Robert Begbie visits Manchester Accelerator to talk about innovation, mid-markets and economic shocks

The Government needs to try to give businesses reassurance and stability at a time of global crisis – that’s the message from a key NatWest leader as he visited the North West to meet entrepreneurs. Robert Begbie, CEO Commercial and Institutional at NatWest, visited the bank’s Manchester business accelerator to meet some of the entrepreneurs growing their businesses from the Spinningfields hub.

He spoke to BusinessLive about the bank’s network of Accelerator hubs that aim to support scale-ups and start-ups across the country. And he and North West regional director Steve Sankson also spoke about the power of mid-market firms to drive the economy in Manchester and beyond.

Asked about the state of the markets after the Iran war, Mr Begbie said the most important thing the Government could do in the medium term was to ensure stability in policymaking.

He said: “The Government can’t control what’s going on in the Middle East. That’s completely outwith their control. But stability in the environment for businesses to operate in is hugely helpful.

“The Government has set in train a number of things around their industrial strategy, their trade strategy, overall growth, regulatory reform, and all of those will make a difference. But they take time. The culmination of those things over a period of time all helps, they’re all building blocks to creating a more sustainable and higher growth, higher productivity economy.

“A combination of that, plus everybody else including us playing our role in that growth, will ultimately create the conditions for companies to grow and the economy to grow.”

It’s too early to say what long-term impact the ongoing conflict in the Middle East might have on the economy, but Mr Begbie said fragile business confidence was likely to be damaged.

He said: “If you look through the last 10 years, what we found generally is that businesses have done incredibly well to cope with those shocks, whether they’re domestic, international, whether they are inflation-related, whether they’re health-related as in the case of the pandemic or geopolitical-related. And this is another one.

“It’s unfortunate because we felt that for the first time in quite a long time there was a pretty stable set of conditions for businesses to invest and grow. And with that comes confidence and the confidence to invest in your business, the confidence to grow, confidence to want to expand your markets or expand your even your geographies – part of our role was to help customers to expand out where they do business.

“Growth was minimal, but at least it was growth – rates were coming down, inflation was coming down, we’d come through the other side of some of the Budget measures… certainly talking to businesses locally and talking to the teams, it felt like there was a growing mood of optimism and confidence in the economy.

“I think it’s too soon to say that what’s happened in the last two weeks is going to permanently damage that, but clearly in the short term it just introduces uncertainty.”

The magic middle: Why mid-market companies are vital to growth

Mr Begbie said NatWest’s own recent results had been strong with growing business lending, including a 50% growth year-on-year in its gross lending to it Business Banking customers. He said: “If our lending book is growing in the mid market we know there’s something good going on in the UK mid market

“What we started to see at the end of last year to this year was more M&A activity around the large corporate end of the UK… and as a major bank into UK PLC we’ll be involved in some of those transactions.”

Mr Begbie said the bank wanted to be ambitious for itself and for its customers, and said: “We’re now in a situation where there’s a bit of uncertainty, but with uncertainty that gives us a chance to step up and help support those customers.”

NatWest has had a big focus on mid-market firms, which it says are vital to the economy but can often be overlooked by policymakers in favour of corporate giants and headline-grabbing start-ups. Earlier this month the group appointed 12 Mid-Market Champions in 12 UK nations and regions.

Mr Begbie said the mid-market was “responsible for so much of the employment in the UK, so much of the growth and a one per cent growth in that sector is worth many times more.”

He was at Number 11 Downing Street earlier this month for the first Mid-Market Growth Council reception, alongside NatWest CEO Paul Thwaite.

He said: “We took some of the members of the council but we also took some of our mid-market companies from up and down the country and it was great. Paul spoke briefly the Chancellor spoke. We all have the same objective here – everybody in the room wants to help stimulate growth and make the country a more prosperous place, but that can only happen if we put all the things in place.”

The North West’s innovation champion is Steve Sankson. He said: “If you think about business support, it’s targeted at SMEs, start up, scale up, innovation. Big businesses typically look after themselves. In that regional mid market business, there’s actually a lack of targeted support or intervention.

