Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will take steps to ensure that all businesses have access to business accelerators.

Business accelerators are widely available with approximately 180 programmes currently operating. These accelerators are backed by investment firms, corporations, and the public sector. They range from national programmes such as NatWest Accelerator, with thirteen hubs across the UK, to those with a local focus, such as Phase One based at the University of York and supporting businesses in their first year working within the digital, creative, technology and science sectors.

The availability of virtual and hybrid accelerator programmes means that all businesses potentially have access to these services, wherever they are located in the UK.