NatWest and The Women’s Organisation host a start-up event in Liverpool with the bank now inviting applications for its latest accelerator programme. Tony McDonough reports

Business leaders and entrepreneurs have taken part in an event in Liverpool to discuss how start-ups in the city could get access to better support.

Organised by NatWest and The Women’s Organisation, which was also the venue, it featured a round table discussion on start-up support. Liverpool Chamber and Growth Platform also took part.

Discussion points included how entrepreneurs can best be supported to find and access the right advice and financing options for the needs, size and ambition of their business, as well as boosting confidence in the city’s young entrepreneurial talent.

Paul Thwaite, chief executive of commercial and institutional banking at NatWest, and Rebeca Garcia, founder of Cubode, an AI teaching platform for coding, were among those who took part in the discussion.

Rebeca is originally from Spain and is currently on NatWest’s business building Accelerator programme. She already has interest from hundreds of potential customers in more than 90 different countries.

She said: “As the founder of a tech start-up, finding the right level of investment to maximise the potential of my business is crucial.

“My aim is that my business becomes a global training platform and with the right network and support in place it would be fantastic to create a thriving global business right here in Liverpool, the city I call home.”

The free six-month NatWest Accelerator programme, which opens to new applicants on May 29, supports and empowers entrepreneurs to grow their businesses to the next level.

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Paul Thwaite added: “We recognise that there is no one-size fits all approach to supporting entrepreneurs.

“As as well as our Accelerator programme, and our ongoing partnerships with organisations such as the Women’s Organisation and Growth Platform, we understand that local knowledge is key to providing the right support at the right time.”

The accelerator programme is open to any business with ambitions to expand and businesses do not need to be NatWest customers. Specially trained NatWest staff are on hand to help every step of the way as the entrepreneurs build their business skills

Applications for the next intake of the programme open May 29 and close at midnight on August 18. Click here for more information.