- NatWest has officially opened its new Accelerator Hub in Oxford, creating a dedicated space for founders to connect, learn and grow
- The hub has been launched in partnership with the University of Oxford and Oxford Trust, building on NatWest's support for the region's innovation ecosystem
- The hub supports NatWest’s Growing Together campaign, which helps innovators gain the skills and network needed to scale, helping boost regional growth
NatWest officially opened its new Accelerator Hub in Oxford this week (Wednesday 23 September), strengthening its commitment to supporting entrepreneurs, high-growth businesses and innovation across the region.
The hub, which is in partnership with the University of Oxford and housed at The Oxford Trust’s Centre for Innovation, provides founders with free access to expert coaching, practical growth support, networking opportunities and a vibrant community of likeminded entrepreneurs.
The hub will be led by Ryan Johnson, whose experience supporting founders across Oxford's innovation ecosystem will help founders tap into the city's unique network of investors, researchers, businesses and mentors.
The launch event saw ten ambitious entrepreneurs take to the stage to deliver a one-minute pitch showcasing the ideas, technologies and businesses helping shape the future of the region, to a room full of investors, academics business leaders and fellow entrepreneurs from across the city.
The launch builds on the momentum created by the NatWest Accelerator Oxford Pitch Competition held at Saïd Business School in June, which saw more than 400 people in attendance. Pitch competition winner and local midwife, Nina van Schaick, founder of Peripear, and runner-up Lucy Hope, founder of Daughters of Mars and Oxford alumna, were among those attending the launch event.
Oxford is the latest of an expanding network of 18 Accelerators across the country. This summer saw the opening of hubs in Brighton, York and Wolverhampton. The hubs support NatWest's wider Growing Together campaign which helps entrepreneurs to scale, supporting regional growth.
Emily Fallon, Regional Director, NatWest Accelerator, said:
"Oxford has an outstanding track record of turning great ideas into world-changing businesses. The arrival of the NatWest Accelerator Hub adds another important opportunity for entrepreneurs, creating more ways for founders to learn from one another, access expertise and accelerate their growth.
"As the UK's biggest bank for business, we're committed to backing entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey, while strengthening Oxford's position as one of the world's leading innovation ecosystems."
Olga Kozlova, Director of Innovation and Engagement, said:
"The University of Oxford is committed to helping founders turn breakthrough ideas into sustainable businesses. The new NatWest Accelerator Hub adds an important piece of infrastructure to the region's entrepreneurial ecosystem.
"We're particularly pleased that this hub represents the first deliverable to be realised from the Equinox commitments agreed last November. It demonstrates what can be achieved when universities, businesses and regional partners work together.”
Nicki Campling, Director of Innovation and Operations for The Oxford Trust, said:
“We are delighted to welcome the NatWest Accelerator to our Oxford Centre for Innovation. The Trust is committed to helping ambitious founders start, grow and scale their businesses through our innovation centres. Having the Accelerator based in our Oxford Centre will strengthen the support available to entrepreneurs across the region, creating even more opportunities to drive business growth within our thriving community.”
NatWest is also a proud partner of EnSpire, the University of Oxford's entrepreneurship programme, and a signatory of the Equinox initiative, helping strengthen collaboration between academia, innovators, investors and industry to support long-term economic growth.
The opening of the Oxford Accelerator Hub marks the first deliverable to be completed under the Equinox commitments agreed by partners in November 2025, demonstrating how collaboration across the region is being translated into practical support for innovators.
Alongside the Accelerator, NatWest is able to support founders and high growth businesses at every stage of their journey through the bank's wider expertise, including Venture Banking and IP lending.
About The Oxford Trust
The Oxford Trust is an independent charity that supports science, innovation and entrepreneurship across Oxfordshire. Through its innovation centres and business support programmes, it helps startups, spinouts and high-growth businesses start, scale and succeed, strengthening the region's globally recognised innovation ecosystem.
