NatWest Accelerator Pitch Terms and Conditions

 

  1. The competition is open to businesses with up to £1m revenue, registered in the UK and trading for between one to five years. Both customers and non-customers of NatWest Group aged 18 or over who are UK residents may apply. The competition is not open to employees of NatWest Group of companies, their families or anyone associated with this competition. If you are a runner-up or winner, you are not eligible to participate in any future competitions.

  2. To be eligible entrants must submit a 60-second ‘video pitch’ and complete an online profile form. Guidance regarding the video requirements and information required for the online form can be found [here].

  3. One entry per business is allowed. Entries must be submitted on the official online profile form [the competition microsite website]. All entries, including the form and the video, and the copyright for them, become the property of the Promoter and entrants agree to execute such further documents, and do any act that may be necessary or desirable, to ensure ownership of such copyright vests in the Promoter.

  4. Entries must be received by 5pm on Sunday 25th May 2025.

  5. Entries not submitted in accordance with these rules, or that are delayed, damaged, incomplete, altered or illegible will be disqualified. No responsibility is accepted for entries lost or delayed. Proof of sending by email OR upload to website will not be accepted as proof of entry.

  6. A short list of 20 businesses will be put forward to be judged by a panel who will select 5 businesses to proceed to a pitching competition live final which will take place in Manchester on 31st July 2025.

  7. Applicants selected for the live final (Finalists) will be those who, in the view of the judges present the strongest illustration of how the funding will help their business to grow.

  8. Decisions regarding who is selected as a Finalist will be made by 14th July 2025 and Finalists will be notified of their nomination by email and phone, at least two weeks before the live final.

  9. NatWest is not liable for covering travel expenses or any related costs associated with attending the live final.

  10. At the live final, Finalists will be asked to present a 15 minute pitch performance (comprised of a 5 minute pitch, and a 10 minute Q&A). Guidance regarding the requirements for this pitch can be found [here].”

  11. Winning criteria: Winners at the live final will be those who, in the view of the judges a) present the strongest illustration of how the funding will help their business to grow, b) who deliver the strongest pitch performance. The prizes will be awarded to three businesses, who present at the live final based on the judging criteria above. The judge's decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

  12. A total prize pot of £100k grant  will be split between 1st, 2nd and 3rd placed winners. This will be allocated as follows: 1st place - £70k. 2nd place - £20k. 3rd place - £10k. Winners will be announced at the event.

  13. Winners will be expected to:

The winners agree to participate in promotional activities related to this competition, acknowledging that their entries may be used by the Promoter for marketing purposes, which may include, but are not limited to, online platforms and the Promoter's social media channels. Additionally, they may be featured in content created by the NatWest marketing team and its affiliates, encompassing videography and photography.

Attend networking opportunities taking place throughout the day at the NatWest Accelerator Hub.

Winners will need to commit a total of no more than 4 hours to PR & Marketing initiatives until the end of 2026.

  1. Prize amount is not transferable.

  2. The Promoter reserves the right to publish or make available such information as is necessary to demonstrate that a valid award took place including, if appropriate, the name and business name of the winner(s) and copies of the winning entries.

  3. If a prize is unclaimed after reasonable efforts have been made to contact the winner[s] the Promoter will be entitled to dispose of the prize as it sees fit without any liability to the winner[s] for having done so.

  4. The Promoter reserves the right to alter, amend or foreclose the promotion without prior notice.

  5. How we’ll use your information:

Who we are: National Westminster Bank plc (NatWest) is a data controller in respect of personal information that we process in connection with our business (including the products and services we provide). We are a member of NatWest Group plc. For more information about. NatWest group and its brands please visit NatWestGroup.com.

  1. We collect and process various categories of personal and confidential information at the start of and throughout your relationship with us and beyond to allow us to provide our products and services and to run our business. You can find more information at Our privacy policy | NatWest.

  2. The Promoter is National Westminster Bank plc, 250 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 4AA.