NatWest offers a helping hand to Yorkshire's entrepreneurs

Yorkshire-based entrepreneurs have until February 17 to apply for a space on NatWest’s business building programme. The NatWest Accelerator programme offers six months of free support for entrepreneurs and small businesses looking for guidance on how to scale and grow their businesses.

Support is tailored to the needs of the business and includes one-to-one coaching on topics including pitching, finding funding and leadership development. The scheme also introduces the budding entrepreneurs to a network of local business support organisations, plus provides free use of NatWest’s modern office spaces in the Accelerator Hubs.

Valentina Hynes, founder of SVH Inc CIC, a Harrogate-based social enterprise that provides wellbeing and mental health training for the workplace applied to NatWest’s Accelerator scheme and joined the programme in early 2020.

With the support of NatWest coaches, Valentina has successfully turned her burgeoning business into a Community Interest Company (CIC) and secured £10,000 of grant funding to provide Mental Health First Aid Champion training to hairdressers, barbers, baristas, beauticians and waiters, all while navigating the challenges of covid lockdowns.

Valentina, who was inspired to start her employee wellbeing business after her husband suffered a heart attack brought on by work-induced stress, said: “Joining the NatWest Accelerator programme has been really empowering. The coaches are so supportive but at the same time challenge you to think about your business and grow beyond your comfort zone.

“I’m so grateful for the learning journey being an entrepreneur supported by NatWest gives me. Their advice and guidance meant I pivoted my business to become a CIC. This has opened up new avenues and funding opportunities that I would never have known about.”

Heather Waters, regional enterprise manager for NatWest in the North, said: “We know that entrepreneurs are having to do several jobs at once, they need to be the CEO, finance director and HR manager and often without having any experience in some of those areas and without a support network.

“The NatWest Accelerator programme supports and empowers entrepreneurs and business owners to scale their business to the next level. We can help entrepreneurs to take their business much further and faster, so we’d encourage any small businesses who might benefit to apply.”

The NatWest Accelerator hub in Leeds is part of a national network of hubs run by the bank to support small and medium-sized businesses. The network is one of the largest of its kind across the UK and over the past four years, the programme has supported more than 3,500 individuals and businesses, helping them achieve an average turnover of £301,521 and to raise £198m in total investments.

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily

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