NatWest launches Liverpool Pre-Accelerator for North West entrepreneurs
Following on from an announcement by chief executive Ross McEwan at a NatWest event at Anfield in July this year, the NatWest Liverpool Pre-Accelerator is now open to applications from entrepreneurs in the city in search of the support they need to bring their business ideas to life.
A fully-funded, quick-fire, intensive eight-week digital learning course for early-stage entrepreneurs, the Pre-Accelerator is designed to give entrepreneurs the power to start, scale and succeed by providing early-stage businesses with the best environment, digital learning and network needed to achieve their business aspirations.
As well as receiving action-focused, intensive online training via a dedicated online portal, entrepreneurs who sign up to the programme will have the opportunity to take part in a face-to-face introductory ‘ignition’ event in the city on November 20, with the course brought to a close at a final ‘celebrate’ event at the end of the programme, where participants can swap experiences and develop their network.
These meet-up events will also be streamed online.
Gordon Merrylees, head of entrepreneurship at NatWest, said: “We are determined to be the leading bank for entrepreneurs by powering UK businesses to start, scale and succeed.
“The launch of our Liverpool Pre-Accelerator demonstrates our commitment to supporting entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses grow and succeed as quickly as possible.
“Our bespoke Pre-Accelerator digital learning programme will equip them with the tools they need to bring their business ideas to life, as well as connecting them with other like-minded entrepreneurs and their local business ecosystem.”
Liverpool is the first location in the country to benefit from the NatWest Pre-Accelerator programme, and joins the nine existing NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator hubs in Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, London, Manchester, Milton Keynes and Newcastle.
The NatWest Pre-Accelerator is supported by the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership.
Mark Basnet, managing director, said: “Helping small business owners with growth potential and ambition to scale up their businesses is a strategic priority for the LEP.
“They are the future of our economy and vital to our city region’s growth.
“This excellent programme provides an opportunity for our local business leaders to engage with other aspiring businesses, build their networks, enhance their leadership skills and develop tailored plans to deliver enhanced business growth and productivity.”
The Liverpool City Region Local Growth Hub, which is backed by The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), was launched in 2016 to provide a joined-up approach to business support across the region by increasing the awareness of the public and private sector support available to entrepreneurs, SMEs and scale-up companies.
To find out more about the programme and how to submit an application, Liverpool-based entrepreneurs are encouraged to visit www.business.natwest.com/business/services/accelerator.html, or contact the programme leaders at Accelerator@natwest.com.
Applications close on Friday, November 16.
