NatWest Taps Enterprise Nation to Widen Small Business Reach as Accelerator Eyes 50,000 Members
NatWest Taps Enterprise Nation to Widen Small Business Reach as Accelerator Eyes 50,000 Members #
NatWest has formed a partnership with Enterprise Nation, a UK small-business support platform, to extend the reach of its free NatWest Accelerator programme to entrepreneurs and founders across the country.
Under the arrangement, Enterprise Nation will act as a delivery and promotional partner for the NatWest Accelerator, directing its network of small-business owners toward the bank’s services. Those services include access to a nationwide founder community, free co-working space at twelve sites across the UK, coaching workshops, networking events, and guidance on funding readiness, all available through the NatWest Accelerator app and in person.
NatWest is aiming to grow the Accelerator community to 50,000 members in 2026, a five-fold increase on the 10,000-member target the bank set for 2025. The bank said it exceeded that earlier goal, building the community to approximately 12,000 members during the year, more than it had in the previous decade combined.
Aaron Asadi, Chief Executive of Enterprise Nation, welcomed the partnership, noting the day-to-day challenges small businesses face and describing the practical advice and workspace access NatWest provides as vital to founders navigating a difficult environment.
Robert Begbie, Chief Executive of Commercial and Institutional Banking at NatWest Group, said the bank views entrepreneurs as the driving force behind innovation, job creation, and long-term economic growth, and that the programme is designed to support founders at every stage, from early idea through to scale-up.
NatWest has confirmed it will launch disability-focused support later in 2026, in partnership with Enterprise Nation, aligned with the bank’s commitment to the Disability Finance Code. The initiative is intended to ensure founders with disabilities have access to the tools, networks, and visibility needed to grow their businesses.
Small Business Minister Blair McDougall backed the announcement, saying it represented the kind of practical, hands-on support needed to unlock the potential of small businesses across the UK. The NatWest Accelerator is open to all UK business owners and does not require participants to be existing NatWest customers.
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