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“If you look at any growth plan from a regional perspective, they focus on emerging sectors, emerging clusters. But true growth comes from the mid-market as well.

“Mid-market businesses have got very common issues. If you get a group of 20 mid-market businesses, they’re all facing the same skills issues. They’re grappling with increasing complexity and burden being placed on business. Actually being able to address some of those issues either through policy, or collectively coming together to say ‘what’s the issue in Manchester’, could be quite powerful.

“Everybody’s talking about Greater Manchester right now. Mid markets grow more quickly in Greater Manchester than any other region, they’re more innovative in Greater Manchester than in any other region.”

‘We’re helping people live out their dreams’

Mr Begbie said he loved visiting NatWest’s Accelerators across the country. The Manchester one has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs, and on the day of BusinessLive’s visit a group of entrepreneurs was learning about how to create perfect short, sharp pitches for investors.

He said: “I’ll tell everybody who works for us to go to an accelerator. We’re helping people live out their dreams here. But also, we attract some of the most passionate, enthusiastic colleagues of anywhere in the organisation to work in our accelerators.

“Those accelerators, and they’re all slightly different, all share the same themes of passionate colleagues and passionate entrepreneurs. There’s some incredible successes as well. I met one of the founders of a business that went through the Birmingham Accelerator 10 years ago. And that is now a £50m business. And they became advocates for us. So we get the benefit of seeing businesses becoming successful businesses and we played a small part in that.”

NatWest is also looking to grow its accelerator network by connecting with universities.

Mr Begbie said: “We announced last year we were going to put the equivalent of these accelerators into 10 universities up and down the UK. We’ve announced four, the other six will follow. We’ve had one in Warwick University for a while, which is a clean transport accelerator.

“The reason for picking universities is to take some of those ideas that spin out of universities, but struggle to find a way to commercialise.”

The bank has also launched a strategic partnership with the University of Manchester aimed at improving student employability and supporting innovation.

Scheme would include park and hundreds of new homes

Plans have now gone in for the next phase of Stretford town centre’s huge regeneration project.

Permission is being sought for 248 new homes where the town’s shopping centre currently stands. These would be a mix of apartments and houses, with 120 one-bed flats, and 114 two-bed and 14 three-bed houses proposed for the site.

At its highest, the apartment block would reach up to 12-storeys. The ground floor of the building would also offer up retail and leisure units.

A new park is planned for the land too, with developer Bruntwood saying it wants this to be a place of ‘relaxation and social interaction’.

Rob Elsom, development director at Bruntwood, said: “[There would be a] big green public space going right into the heart of the town centre, which will be immediately adjacent to the high street and the new shops, creating a field of vision down to Saint Matthew’s Church at the bottom. It’ll create an interesting focal point, and be somewhere for people to be able to spend time.”

He added: “What would be great is to be able to have retail all the way down King Street, all the way down the park, and then back up Chester Road where we’ve got existing retail at the moment. So we create a retail loop as well as having the anchor of Aldi on the other side.”

The planning application will need to be validated by Trafford council in the coming days before it is made public and the full details revealed. A public consultation on the scheme will then follow.

Stretford Mall closed its doors for the final time on Friday, February 27. Contractors are expected to be on site from the end of this month, with demolition work due to begin in June and completed around September.

This is not the final phase planned for the Stretford regeneration project, however. Future stages could bring the number of new homes built up to more than 750, with affordable homes proposed among them.

To find all the planning applications, traffic diversions, road layout changes, alcohol licence applications and more in your community, visit the Public Notices Portal.

Firms freatured include Mrs Bucket, Deloitte, Savills, UWTSD , Lumen SEO and voco St David’s Cardiff.

Swansea headquartered commercial cleaning company Mrs Bucket has announced key changes to its senior management team.

Kate Ablett has been promoted to managing director. Previously people and operations director, she now steps into founder Rachael Flanagan’s former role. Ms Flanagan, who founded the business in 2005, moves into the position of chief executive allowing her to focus on the strategic direction of the business and continue as a brand ambassador.

