NatWest aims to make 2022 a record-breaking year for Cambridgeshire’s entrepreneurs
December 2, 2021
NatWest wants 2022 to be a record-breaking year for Cambridgeshire’s entrepreneurs.
And to help, the bank has diversified its Entrepreneur Accelerator Programme, so it has even more support and opportunities to help businesses scale and grow.
With four different tailored programmes now available, NatWest wants to hear from entrepreneurs who have a passion for being purpose-led or climate-focussed as well as fintechs and high growth businesses.
Its Purpose-Led Accelerator is aimed at entrepreneurs who are redefining what it means to be a business and supporting a more inclusive and sustainable economy. Similarly its Climate Accelerator is for businesses looking to take on the challenges faced by climate change and who are focused on sustainable success.
Its High Growth Accelerator is open to ambitious high growth businesses looking to grow and scale, while its Fintech Accelerator is designed to enable the future of financial tech businesses through access to expert sector professionals.
Applications for the programmes, which all empower businesses to scale to the next level, are now open with a total of 60 places available across its hub network in the region for January’s start date. Each programme is free and participants do not need to give up any equity in their businesses to take part. Neither do they need to bank with NatWest initially.
Each of the programmes provide four pillars of support including: focused support with access to expertise from across each entrepreneur’s specialism including mentors, partners and experienced entrepreneurs; one-to-one coaching with NatWest’s experienced Acceleration Managers; a programme of thought leadership and events; access to a network of like-minded peers, supported by the bank’s Ecosystem Managers; and free use of NatWest’s modern co-working offices at its new branch hub in Petty Cury, Cambridge (subject to COVID rules) in the new year.
Debbie Lewis, Regional Ecosystem Manager at NatWest in the Midlands, said: “The NatWest Accelerator supports and empowers entrepreneurs and business owners to scale their business to the next level. The bank provides wrap around support and access to expertise, removing barriers and providing more opportunities to help businesses grow.
“We focus on the key driver of any business – the entrepreneur – and that is what makes these programmes so unique. With the right level of support and challenge, we can help entrepreneurs to take their business much further and faster, which is what makes 2022 such an exciting year for entrepreneurs.”
Where Does It Come From is a social enterprise focusing on positive impacts for people and the planet and has become a specialist in creating ethical and sustainable supply chains. The firm has been running clothing and textile productions for clients, as well as a retail shop, since 2013. Transparency is central to everything they do, and they have developed a QR code system to allow clients to understand how clothing items are created. This includes everything from the source materials used in production to the communities involved in the creation of the clothing. The business has been part of NatWest’s Climate Accelerator programme.
Jo Salter, Founder and CEO of Where Does It Come From, said: “Being a part of the Entrepreneur Accelerator Programme has been invaluable to us. The coaching, mentoring and general support has helped us to shape the direction we want to take the business in for the future and we know we are surrounded by fantastic network of like-minded people who are all supporting us in this journey. I would encourage anyone who is running a business to look at the programme and apply.”
For more information or to apply, visit: https://www.natwest.com/business/business-services/entrepreneur-accelerator.html