NatWest launches £1 million competition to accelerate small business growth

By Investor Empires On Mar 31, 2025

Small companies throughout the UK are given the opportunity to promote a stake of one million pounds in financing, as NatWest launches an accelerated competition to celebrate ten years of free NatWest Accelerator.

This initiative invites ambitious entrepreneurs to present a 60 -second video stadium that shows how funding will help their business. Applicants must show a busy record in setting goals and achievement, as well as a convincing case of how to use financing to feed the next stage of growth.

Short entries will be invited to live regional finals – the first in Manchester in July, followed by London in 2025, with more regional finals planned throughout the United Kingdom. At each event, five contestants in the Dragon “Dragon” finals will present to a committee of expert judges. A total of 100,000 pounds will be granted in financing in each final, with 70,000 pounds to go to the best business.

Darren Perry, head of the NatWest Accessor team, said that the competition reaffirms the bank’s commitment to defending entrepreneurs: “As the largest bank in Britain for startups, we believe that supporting the growth of small business is the key to a strong economy. This competition is a great opportunity for project owners to show their success and show us how they advance to the next level.

Since its launch in 2015, NatWest Accessor has supported approximately 10,000 small companies, providing free access to experts, workshops, orientation and a cooperative business network. In 2025, the program will expand with the launch of a new digital community, allowing more entrepreneurs to reach support.

The final qualifiers on the expedited stadium will be judged on their business models, innovation, growth capabilities, and the amount of influence that funding on their plans will cause.

To enter, business owners must send their videos through the NatWest Accessor platform. The presentations are now open, and the first winners will be announced in Manchester this summer.

Jimmy Young

Jimmy is a major business correspondent, as he brings more than a decade of experience in the commercial reports of small and medium -sized companies in the United Kingdom. Jimmy holds a certificate in business administration and regularly participates in industrial conferences and workshops. When not reporting the latest business developments, Jimmy is excited to direct journalists and new businessmen to inspire the next generation of business leaders.