NatWest set to launch inaugural regional growth conference
NatWest is set to launch a series of Regional Growth Conferences designed to break down barriers to business across the UK with the inaugural conference taking place in Wolverhampton in May.
The events will draw together entrepreneurs, executives and investors to champion local economic strengths, forge new connections and create fresh business opportunities.
Molineux Stadium, the home of Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, will host the first conference, which will focus on aerospace, manufacturing and high growth companies from the city of Wolverhampton and across the West Midlands.
It will include opportunities for local business leaders to highlight the region's economic success stories, learn from their peers and meet investors, with panel discussions, keynote speeches and networking opportunities. Alison Rose DBE, NatWest Group CEO, will open the event on May 26.
The Regional Growth Conferences will highlight key industries and successful companies outside the UK's largest cities.
They build on NatWest's existing commitments to champion the potential of businesses, including the NatWest Accelerator programme, which supports UK entrepreneurs scaling up their companies, at 13 hubs across the UK.
The West Midlands has been a focus of the Accelerator programme since its inception, with the first accelerator launched in Birmingham in 2015 and a later hub established at the University of Warwick.
Alison Rose (pictured), CEO, NatWest Group said: "Every day, I see the potential of fast-growing companies creating new products and jobs, and winning new clients, right across the UK. It's vital that we celebrate these firms and give them the support they need.
“NatWest is the biggest high-street bank for start-ups, serving 16 per cent of businesses younger than two years old, and we want to see high growth businesses thrive.
“That's why we have 13 NatWest Accelerator hubs across the UK, creating an entrepreneurial ecosystem to help companies to scale up and why we are now launching a series of conferences to share knowledge, start conversations and help drive economic growth.
"We know that strong relationships are vital to help businesses thrive. Those relationships flourish where people have an opportunity to meet, share ideas and form new connections. The tremendous network of innovative companies, large and small, in and around Wolverhampton makes it the perfect place to start this work."