A group of Welsh business leaders have reported how impactful they have found a Cardiff-based support programme.
At a city centre hub, a community of business people has been created which has changed the idea of 'it's who you know'.
Even in a data-driven world, the NatWest Accelerator has shown that making connections with other business people is integral to skill building and business growth.
Specialising in wrap-around support, the six-month programme supports and empowers entrepreneurs to scale their businesses to the next level.
Having access to a network of like-minded peers brings experience and knowledge from the real world right onto a business' doorstep. Plus, having access to one-to-one coaching from experienced accelerator managers, as well as additional focused support from speciality experts, opens up a world of opportunities.
Member of the NatWest Accelerator, Hamish Watkins, who is the co-founder of PIKKLE with Louis Phillips, explained the impact on their business process.
"When we started the Accelerator, we were kind of blown away by a number of different businesses that we would kind of be working with on a weekly basis," he said.
"It's a great collaborative environment to work with people who have no judgment on your business and can impart their wisdom based on their experiences."
This collaboration takes place at the Accelator's modern co-working spaces. Not only the perfect place to escape from that work-from-home isolation, but it's also a great chance to bounce ideas off others, hear new perspectives and, most importantly, receive peer-on-peer support for not just the big decisions, but the everyday tasks.
Louis added: "Having a space that we can really be creative in, that we can call home, that we can work from at any time throughout the week, it's nice being able to come to somewhere new and speak to people around us that are also in the same position."
This community created by the Accelerator has not only supported but also inspired Jack, founder of Route Buddies, who launched his business venture on his own: "When you're starting a business, especially on your own, it can be quite isolating and I think for me I wasn't really sure what I was getting into.
"But seeing the community, seeing these experienced people just made me feel like that's where I want to be to progress to the next level."
How NatWest's Accelerator can help Welsh businesses
With so many aspects which need to come together to help a business grow and succeed, having access to so much knowledge and support, all in one place, makes the ambition a lot more achievable - and businesses looking to expand have already seen great success with the NatWest Accelerator programme.
Gemma Casey, a NatWest Accelerator Cymru's ecosystem manager, has seen first-hand the impact of the Accelerator: "One of the brilliant things about being involved with Accelerator is the chance to see businesses really grow to the next level.
"So we've got a whole host of businesses that have secured investment whilst they're part of the Accelerator programme, businesses that have grown their teams, businesses that have moved into other markets and really expanded their customer base.
"So we really do see the programme live up to its name. It really can accelerate your business."
From learning how to access new markets and growth funding to understanding how best to attract talent and build an effective team, from leadership development to developing a scalable infrastructure, the Accelerator provides the knowledge which forms the core of business growth.
It isn't just the other business leaders who provide support, as the director of Petals Training, Louise, commented: "The NatWest Enterprise team are absolutely fantastic. They're fun, they're engaging, they're motivating, they kind of tap on your shoulder and remind you that they're there to help you and guide you and support you so I've got nothing but praise for them."
The current Accelerator programmes are open to all business owners, you do not have to be a NatWest customer.
To find out more about the programme and how NatWest can help you be part of a community and grow your business, email cardiffaccelerator@natwest.com, or visit natwest.com.
