Attacking Design set to join Entrepreneurial Spark in Leeds

A West Yorkshire-based creative design company, established by childhood friends, is among multiple startup businesses involved in the Entrepreneurial Spark accelerator hub powered by NatWest.

Attacking Design, a fully integrated digital design agency located in Leeds, offers a full suite of graphic design, branding, product design and product development services.

The business was set up by childhood friends Owen Williams and Adam Robinson who met at Secondary School. Adam and Owen began working as freelance designers from a small student bedroom in Headingley from December 2013.

As well as the addition of Ollie Yates to the team in October 2014, the company also acquired office space at the Leeds Innovation Centre.

Attacking Design is one of 80 enterprises to enroll in the new hatchery.

Opening in August, the Leeds hatchery is still taking applications. The businesses involved with the programme will have up to six months support, with potential to continue for another 12 for the most promising.

Access to the Leeds hatchery, which will be located at NatWest’s office in The Headrow, Leeds, will include physical office space, superfast internet, a start-up bootcamp, dedicated mentoring, regular events, workshops and training – all free of charge.

In addition, the hatchery will also run regular competitions which will see prizes of up to £50k in investment won. A programme of events will also take place, and this will bring together the whole entrepreneurial eco-system of investors, entrepreneurs and advisors with NatWest experts and the wider Leeds business network as the bank uses its resource to empower entrepreneurs in Leeds and across the UK.

The Entrepreneurial Spark programme, established in 2011, has supported just under 1000 startups which have gone on to create more than 1,700 jobs.

Owen said: “We applied to be a part of the Entrepreneurial Spark hatchery as we are keen to network with other new and innovative businesses while also drawing on the experience of the mentors and business leaders from NatWest to make our business even more successful going forward. We know it will be a challenge and an amazing learning experience, but we are excited to get in there and be part of hub. It’s time for the Attacking Design team to be put through their paces.”

Dale Sidebottom, entrepreneurial development manager at NatWest, added: “The Entrepreneurial Spark hatchery is a fantastic way for businesses like Attacking Design to develop and grow. The successful applications will get to work in a collaborative atmosphere which will no doubt enhance their enterprises and we look forward to working with Attacking Design.”

Jim Duffy, CEO of Entrepreneurial Spark, commented: “Entrepreneurial Spark powered by NatWest is all about building people who build businesses and the collaborative and supportive Hatchery environment, where entrepreneurs can access free critical business resources, is fundamental. Leeds is a city with a growing entrepreneurial culture, and we’re looking forward to helping nurture that and assisting start-up businesses, such as Attacking Design, to reach their full potential.”

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