The British Council in Lebanon is calling for applications for the Young Creative Entrepreneur (YCE) Awards 2012.

The (YCE) programme, which has been running annually since 2005, aims global innovation and entrepreneurship while looking ahead to the future. It identifies, supports and connects emerging innovative and entrepreneurial leaders in the creative and cultural industries around the world.

The programme involves two categories; YCE Design and Fashion 2012 Awards, and YCE Media 2012 Awards. The awardees of each category will be given the chance of attending London Design Festival and London Fashion Week for the former category, and London Film Festival, Power to the Pixel and other partner events for the latter.

“The programme offers creative entrepreneurs local support, skills and connections as well as valuable global recognition and access to new markets” explains Carine Rizk, the project manager at the British Council.

Working at the intersection of digital technology, arts and business, the young participants will be testing fresh ideas and models of production, distribution and consumption for economic and social impact in their local and global communities. “They are our creative future” remarks Carine to ArabNet.

This year, the British Council in Lebanon in partnering with Berytech Media Cluster to run the programme in its two-category format. Elsewhere, the programme is running in Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE, and Kuwait among 23 countries around the globe.

The national YCE Design and Fashion, and Media winners will travel to the UK for one week in September and October 2012 respectively; to network with international participants and the UK entrepreneurs, develop new opportunities for commercial and collaborative work in the future, exchange ideas and experiences, plus they will have the possibility of receiving master-classes, advice, ongoing mentoring and investment prospects. You can download more information about the award.

Click here to download the application form. The deadline to apply is July 1st 2012.