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# Entrepreneurial Spark
- URL: https://entrepreneurplus.co.uk/graveyard/entrepreneurial-spark/
- Published: 2026-10-21T11:10:02.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-21T11:29:46.000Z
- Description: Free 'hatchery' accelerator network; taken in-house by NatWest in 2018, original Glasgow company struck off March 2021
- Author: Editorial Desk
- Tags: #ep-grave

✝ Investor · Merged / absorbed · 16 March 2021 

Free 'hatchery' accelerator network; taken in-house by NatWest in 2018, original Glasgow company struck off March 2021

Companies House

[SC414435](https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/SC414435?ref=entrepreneurplus.co.uk) · Dissolved on 16 March 2021

How it ended

Merged / absorbed

Ended

16 March 2021

Founded

2012

Type

Accelerator

Based in

Glasgow

Last checked

21 October 2026

## What happened

Entrepreneurial Spark was a Glasgow-founded free business accelerator set up by Jim Duffy, incorporated as Entrepreneurial-Spark Limited on 12 January 2012\. From 2014 it ran as 'Entrepreneurial Spark powered by NatWest', opening hatcheries in bank offices across Scotland, England and Wales and describing itself as the world's largest free business accelerator; the partnership's 2018 impact report cited nearly 4,000 entrepreneurs supported, £255m raised and 8,096 jobs created. In February 2018 NatWest took the accelerator in-house, where it continues as the NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator. The original company was renamed E-Spark (Scotland) Limited and then 21st Century Brain Limited, assigned its intellectual property to a connected company in June 2018, applied for voluntary strike-off in December 2020 and was dissolved on 16 March 2021\. The successor E-Spark (Scotland) Limited entered members' voluntary liquidation in July 2021 and was dissolved in May 2024.

## What happened to the assets, customers and team

The accelerator programme, hubs and brand were absorbed by NatWest in 2018; the residual Entrepreneurial Spark companies were closed solvently (strike-off in 2021, members' voluntary liquidation completed 2024, creditors paid in full).

## Sources

1. [find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk](https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/SC414435?ref=entrepreneurplus.co.uk)
2. [find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk](https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/SC414435/filing-history?ref=entrepreneurplus.co.uk)
3. [find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk](https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/SC592631/filing-history?ref=entrepreneurplus.co.uk)
4. [thegazette.co.uk](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/3865868?ref=entrepreneurplus.co.uk)
5. [thebusinessdesk.com](https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/northwest/news/2016740-growth-accelerator-taken-in-house-by-natwest?ref=entrepreneurplus.co.uk)
6. [rbs.com](https://www.rbs.com/rbs/news/2018/02/natwest-confirms-ongoing-commitment-to-supporting-entrepreneurs-.html?ref=entrepreneurplus.co.uk)
7. [insider.co.uk](https://www.insider.co.uk/news/entrepreneurial-spark-natwest-mentoring-coaching-12050079?ref=entrepreneurplus.co.uk)

✓ Verified by EP+ Every Graveyard entry is checked against Companies House and the sources above, and re-checked periodically. Spotted an error or a company that has been rescued? [Tell us](mailto:info@entrepreneurplus.co.uk?subject=Graveyard%20correction%3A%20Entrepreneurial%20Spark).

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