ENTREPRENEURS in a business hub generated more than £7 million investment in 2016.

The Entrepreneurial Spark powered by NatWest launched its 2016 annual report yesterday.

Since opening the hub at 149 Preston Road, Brighton, in 2015, 163 businesses have turned over almost £20 million, attracted more than £7 million of investment and created 395 jobs.

Working shoulder to shoulder in the hub are the Entrepreneurial Spark enabler Sam Harland and NatWest entrepreneur development manager Fiona Anderson.

The figures are reflected across all four nations of the UK and across all sectors with 3,152 jobs created by the supported businesses.

A people-centric and action-orientated approach means businesses which have been through the Entrepreneurial Spark programme have focused and resilient leaders and a fantastic chance of growing as a business.

Eighty five per cent of the businesses accelerated are still trading which is more than double the national average.

More than 1,700 businesses have been helped to grow and scale up across the UK.

Entrepreneurial Spark recently created a new suite of programmes which will build even more people who build even better businesses.

This evolved model will provide specialised, bespoke enablement for entrepreneurs on all stages of their journey.

NatWest entrepreneur development manager Fiona Anderson said: “The figures for our Brighton hub show just how much of an impact Entrepreneurial Spark is having in the South East.

“We are very proud of all of our entrepreneurs and their commitment to the programme which is enabling them to create jobs, secure investment and support their local economies.”

Gary Conroy, founding director of 5 Squirrels, a company which helps clinicians launch their own brand of skincare products and mineral make-up, joined the Brighton hub 18 months ago.

He said: “I don’t know if we would still be trading without the help of Entrepreneurial Spark.

“Being accepted on the business accelerator programme was a great endorsement in itself and gave us more confidence.

“Without the encouragement Entrepreneurial Spark has given us, we wouldn’t have gained the traction we needed to move the business to the next stage and really make it a viable company.”

Lucy-Rose Walker, Entrepreneurial Spark CEO, said: “Our vision is to create positive social change by giving people the chance to grow and create jobs and value in the economy.

“It’s really gratifying to see that those entrepreneurs have now created 3,152 jobs across the UK, all of them creating social change by contributing to their communities and local economies.

“Our partnership with NatWest is such a powerful one and enables us to give hands-on practical help to start-ups of every kind, from that first spark of an idea right up to bigger businesses needing to scale and grow.

“We also love working with KPMG, Dell Technologies and Pinsent Masons because as the experts in what they do they offer so much to our entrepreneurs.”

Ben McDonald, head of KPMG Enterprise, said: “Over 2016, KPMG individuals from across the firm provided more than 500 hours of strategic support to the Entrepreneurial Spark network, helping them to drive forward their growth plans.

“Through this relationship, we have met some truly amazing entrepreneurs who have inspired us all with their drive, innovation and determination to succeed.

“The enormous success that many of these entrepreneurs have achieved this year exemplifies the vital contribution that start-up businesses make to the UK economy in creating jobs and wealth.

“The UK has a phenomenal reputation as a great place to start a business, in part due to the support provided by accelerators such as Entrepreneurial Spark.

“The fact that together we can support as many start-ups as possible to grow and scale can only be great news for innovation, entrepreneurial culture and the economy at large in the UK.”

Barry McCaig leads the partnership between Entrepreneurial Spark and international law firm Pinsent Masons, where he is a partner.

He said: “The growth seen over the last 12 months is truly remarkable.

“Entrepreneurial Spark has nearly tripled the number of businesses they are supporting and have opened new hubs across the country.

“That is a massive achievement for Entrepreneurial Spark and we are proud to have been a part of it.”

Entrepreneurial Spark Powered by NatWest is the world’s largest free business accelerator.

It provides a unique training and enablement programme focused on developing the right #GoDo mindset and behaviours needed to become a successful entrepreneur.

Entrepreneurial Spark uses the verb “entrepreneuring”, not the noun entrepreneurship, as the key to its acceleration approach.

It enables its entrepreneurs to take action and the philosophy is GoDo.

This approach is resonating across its 12 hubs.

To date the business accelerator programme, which is powered by NatWest and works in close partnership with KPMG Enterprise, Dell Technologies and Pinsent Masons, has supported more than 1,736 start-ups across the UK to grow their business.