilton, Global Head of Brand Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Deutsche Bank; Jackie Davidson MBE, Founder, JD Management; John Newbigin OBE, co-founder and Chair of Creative England; and Bola Awoniyi, Co-Founder of Black Ballad (herself, a 2019 DBACE Winner).

Said Hilton, “The creative industries remain one of the hardest hit from the pandemic yet these entrepreneurs today demonstrate the talent that is at the forefront of the UK’s recovery. They have presented ideas and businesses that offer exciting new opportunities and ways to create a better future.”

Added Osborne, “This has been one of the strongest selection of applicants I’ve seen in the four years MeWe360 have been supporting DBACE. I’m looking forward to working with each of the five winners throughout the year as we provide them invaluable hands-on support, networking and tailored mentor programmes alongside the significant financial investment.”