Swansea-born Ms Ablett, who now lives in Caerphilly, has been with Mrs Buckét for four years. She joined as Head of People, where she played a key role in introducing the company’s senior leadership team. She later progressed to people and operations director, managing that team and overseeing operational performance.

In her new role as managing director, she will continue to lead the senior leadership team while focusing on driving efficiency and productivity across the business.

She said: “I’m thrilled to step into the role of managing director. One of the things I love most about Mrs Buckét is that anything is possible – you can grow ideas, you can change and you can try new things, and Rachael is fully supportive of all of this. It’s an environment where people can genuinely contribute and make a difference.

Moving into the senior leadership team is Siwan Morgan, who has been appointed senior business development manager. Previously business development manager at Mrs Buckét, her promotion comes at a pivotal time as the company accelerates its growth strategy.

She said “I’m really looking forward to stepping into this new role. I really enjoy the diverse nature of my work, which enables me to speak with a wide range of clients from different sectors – no two days are the same!”

Ms Flanagan said: “This is an incredibly exciting time for Mrs Buckét. After achieving 30% growth in 2025 and welcoming more than 30 new clients, it’s vital we have the right leadership structure in place to support our continued expansion.

“Kate has been instrumental in shaping our senior leadership team and strengthening our operations over the past four years. Her passion for people, performance and progress makes her the ideal managing director to lead the business day-to-day.

“I’m also delighted to welcome Siwan onto the senior leadership team. Her drive, energy and commitment to delivering an outstanding client journey will be pivotal as we continue to grow.”

She added: “Moving into the CEO role allows me to focus on the strategic direction of the business and continue championing our brand, our people and our purpose. We are building something very special at Mrs Buckét.”

Lumen SEO

Former chief executive of Populate Social Daniel Simmons has been appointed a non executive director of Lumen SEO as it targets expansion and the US market.

With over ten years of experience in founding and scaling a Cardiff-based agency, his appointment will support Lumen SEO through its next growth phase as it plans to expand internationally.

Now in its sixth year of trading, Lumen SEO has become the largest SEO (search engine optimisation) agency in Wales with consistent year-on-year growth.

Lumen SEO’s founder and chief executive Aled Nelmes, said: “Despite continuous yearly growth, it’s been at the expense of my being incredibly overworked in the business when I should be working smartly on the business.”

His appointment has come at a pivotal moment for Cardiff-based Lumen SEO, as the company aims to become one of the UK’s largest SEO agencies.

Mr Nelmes said: “I believe we can double in revenue in 2026, but it’s more about how we get there.

We must be able to get there by maintaining our cultural values that make Lumen one of the greatest places to work, and we need to get there by making sure I confidently delegate more and hire some great leaders during the year.”

Mr Simmons said “I truly believe culture and leadership are two of the most important things when running a people-powered business.

It’s important to still have a strong commercial focus to sit alongside this, and having the right balance is integral.”

Mr Nelmes believes moving into the US market is the next natural step. He added: “The very culture that runs through SMEs in the USA is more experimental, more pro-risk, and more ambitious compared to the UK, where businesses tend to act more conservatively.”

Deloitte

Professional advisory firm Deloitte has appointed Andrew Wright as its new practice senior partner for the south west and Wales.

Mr Wright, who has close to 30 years of experience at the firm, will lead a combined team of 2,300 people, succeeding Dave Tansley.

He joined the firm in 1996 and became a partner in 2012. He leads Deloitte’s audit business in Bristol and Cardiff and is also part of the national Deloitte Private leadership team and the global audit transformation group. In his new role Wright will oversee the firm’s strategic direction across the South West and Wales.

Mr Tansley has led the firm in the region for the past two years. He will continue his work as partner at Deloitte leading key initiatives until his retirement in May.

During his two-year stint as practice senior partner, Mr Tansley spearheaded the firm’s move into its new Bristol headquarters in the Halo Building in Finzel’s Reach. He also accelerated the growth of the firm in Wales, including its Cardiff Delivery Centre.

