NATWEST is stepping up support to local small and medium sized businesses and to entrepreneurs as it looks to unlock business potential outside London.

The bank is investing £6billion in the growth of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), £4bn of it outside London.

Its new offer in the South West includes four local enterprise managers and an ecosystem manager, alongside the bank’s entrepreneur accelerator managers. They will offer guidance through expertise coaching and networks relevant to each business’s location and sector.

NatWest entrepreneurship head on support for businesses

NatWest has one of the largest business banking teams in the region, specialising in sectors including manufacturing; technology, media and telecommunications, agriculture; leisure; and healthcare. It recently launched a revised version of its NatWest Accelerator programme, due to start at the end of June.

The fully funded programme is designed to support business owners to scale their businesses to the next level, and for the first time features four programmes specialising in high growth; climate; purpose-led business; and fintech.

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Charly Patrick, NatWest’s South West ecosystem manager, said: “We’re very excited about the launch of our new team that will be helping businesses in the South West achieve success.

“We’ve built an exciting mix of expert professionals supported by our South West accelerator hub and dynamic digital platforms such as our online learning community hub, Business Builder, and our mobile business bank account, Mettle.

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“We also want to help more women launch their own businesses and companies become greener, which is why we are working with organisations such as Black South West Network and the Bristol Green Capital Partnership.

“We know that the best performing businesses are greener and more tech-savvy, so we want to empower more South West businesses in this way. That is why as part of our accelerator programme there are specific opportunities for sustainable and fintech businesses.

“Supporting enterprise is a huge part of our responsibility as a bank and why we have committed to helping 35,000 UK entrepreneurs through our enterprise programmes in 2021.

“A big part of this activity will take place in the South West, where we already support 88,000 businesses. The talent here is diverse and exciting and it’s our job to help entrepreneurs and SMEs exceed their potential.”

Applications are open for NatWest’s entrepreneur accelerator programme until June 11. Visit business.natwest.com/business/business-services/entrepreneur-accelerator.html