ELEVATOR PITCH
There are nearly 900 reasons to explain why Bristol’s NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator is the place to be if you’re starting or scaling-up a business.
And it’s a number that keeps growing every year.
OUR STORY
Part of the UK’s largest fully-funded business accelerator network, the Bristol hub at NatWest’s Trinity Quay offices on Avon Street has supported nearly 900 businesses from fintechs to fashion brands since it opened its doors in 2015. Each is an individual success story that underlines the wealth of entrepreneurial talent in the city and wider South West region.
Taking businesses further, faster, NatWest’s Accelerator, Pre-Accelerator and Fintech Accelerator programmes have been tailored to empower entrepreneurs at any stage of their business. It’s an amazing journey that is fully funded by the bank, and you don’t have to give up any equity in your business to take part.
The core Accelerator is a six to 18-month programme for entrepreneurs with high growth businesses looking to scale up. Designed to ensure that these businesses get the best chance to succeed, entrepreneurs receive free office space, free wi-fi, free business advice and mentoring, bespoke coaching, and access to the bank’s networks and supply chains.
They also benefit from dedicated one-on-one time with experienced development and acceleration managers who have worked with hundreds of entrepreneurs, getting them to think differently, pushing them out of their comfort zones and supporting and challenging them as leaders.– Olly Reid – Manager, NatWest Scale Acceleration
Olly Reid, NatWest scale acceleration manager in Bristol, said: “The three pillars of our Accelerators are Environment, Coaching and Networks. The hub provides a priceless community of like-minded people for peer to peer learning, collaboration and feedback, which has a hugely positive impact upon entrepreneurs.
“They also benefit from dedicated one-on-one time with experienced development and acceleration managers who have worked with hundreds of entrepreneurs, getting them to think differently, pushing them out of their comfort zones and supporting and challenging them as leaders.
“And as the UK’s biggest bank for business, we have an unrivalled customer base and supply chain which helps us ensure that entrepreneurs are connected to the right people with the knowledge they need to help start, scale and succeed.”
Crucially, more than 80% of businesses on the programme are still operating after two years, while 47% of participants are female entrepreneurs.
For more information search for NatWest Accelerator.