Mr Wright said: “The South West and Wales stands on the cusp of a vibrant future, powered by innovation in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and a thriving digital economy, offering unparalleled opportunities for sustainable economic growth.

“My career has been rooted in the South West and Wales, and I know first-hand the depth of talent, expertise and potential that we have here. I am committed to developing that talent.

“I want to thank Dave for his exemplary leadership. He has fostered a real sense of collaboration across the firm, leaving a strong foundation for future growth.”

Voco St David’s Cardiff

The five star voco St David’s Cardiff has appointed Carl Davies-Phillips as its new general manager.

He joins the Cardiff Bay hotel after a successful 2025, which saw the hotel welcome 67,463 guests and achieve record turnover.

Born and raised in Swansea, he brings more than 25 years’ experience in the hospitality industry He joins Voco St David’s Cardiff from Castlebridge Hospitality, where he held the role of operations director.

Mr Davies-Phillips said: “This is an iconic property that the whole of South Wales is proud of – everyone knows voco St David’s. “Combined with its location in the capital city it was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down as a proud Welshman.“To be joining the hotel on the back of such a strong year makes it even more exciting. The foundations are incredibly solid, and my focus now is on working with our talented team to elevate the hotel even further.”

UWTSD

The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) has appointed managing director of Exercise3, Elliott Atkins, as a professor of practice. His appointment strengthens the University’s engagement with industry leaders and provides students with direct access to cutting‑edge expertise in cyber security and digital resilience.

The title of professor of practice is awarded to recognise individuals of significant academic and professional distinction whose expertise aligns with the strategic intentions and mission of the university. Mr Atkins’ appointment reflects his outstanding contribution to the field of cyber security and his commitment to advancing professional practice, education, and industry collaboration.

A fellow of the British Computer Society he was appointed the first chief information security Officer to the Royal Household in 2021. Since 2014, he has served as managing director of Exercise3, a National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) assured provider of cyber incident exercising. The company uses realistic, scenario-based simulations to help organisations test and strengthen their cyber incident preparedness and resilience.

Prior to founding Exercise3, he held several senior leadership roles across government and industry. These included head of the UK Government’s computer emergency response team at GCHQ, head of cyber Intelligence at QinetiQ, and head of incident Response at Nominet, the UK’s top-level domain registry.

Kapilan Radhakrishnan, academic director (applied computing)at UWTSD said: “Elliott’s appointment as Professor of Practice reflects our commitment to bridging academic excellence with real-world professional leadership. His experience at the highest levels of national and international cyber security, from government to critical infrastructure and global incident response communities, brings exceptional insight to our students and staff.

“We are proud to welcome Elliott to the University and look forward to the impact his expertise will have on our teaching, research, and industry partnerships.”

Mr Atkins said: “I’m delighted to have been appointed as a Professor of Practice at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. I’m really looking forward to sharing real-world insights and experience with students, early-career academics, and staff, as well as contributing to curriculum development across the Applied Computing, Cyber Security, and Digital Forensics programmes.”

Savills

International real estate advisor Savills has announced four promotions within its Cardiff office

The promotions will see one person become director and one take on the role of associate director, and two become associates. Wayne Farnell, who specialises in property management has become a director, Cerys Hulbert-Scott, planning, an associate director, Tina Owen, property management, an associate and Emma Lewis, property management, also an associate.

Jonathan Latham, head of Savills Cardiff office, said: “It is with great pleasure that we can announce the promotion of four outstanding individuals in our Cardiff office. Each has demonstrated exceptional commitment, expertise and drive in supporting our clients and contributing to the continued success of our office. Congratulations to all on this well‑deserved recognition.”

LISBON, Portugal — Cristiano Ronaldo has repeatedly confirmed that the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set for June-July across the United States, Canada and Mexico, will be his final appearance in the tournament. The Portuguese superstar, who turns 41 in February 2026, stated unequivocally in late 2025 interviews that the expanded 48-team event will mark the end of his World Cup journey, though he remains committed to playing at a high level with Al Nassr and Portugal in the lead-up.

