- NatWest launches new business Accelerator in partnership with TEP Birmingham and Webster & Horsfall Group
- Region’s advanced engineering and manufacturing sector contributes £22 billion a year to the economy and supports 273,000 jobs
NatWest has launched a new business Accelerator at Tyseley Energy Park in the West Midlands, in partnership with TEP Birmingham and Webster & Horsfall Group.
The hub will support founders and growth businesses across sectors, offering targeted business support and direct access to capital, expert insight, commercial opportunities and a powerful network of contacts. It will also strengthen NatWest’s wider regional ecosystem across Tyseley, Birmingham and Warwick by linking the Accelerator network with NatWest’s specialist venture banking, sustainability finance and IP lending proposition.
The launch supports regional priorities around green growth, innovation and commercialisation, and aims to help more local businesses turn strong ideas into investable, scalable companies. Advanced engineering and manufacturing already contribute £22 billion a year to the West Midlands economy and support 273,000 jobs[1].
TEP Birmingham is home to more than 20 energy and technology organisations working across low‑carbon energy, sustainable transport, resource recovery, advanced materials and the circular economy. The working industrial site brings together entrepreneurs, manufacturers, universities, policymakers and infrastructure providers to help turn innovation into commercial growth.
The West Midlands Growth Plan highlights the commercialisation of technologies developed by businesses, universities and research institutions as a key route to growth, while the new UK Government‑backed Local Innovation Partnerships Fund[2], led by UK Research and Innovation and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, is designed to bridge the gap between research and commercialisation in regions like the West Midlands.
Locating the Accelerator at TEP Birmingham places businesses inside an established industrial and innovation cluster, with access to specialist infrastructure, commercial expertise and regional networks. With strengths in automotive, batteries, advanced materials, sustainable construction and energy systems, the region is well placed to develop, manufacture and deploy new technologies at scale.
The launch also aligns with the West Midlands Investment Zone, which is targeting growth in advanced manufacturing, including battery technology, digital industries and green sectors. The Zone is designed to attract private investment, create high‑value jobs and strengthen the region’s position as a national leader in advanced manufacturing and clean growth[3].
Businesses joining the Accelerator will receive specialist coaching, workshops, peer support and introductions to investors, commercial partners and sector experts. They will also plug into a regional community of founders and innovators across Tyseley, Birmingham and Warwick. NatWest’s network of accelerators and partners is deliberately built as a connected cluster, where entrepreneurs meet regularly, share ideas and collaborate through events, peer‑to‑peer groups and free workshops.
By bringing like‑minded founders together with investors, universities and industry partners, this community helps businesses grow faster, build lasting relationships in the West Midlands and tap into the full strength of the region’s innovation ecosystem.
TEP is owned by Webster & Horsfall Group, a family‑owned Birmingham manufacturer with more than 300 years of industrial heritage and a relationship with NatWest dating back to 1948. The Group has transformed part of its historic Tyseley site into an energy and innovation cluster while continuing to manufacture specialist wire and wire‑rope products for the aerospace, automotive, marine and medical industries.
The Accelerator was officially launched at an event attended by founders, manufacturers, investors, universities and regional leaders. Guests toured the site and joined a panel discussion on how the West Midlands can convert its strengths in research, manufacturing and innovation into more high‑growth businesses.
Robert Begbie, CEO of NatWest Commercial & Institutional, said: “The West Midlands has the industrial strength, technical expertise and entrepreneurial ambition to become one of the UK’s leading regions for green growth.
“But strong ideas need more than technology alone. Businesses also need capital, customers, commercial expertise and the right networks.
“This partnership brings those elements together. By combining our Accelerator network, venture banking expertise and sustainability finance capabilities, we can help more businesses commercialise, attract investment and scale.
“Linking Tyseley with our existing presence in Birmingham and Warwick will create a stronger regional ecosystem and open up more opportunities for founders and growth businesses.”
Robert Horsfall, Director of Webster & Horsfall Group and co‑founder of TEP Birmingham, said: “The West Midlands has the industrial expertise, infrastructure and research strength to lead the next phase of green growth.
“TEP Birmingham was created to bring business, universities and the public sector together to develop and commercialise new ideas. The NatWest Accelerator adds a vital new element, giving founders and growth businesses access to finance, commercial expertise and wider industry networks.
“Together, we want to help more businesses find partners, secure investment and grow here in the West Midlands.”
The launch forms part of NatWest Group’s Growing Together plan, which aims to strengthen the conditions and connections needed for long‑term economic growth across the UK. NatWest plans to grow its free Accelerator community to 50,000 members during 2026, widening access to coaching, expertise, investor connections and practical support. Entrepreneurs and business owners can join through the digital platform at natwest.com/accelerator.
NatWest already operates Accelerator hubs in Birmingham and at the University of Warwick. The new Tyseley location will strengthen that network, connecting founders, investors, universities and industry partners across the region.
[1] https://growth.wmca.org.uk/assets/WestMidlandsGrowthPlan.pdf
[2] New £50m innovation fund backs growth in the West Midlands
[3] West Midlands Investment Zone
For further press information, please contact Jessica Barker, Corporate Affairs Manager at NatWest: jessica.barker@natwest.com
About NatWest
NatWest serves customers in England and Wales, supporting them with their personal, private, and business banking needs. NatWest helps customers at all stages in their lives, from opening student accounts, to buying their first home, setting up a business, and saving for retirement.
Alongside a wide range of banking services, NatWest offers businesses specialist sector knowledge in areas such as sustainable energy, commercial property and technology, as well as access to specialist entrepreneurial support.
About Webster & Horsfall Group
Webster & Horsfall Group, that founded TEP Birmingham, is a family-owned Birmingham manufacturing business with a history spanning more than 300 years.
The Group manufactures specialist wire and wire-rope products for sectors including aerospace, automotive, marine and medical, while leading the transformation of its Tyseley site into a clean-energy innovation cluster.
