On Monday 22nd January the Duke of York, founder of Pitch@Palace and a keen supporter of entrepreneurship, made a return visit to NEN member Nwes’ flagship King’s Lynn Innovation Centre (KLIC) which offers long-awaited state-of-the-art commercial workspace, business support, access to finance, and business events to start-up and growing businesses in West Norfolk. The visit to […]
On Monday 22nd January the Duke of York, founder of Pitch@Palace and a keen supporter of entrepreneurship, made a return visit to NEN member Nwes’ flagship King’s Lynn Innovation Centre (KLIC) which offers long-awaited state-of-the-art commercial workspace, business support, access to finance, and business events to start-up and growing businesses in West Norfolk.
The visit to KLIC is another example of how His Royal Highness continues to engage with those providing programmes and schemes to facilitate the growth of smaller entrepreneurial ventures and companies, including accelerators and incubators. The Duke of York was impressed to learn of the growth of Nwes itself since his visit in March 2017. The organisation has fully integrated into the London market and more recently expanded to cover East Midlands.
Pitch@Palace works with entrepreneurs to support the amplification and acceleration of their activities and engages with a broad range of organisations who share his passion to support business growth. Founded by His Royal Highness in 2014, Pitch@Palace recognises the profound role that entrepreneurship is playing, and will continue to play in the future of the United Kingdom and global economy. The programme gives entrepreneurs the opportunity to meet the people who can help make their business dreams become a reality. Nwes client Sarah Mintey of Developing Experts, an Alumni of Pitch@Palace, has benefitted from great networking opportunities and has raised substantial financial investment into her company as a result.
During his visit The Duke of York dropped in to the First Steps to Start-up workshop, delivered by Nwes Business Advisor Richard Voisey. Richard said “It was great that His Royal Highness saw the benefits of entrepreneurs being able to come together to share experiences in the early stages of their start-up businesses.”
His Royal Highness took time to speak to the workshop attendees and KLIC tenants to learn about their business and how Nwes was providing them with the support to grow. The Duke particularly noted the importance of Nwes’ events to provide a business community, such as that within the KLIC environment. This was highlighted during The Duke of York’s informal chat with members of the BNI, who currently meet weekly at KLIC.
The Duke of York also spent time with Kevin Horne, CEO of Nwes and John Balch, Strategic Director, gaining an insight into Nwes’ innovative Start&Grow platform, which gives free access upon registration to business advice, workshops, access to finance, business support templates and an online chat facility with professional business advisors. Start&Grow is a resource available to all new start-up businesses and growing businesses, such as those involved in Pitch@Palace.
The Duke of York said “It’s excellent! It’s great to be back and to see the effect that business support is having on the local economy, and to experience the skills and knowledge available at the Innovation Centre. It is obvious if you need business support Nwes is the place to come for it.”
Nwes Chief Executive, Kevin Horne said “We are delighted and honoured to welcome The Duke of York back to our flagship building in West Norfolk. As always it was a pleasure to share our enthusiasm with His Royal Highness, who has the same passion for supporting start-up and growing businesses. It was an honour that The Duke of York took time to chat to some of the local businesses supported through Nwes, including the finalist of the King’s Lynn Mayor’s Business Awards, in the Innovation category, which is sponsored by Nwes.”
KLIC is a landmark building, delivered by Nwes and developed in partnership with New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership and King’s Lynn & West Norfolk Borough Council. Tenants and clients of the King’s Lynn Innovation Centre benefit from top-specification office space, modern meeting and conference rooms, and an optimum working environment equipped with the latest technology. The Mayor of King’s Lynn, Carol Bower, said “We are thrilled that The Duke of York has taken so much interest in businesses in the local area and in how businesses are developing, particularly within the KLIC building. He took a great interest in the types of business support available, particularly grant funding, to help businesses in the King’s Lynn area.”
Services delivered by Nwes include high-calibre 1-to-1 business advice, mentoring and workshops. Additionally, Nwes provides access to financial sources and funding opportunities, providing the tools for local entrepreneurs and start-up businesses to flourish and further strengthen the local economy.
As part of the local Enterprise Zone, tenants of King’s Lynn Innovation Centre also benefit from reduced business rates, superfast broadband, and ‘easy in, easy out’ tenancy terms. A new coworking suite and virtual office solutions are also available.
For further information regarding HRH Duke of York’s interest and support of entrepreneurship, visit http://thedukeofyork.org/
For more information about Nwes and the King’s Lynn Innovation Centre, visit www.nwes.org.uk
For more information about Start&Grow and to access free online business support register at www.startandgrow.uk
