Region’s bright sparks work with KPMG to create jobs

A KPMG spokesman said the alliance will bring a wide range of benefits to businesses across Britain over the next three years, as part of the Entrepreneurial Spark programme, which is supported by NatWest.

KPMG has committed to providing 1,000 hours of support every month over the next three years to support the programme.

Last month, the “Leeds hatchery” was launched in NatWest’s premises in the Headrow, in Leeds, to help support growing businesses.

The three-year deal will also see KPMG providing entrepreneurs in the ‘hatcheries’ with advice and guidance around issues such as developing a business plan. The KPMG team can help small firms to attract new investment.

As part of the agreement, KPMG will have a dedicated presence at Entrepreneurial Spark’s head office. Entrepreneurial Spark now has seven bases across the UK. Apart from Leeds, ‘hatcheries’ have been created in Birmingham, Bristol and Brighton in the last two months.

Ian Beaumont, the enterprise partner at KPMG in Leeds, said: “Entrepreneurial Spark is working with the big businesses of tomorrow, so the more we can do to help entrepreneurs understand and get to grips with their numbers, and ultimately, help them to secure investment, the better.

“We look forward to supporting our first intake of ambitious company owners over the coming months.”

Gordon Merrylees, the head of entrepreneurship at RBS and NatWest, said: “To have KPMG on board with us, as we drive our support for enterprise, is tremendous added value for the entrepreneurs.”

Jim Duffy, the chief executive of Entrepreneurial Spark, said he was looking forward to working with KMPG to help entrepreneurs around Britain who wanted to create jobs.