NatWest has announced plans to grow its Accelerator programme to 50,000 UK members this year.

The bank’s programme brings together a range of initiatives designed to connect early stage and high growth business founders with expertise, investors, and peers, including through hubs, university partnerships, pitch events and forums.

The move, which marks a five-fold increase on the 10,000 ambition set for last year, follows a strong 2025 for the bank, with it exceeding its plans by growing the community to more than 12,000. This meant NatWest beat in a single year the total number it had supported in the previous 10 years.

The announcement forms part of the bank’s new five point Growing Together plan, setting out how NatWest will help build the conditions for UK-wide growth, including backing "powerful regions", championing mid-market companies, and strengthening the country’s infrastructure and housing foundations.

“We know that to build the economy of the future we need to back the innovators who will power it," said Robert Begbie, chief executive, commercial & institutional banking at NatWest Group. "Entrepreneurs are the driving force behind innovation, job creation and long-term economic growth across the UK."

He continued: "By raising our ambition for 2026, and building on the momentum we achieved in 2025, we’re reinforcing our commitment to back founders at every stage – from idea to scaleup – and help them turn ambition into sustainable success.”

According to the bank, businesses who have gone through its Accelerator programme have grown their turnover by 104 per cent year on year, against an average of 20 per cent in a control group.

In addition, nine out of 10 businesses who complete the bank’s Accelerator programme are still trading three years afterwards, against a control group of four out of 10.

Speaking about NatWest's announcement, Shevaun Haviland, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce said: “Starting a business is challenging, but ultimately hugely rewarding. The British Chambers of Commerce warmly welcome NatWest’s commitment to support 50,000 entrepreneurs in 2026. Expanding the Accelerator programme will give more founders access to the practical advice and peer networks they need to grow with confidence."

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