Entrepreneurs looking to grow and scale their businesses are being urged to apply to join one of the UK’s leading accelerators, as NatWest prepares to welcome a record number of new businesses on its accelerator programme in September.
Up to 2,500 places will be available for free to entrepreneurs, including places at the London and South East hub which is based in Bishopsgate, London.
The NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator programme is a fully funded initiative designed to support entrepreneurs grow their business. Successful applicants benefit from one-to-one coaching from dedicated Acceleration Managers as well as full use of the Hub’s modern coworking spaces in central London.
NatWest Group is the biggest bank for start-ups in Great Britain, banking around one in five businesses under two years old1. The bank’s Accelerator programme, which was recently ranked as the third best start-up hub in Europe for networking2, has supported thousands of entrepreneurs to grow their businesses.
Fraser Stewart, 29, and Gary Stewart, 59, are co-founders of Lyfeguard, a life management platform helping individuals and families secure their finances. Formed after the founders’ personal experience with grief and the challenges associated with managing complex paperwork on top of an emotional burden, the father and son duo want to make life management easy and provide an all-in-one platform to organise life’s most important documents.
The duo joined the Newcastle Accelerator in 2024, looking to meet other entrepreneurs who they could lean on for support. Of their experience on the programme, Fraser said: “We’ve been a business banking customer of NatWest for years and when we learned of the Entrepreneur Accelerator it seemed like a no brainer to join. We’ve been able to form incredible connections with other entrepreneurs to share ideas and discuss challenges we’ve faced.
“Having the opportunity to use the hub as a workspace in the centre of the capital was also an opportunity we couldn’t pass up. Through NatWest we even had the opportunity to present at a Fintech showcase, so the programme is opening doors that we wouldn’t have had access to before.”
Businesses with high growth potential benefit from a range of support through the NatWest Accelerator hubs. This includes expert coaching, access to a wide network of like-minded peers, and a programme of thought leadership and events.
Luke Pamflett, Regional Ecosystem Manager, said: “We are huge advocates for entrepreneurial talent in London and the South East and want to give all business owners the tools they need to scale and succeed. During my time working at the London Accelerator Hub, I’ve seen incredible talent and drive from entrepreneurs who want to take their business to the next level, something we are happy to assist them with.
“I’d encourage any business who may be interested in benefiting from free additional support to register for the Entrepreneur Accelerator and find out how NatWest could support their business goals in 2024.”
Entrepreneurs can apply for the programme by visiting https://www.natwest.com/business/business-services/entrepreneur-accelerator.html
The deadline for applications is 16 August.
