Through these new partnerships, NatWest aims to target high-growth businesses who, with the correct support, could experience rapid expansion in their market share, revenue or headcount. Many of these businesses sit in sectors such as Technology, Healthcare Tech, Life Sciences and Fintech –termed the Innovation Economy - as these sectors offer considerable potential to the growth of the UK economy.
In March, the bank has also announced that it would grow it’s Accelerator community to 10,000 members in 2025; today it has announced that it has surpassed that ambition. The plan is to grow that ambition further in 2026 and beyond connecting and engaging a UK community.
New data released today by NatWest demonstrates that businesses who go through its Accelerator programme grew their turnover by 104% year on year, against an average of 20% in a control group. In addition, 9 out of 10 businesses who complete the bank’s Accelerator programme are still trading three years afterwards, against a control group of 4 out of 10.
The bank has also today opened a new flagship Accelerator hub in London at its 250 Bishopsgate headquarters, which was opened by CEO Paul Thwaite, and featured the Round 2 final of the NatWest Accelerator Pitch competition the bank has run over the course of 2025 where entrepreneurs can win their share of £100,000.
Since its launch in 2015, the NatWest Accelerator has supported thousands of businesses, providing access to coaching, networks and expertise – including market leading support via partnerships with Google and JCDecaux. Today’s announcement signals a renewed commitment to innovation and inclusivity, ensuring that the next generation of entrepreneurs has the tools to thrive.
To join the NatWest Accelerator community, please visit natwest.com/accelerator
Case study: Carnot Engines
Milton Keynes based manufacturing start up success story Carnot Engines were on NatWest’s Clean Accelerator programme at the University of Warwick. With a team built of engineers from the sectors of Aerospace, Automotive and Formula 1, Carnot design high efficiency internal combustion engines which reduce the cost and emissions of heavy-duty power, using many types of fuel including hydrogen, ammonia and bio-gas.
During their time on the Accelerator programme, Carnot worked hand in hand with experts from Warwick to develop their proposition, and to date have received a £11.5m of grants from Innovate UK and raised £4.3m of investment. In August 2024, the world’s sixth largest shipping company, Mitsui OSK Lines, became a major investor in the company.
Jeremy Howard-Knight, Head of Business Development, Carnot Engines said:
“The Natwest Accelerator has been extremely useful both personally and professionally. It has given me the space - both physically through access to the climb, and emotionally through access to mentors, coaches and other business participants - to have confidence take our business forward and streamline day-to-day activities to the things that really add value. I’m grateful to have been given the opportunity both initially and as an alumnus.”
