Today see’s the London Launch of the world's largest free business accelerator, Entrepreneurial Spark Powered by NatWest.
The revolution landed in London today (5 September) where an audience of entrepreneurial influencers toasted the launch with a panel of speakers including Ross McEwan, CEO of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group, Entrepreneurial Spark CEO Lucy-Rose Walker, RBS' CEO of commercial and private Alison Rose, and Gordon Merrylees, head of entrepreneurship at RBS.
London Entrepreneurial Spark today opens its doors to over 100 entrepreneurs with high growth potential from across London.
Although boasting an impressive physical accelerator space, Entrepreneurial Spark is clearly an awful lot more than just bricks and mortar. Described by Lucy-Rose Walker as a ‘people accelerator’, Entrepreneurial Spark encourages and supports some incredible breakthroughs in the mindsets of the entrepreneurs they’re working with.
Since launching in 2012, 3,000 entrepreneurs have gone through the Entrepreneurial Spark programme. These businesses have secured £151 million worth of invest, created 3,000 jobs, generated £176m in turnover.
When asked, 'what does Natwest get out of this?', RBS CEO, Ross McEwan said: "Banks have never been known to be entrepreneurial but having Entrepreneurial Spark as a partner for us allows us to rub shoulders with, and learn from, some incredible businesses and entrepreneurs."
He added: "There has been a lot of positive rub off from both sides, making us a better connected bank."
Lucy-Rose Walker said: "For us, the world is changing more rapidly than ever before and it's never been more important to have an entrepreneurial mindset."
