NatWest launches £1m competition to accelerate small business growth
Are you running a small business with big ambitions to grow?
As NatWest celebrates ten years of its free Accelerator, the bank is launching NatWest Accelerator Pitch – a new £1m competition offering small business owners and entrepreneurs the chance to win a share of funding to fuel their growth.
To be in with a chance of winning, NatWest is inviting small business owners from across the UK to submit a sixty-second video pitch explaining how funding would help them grow their business. Entrepreneurs who apply are asked to tell NatWest about their track record of setting and achieving goals in business and present their strongest illustration of how the funding will help their business to grow.
The best submissions will be selected to compete in live final events – with the first in Manchester and London later in the year – where five finalists will give a ten minute ‘Dragon’s Den’ style pitch in front of a panel of judges. The top three pitches at each final will share a £100,000 in funding, with the overall winner scooping £70,000 for their business.
The NatWest Accelerator, which has supported nearly 10,000 small businesses since 2015, is also encouraging more entrepreneurs to access its practical tools, expert support, and likeminded community through its new digital network.
Darren Pirie, head of the NatWest Accelerator, said: “As Britain’s biggest bank for start-ups, we believe that supporting small business growth is key to a strong economy which is why we are thrilled to launch NatWest Pitch to do just that.
“As we mark 10 years of the NatWest Accelerator, we’re also offering thousands of entrepreneurs the opportunity to join our free digital community in 2025 – fuelling their growth and success through expert support and practical tools.
“This competition is a fantastic opportunity for entrepreneurs to showcase their ideas, telling us about their successes and milestones to date and how they’ll use the funding to grow to the next level. My advice is don’t be modest – tell us what makes your business special!”
The first live final will take place in Manchester in July, where finalists will pitch their businesses and answer questions from a panel of industry experts. They will be judged on their business models, innovative growth strategies, and the impact the prize money will have on their future success.
A competition in London will also take place in 2025 with the bank rolling out other finals across the UK next year. Each regional competition will award £100,000 in funding, divided between first, second and third place.
With NatWest Accelerator Pitch, NatWest is reaffirming its commitment to supporting small businesses and driving economic growth across the UK.