In a November 2025 CNN interview at the Tourise Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo addressed the question directly: “Definitely, yes, because I will be 41 years old and I think that will be the moment in the big competition.” He reiterated that retirement from football overall would come “soon,” clarifying it as “probably one or two years” after the tournament. Similar comments appeared in outlets like BBC Sport, Sky Sports, ESPN and Al Jazeera, where he emphasized enjoying the present while acknowledging age as a factor.

Ronaldo’s stance has held steady into 2026. As of March 2026, no reversal or new statements contradict his earlier declarations. Portugal qualified comfortably for the finals, with Ronaldo contributing five goals during the UEFA qualifying phase. Recent reports, including from Sports Illustrated in January 2026, affirmed he “will play at the 2026 World Cup” but described it as his “final international tournament.” The consensus across major sports media — including Fox Sports, CBS Sports and Yahoo Sports — positions the event as his sixth and last World Cup, a record for any player.

A minor injury scare surfaced in early March 2026 when Ronaldo was substituted in the 81st minute during an Al Nassr match due to a muscle issue, prompting speculation in outlets like SportBible about potential risks to his 2026 readiness. However, no long-term concerns emerged, and he has continued featuring regularly in Saudi Pro League action. Al Nassr’s medical updates indicate recovery without setbacks, aligning with his goal to arrive fit for Portugal’s campaign.

The 2026 tournament holds special significance for Ronaldo. He has scored in five consecutive World Cups — a unique feat — and holds the all-time international scoring record with 143 goals (as of late 2025 figures, with additions possible in friendlies or remaining qualifiers). Despite never winning the World Cup, Ronaldo has downplayed its singular importance to his legacy. In a November 2025 Piers Morgan interview, he said winning it “isn’t a dream” and wouldn’t solely define him as one of history’s greatest, given his club achievements, Ballon d’Or wins and goal tallies.

Portugal enters the finals as a strong contender, bolstered by a talented squad including Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva and younger stars. Ronaldo’s role may shift toward leadership and impact off the bench or in targeted spells, given his age and physical demands. Coach Roberto Martínez has expressed confidence in his captain’s contributions, and Ronaldo’s work ethic — maintaining elite fitness at Al Nassr — supports expectations he will feature prominently.

The expanded format offers more matches and potential for deeper runs, raising hopes among fans for a fairy-tale ending. Discussions on platforms like YouTube and social media speculate on scenarios where Portugal lifts the trophy with Ronaldo as the hero, potentially reshaping the GOAT debate with Lionel Messi (who won in 2022). Ronaldo has dismissed retirement pressure, focusing on enjoyment and family time post-career.

Recent off-field activities reinforce his ongoing commitment. In February 2026, reports noted Ronaldo investing nearly $8 million in new projects ahead of the tournament, signaling preparation rather than wind-down. He denied full retirement rumors, stating he aims to play “for the next couple of years” beyond club duties.

As the World Cup draw approaches (scheduled for December 2025 but with updates ongoing into 2026), anticipation builds for what many view as Ronaldo’s farewell stage. At 41, defying conventional timelines, his participation would extend an extraordinary international career spanning over two decades.

Whether Portugal advances far or Ronaldo adds to his goal record, the 2026 World Cup appears set as his final chapter on the global stage. Fans worldwide await what could be emotional, historic moments from one of football’s most iconic figures.

Alan Ritchson, the towering actor best known for portraying Jack Reacher in Prime Video’s hit action series, found himself at the center of controversy on March 22, 2026, after video surfaced allegedly showing him assaulting a neighbor in Tennessee in front of children. The incident, reported by TMZ, has drawn widespread attention amid Ritchson’s rising profile, fueled by the massive success of his Netflix sci-fi thriller “War Machine” and upcoming developments in “Reacher.”

The altercation reportedly occurred Sunday in a residential neighborhood. According to the complainant, identified as Taylor, Ritchson allegedly sped through the area multiple times, once with two young children on motorbikes. On the day in question, Taylor confronted Ritchson, leading to a physical scuffle captured on video. The footage appears to show Ritchson striking the neighbor repeatedly. No arrests or charges have been confirmed as of March 23, and Ritchson’s representatives have not issued a public comment. The video’s release has sparked debate on social media, with some fans defending the actor’s actions as self-defense while others criticize the escalation.

