Published: October 21st, 2020
As businesses across Shropshire continue to restart, rebuild and recover, NatWest’s Business Growth Enabler Gemma Bourne will be supporting businesses as they move forward following lockdown.
In her role, Gemma will work with local partners including the Marches Growth Hub to champion the potential of businesses and support business owners as they develop and grow. This may be through one to one mentoring support or by helping entrepreneurs connect with a business network.
Gemma will be running regular events and will also support new and developing businesses achieve their potential through NatWest’s Business Builder Programme. The digital tool is on hand to provide help with all aspects of getting new businesses off the ground, with a wide range of online learning and workshops.
The NatWest Group have set out the bold new ambition to be a leading bank in the UK & Republic of Ireland helping to address the climate challenge; by making our own operations net carbon zero in 2020 and climate positive by 2025, and by driving material reductions in the climate impact of our financing activity.
As we move from 2020 into 2021, Gemma will also provide specialist support to female entrepreneurs as part of NatWest’s commitment to supporting women in business. An ambassador for women in business, she holds an accreditation in NatWest’s Everywoman program which supports female business owners to turn their dreams and ambitions into a reality.
Gemma said: "The last six months have been an incredibly challenging time for all of us in a variety of ways but, as we look to the future, it’s absolutely vital the local eco-system continues to support businesses across Shropshire as they move forward.
We know there are new enterprises that have developed over this period as well as those that have had to adapt and change, and I look forward to working with our partners to support further growth in Shropshire.
Gemma has over 19 years’ experience in banking and finance and has spent the last four years specialising in business development and entrepreneurship.
Follow Gemma on Twitter @gemma_bourne1