Nickie Kilkenny, Accelerator Community Manager at the NatWest Accelerator Hub in Newcastle upon Tyne, spoke to us about how the NatWest Accelerator programme has created a thriving community for business owners and entrepreneurs in the North East and across the country. She also shared what support is available to help people in the North East grow their businesses.
What is NatWest Accelerator, and how does it support business owners and entrepreneurs in the North East Combined Authority area?
NatWest Accelerator is a fully-funded programme by NatWest that helps business owners and entrepreneurs grow and scale their businesses. It was launched by NatWest to support UK businesses and foster innovation and economic development.
I like to think we’re a bit like the Genius Bar in Apple, but instead of technology experts, we have banking experts and business support experts on hand - all free of charge.
Here in the North East Combined Authority area, NatWest Accelerator plays an important role in helping entrepreneurs access resources, networks, and expertise to drive their businesses forward. It’s proved to be extremely valuable for businesses in the region looking to scaleup, innovate and navigate challenges in what can be a very competitive marketplace.
We’re all about making a positive impact on the lives of entrepreneurs, helping them achieve their goals and build successful businesses.
How do people access NatWest Accelerator?
It’s really straight forward, we’ve made it as simple as possible by removing any potential barriers for people getting involved. One of the easiest ways to engage with NatWest Accelerator is through the official app - that’s the window into everything we do. It’s completely free to download from the app store of your choice.
From there you can join the hub membership and begin to access all the benefits of the programme. NatWest Accelerator is open to all UK businesses regardless of where you bank, you don’t have to be a NatWest customer to sign up. There’s also no selection process either.
As well as the NatWest Accelerator app, we also have 12 physical Accelerator hubs spread across the UK, including one in Newcastle upon Tyne that serves the entire North East. We’ve designed it so everyone can be connected to a regional hub and engage with peers and mentors in-person.
What type of support is available for business owners and entrepreneurs?
The programme is focussed around three main pillars: selling, funding, and leading. There is a huge amount of support on offer across these areas, everything from coaching and workshops to networking and events.
Our coaching sessions give business owners access to our experienced business coaches. They will help set goals, support people to overcome challenges, and most importantly, help them stay accountable.
Community and networking is something that is central to NatWest Accelerator. It gives entrepreneurs access to a vibrant community of volunteers, mentors, industry experts, and potential collaborators.
We deliver lots of free workshops and events covering topics like access to finance. We bring in guest speakers and contributors to add a greater depth and understanding to each session. All our workshops and events can be booked via the app.
Each physical Accelerator Hub offers physical coworking spaces to really help build that community and foster collaboration. I’d say that’s one of the programme’s biggest strengths, providing a space for people to come together and access support, build networks and friendships, and just work on developing their business around like-minded people.
We’re able to signpost people to wider business support in the region - like the North East Growth Hub - and we can also provide specialist tailored support for high-growth sectors like tech, sustainability, and social enterprise.
Can you give us an example of a North East business you’ve supported through the programme?
One that immediately springs to mind is Background Sounds, a company founded by entrepreneur Mel Anderson to provide high-quality licence-free music to businesses across the UK. Mel was actually referred to us by one of the Business Support Advisers at the North East Growth Hub.
We were able to offer a range of support to Mel, including tailored one-to-one coaching, invitations to workshops and events, and introductions to industry peers and other entrepreneurial experts in the region.
All this really helped Mel to hone and develop her leadership and decision making skills. Together, we were also able to refine her business model and drive growth in the company. And the regular coaching helped Mel stay accountable and achieve her short and longer term goals.
Mel continues to use our co-working space at The Lumen in Newcastle city centre, and she’s also a valuable part of our NatWest Accelerator peer network. Mel is a great example of how the programme continues to support founders through their business journey and provide the confidence to lead and grow sustainably.
How do business owners and entrepreneurs join NatWest Accelerator? Is there a cost involved?
There’s no cost at all for joining NatWest Accelerator, it’s a programme paid for by NatWest and it's open to everyone.
Being an entrepreneur can sometimes feel a bit lonely and it’s common for business owners to feel overwhelmed. NatWest Accelerator is a space where you can be around like-minded people and talk through your problems and concerns. It’s also where collaboration can happen and it’s fantastic to see that happen. My advice to business owners is always come in, have a coffee and a chat, and find out more about the holistic support that’s out there.
It’s amazing what a difference real human connection can make.
Is there anything new happening at NatWest Accelerator?
We’ve actually just arranged for the North East Growth Hub’s Business Support Advisers to join our Motivation Monday sessions. These informal coffee mornings take place every week from 09:30am. They’re a great opportunity for people to come and have a chat and learn more about the programme. And people can get as involved as they want to, for example, we often set goals for the week and revisit them next time we meet.
Again, anyone can join these sessions - it’s open to all. You just need to book a place via the app.
Where can people find out more about the programme?
We have a scheme listing on the North East Growth Hub where people can access our website and find out more information. From there, there are links to download the app and get in touch.