NatWest has opened its first sustainable banking hub in Bristol with hot desks, free wifi and events space for entrepreneurs to use.
The new branch in Broadmead is the first of its kind for the bank and will offer a range of specialist services to help boost enterprise, NatWest has said, including providing access to expert advice and spaces to allow local businesses to collaborate.
The bank said that once coronavirus restrictions and social distancing measures begin to ease, its new space will be able to offer services including:
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- Free pop-up space for local businesses, entrepreneurs or charities to showcase their products or services.
- An enterprise zone where potential and current customers can liaise with the bank’s local enterprise managers and other specialists on available support including hub facilities and initiatives.
- An events and learning space for hosting sessions on topics such as financial capability, how to start a business and how to plan for the future. The space can also be used by local charities or community groups to run their own events with the bank's support.
- Customer hot desks will be available later this year, as well as shared workspaces and collaboration zones for use by corporate clients and small business customers. There will also be free wifi.
- A self-service area to support people with standard banking transactions.
- Private consultation rooms where senior personal bankers, mortgage advisers and private and commercial relationship managers can provide confidential assistance to customers both face-to-face and digitally.
The Bristol branch has been designed to limit its environmental impact and includes recycled furniture and water bottle refill stations for customers. The bank has also removed paper marketing materials.
Janat Hulston, managing director of retail banking for NatWest in the South West said: “By bringing all of our expert services together in Bristol we're really bringing our purpose to life to help our customers and communities rebuild and thrive.
"It's a great example of 'One Bank' thinking and working and I can't wait to hear what our customers think of our new hub."
How NatWest is supporting BusinessLive
NatWest is the national partner of BusinessLive.
The banking group is teaming up with BusinessLive on a series of events throughout the year aimed at entrepreneurs and business leaders.
Alongside a wide range of banking services, NatWest offers businesses specialist sector knowledge in areas such as manufacturing and technology, as well as access to specialist entrepreneurial support.
Paul Edwards, chair of NatWest’s South West board, told BusinessLive in March that the bank has a “real responsibility” to address the climate challenge across the 海角视频.
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NatWest, which is sponsoring the forthcoming UN COP26 climate summit, to be held in Glasgow in November, has pledged to “at least halve” the climate impact of financing activity by 2030.
Its ambitions include no longer lending and underwriting to companies with 15%+ of activities related to coal, unless they have a credible transition plan aligned to 2015 Paris Agreement by end 2021, with a full phase-out of coal by 2030.
It said it would also stop lending and underwriting to major oil and gas producers without a credible transition plan in line with the 2015 Paris Agreement by end of this year.
The new Bristol hub will be part of NatWest's network of accelerators, which seek to support businesses at different stages of growth across the 海角视频.
The bank is aiming to resume using the physical accelerator hubs, such as the one in Bristol, once lockdown restrictions ease.