The timing coincides with Ritchson’s career peak. His Netflix film “War Machine,” released March 6, 2026, has dominated streaming charts, holding the No. 1 spot for nearly two weeks and officially becoming the most-watched Netflix movie of the year so far. Directed by Patrick Hughes and positioned as Netflix’s sci-fi answer to “Predator,” the film follows Army Ranger recruits hunted by an extraterrestrial killing machine during a final training mission. Ritchson stars as a haunted combat engineer leading the unit.

Early reviews praised the high-energy action, practical stunts and Ritchson’s physical presence. A behind-the-scenes featurette highlighted grueling sequences, including Ritchson undergoing Ranger Assessment and Selection Program (RASP) bootcamp simulations, dragging co-stars through mud and navigating glacial rapids. Collider and other outlets noted its record-breaking debut, surpassing January’s “The Rip” starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Discussions of a sequel have intensified, with Ritchson and Hughes confirming ideas for continuation.

The success builds on Ritchson’s momentum from “Reacher,” Prime Video’s flagship action series based on Lee Child’s novels. In a Collider interview promoting “War Machine,” Ritchson confirmed “Reacher” Season 4 wrapped production and will premiere on Prime Video in 2026. “It’s by far the best season we’ve had yet,” he said, teasing roughly 30 fight sequences across eight episodes — a franchise record. The season adapts “Gone Tomorrow,” one of Child’s most acclaimed entries, promising intense action and character depth.

A “Reacher” spin-off centered on Frances Neagley, played by Maria Sten, has also completed filming, with Ritchson expected to appear. No specific dates have been announced for either project, but the updates have thrilled fans awaiting more from the muscular, no-nonsense hero.

Ritchson’s path to stardom accelerated with “Reacher,” which launched in 2022 and quickly became Prime Video’s most-watched series. His 6-foot-3, 235-pound frame and commitment to practical stunts — often performing his own fights — have made him a go-to action lead. Previous roles include Aimes in “Fast X” (2023) and comedic turns like “Playdate” with Kevin James. Upcoming credits include “Motor City” and an untitled Amazon MGM Studios project as Navy SEAL Mike Thornton, plus “The Man with the Bag,” listed as completed.

Off-screen, Ritchson maintains a low-key family life. He married high school sweetheart Catherine in 2006 after meeting in a ballet class. The couple shares three sons: Calem (born 2012), Edan (2013) and Amory (2015). For years, they lived nomadically in Airbnbs and hotels to stay together during filming, but recent reports indicate they’ve settled more permanently, with the children in school and Ritchson traveling solo for work. He frequently shares humorous family moments on social media, including the chaos of raising boys and tattoos honoring them.

The Tennessee incident has overshadowed these positives for now. Legal experts suggest potential charges could range from assault to disorderly conduct, depending on investigation outcomes. Ritchson’s clean public image — often described as humble and family-oriented — contrasts sharply with the allegations, prompting calls for more details.

As “War Machine” continues streaming dominance and “Reacher” Season 4 approaches, Ritchson’s star power remains undeniable. The actor, 43, has transformed from supporting roles in shows like “Smallville” and “Blue Mountain State” to leading major franchises. His dedication to fitness and authenticity in action roles has earned praise from co-stars and directors.

Fans await resolution on the neighbor dispute while anticipating more high-octane performances. Whether defending himself or facing consequences, Ritchson’s 2026 trajectory — marked by blockbuster streaming success and franchise expansions — positions him as one of Hollywood’s premier action stars.

With “Reacher” loyalists counting down to Season 4 and “War Machine” sparking sequel buzz, the year promises continued momentum, even amid personal headlines.

Columbia Threadneedle Investments is a leading global asset management group that provides a broad range of actively managed investment strategies and solutions for individual, institutional and corporate clients around the world. Columbia Threadneedle Investments is the global asset management group of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (NYSE: AMP). For more information please visit columbiathreadneedleus.com.