NEWQUAY entrepreneurs have been awarded £10,000 to support their businesses’ future growth plans and ambitions. 

Elaine Macey and Dean Soden, founders and CEOs of 4Motion Community Interest Company (CIC), which aims to make a positive impact on people and the planet by helping communities stay moving, connected and nourished through plant-based food projects, have been given the grant funding by the entrepreneurship charity Hatch Enterprise in partnership with NatWest.

4Motion CIC aims to co-create and deliver inclusive experiences with local communities that support the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of children, young people and adults. The organisation delivers accessible classes, workshops, training and events that forge partnerships, unite people and celebrate communities. 

4Motion CIC is one of 10 businesses across the UK to receive a share of the £100,000 grant funding round in celebration of Hatch’s 10th anniversary.  

Elaine Macey, co-founder and CEO, of 4Motion CIC said: “Receiving the NatWest Hatch grant has had a hugely positive impact on our community.

“We have a bold vision, backed with ambitious plans to deliver accessible training, workshops and events focusing on plant-based food, social connections and inclusive movement experiences.

“This grant will enable us to bring these plans to life and ultimately make positive impacts on the health and wellbeing of the young people, families and communities we work with.

“We can’t wait to co-create this project with our local community, so watch this space for positive, impactful experiences coming your way.” 

The grants have been set up to enable business founders from diverse backgrounds to overcome barriers to growth typically faced by these groups in the start-up sector.  

Applications in this round were open to graduates of Hatch programmes, targeting support at underrepresented founders. ​​Of the awardees, nine were female founders, three were from an ethnic minority background and five were disabled. Nine out of the 10 grants were awarded to founders based outside of London. 

Rebekah Capon, managing director at Hatch Enterprise, said: “Our mission at Hatch is to build a better world through entrepreneurship, supporting those typically underrepresented in the sector to launch and grow sustainable, successful businesses.

“Access to funding is a huge barrier to growth for any business, and even more so for historically marginalised communities.   

“This partnership with NatWest is the perfect way for us to mark our tenth year as a charity, and we’re so pleased for the 10 incredible founders awarded funding. Receiving these grants of £10,000 will make a real difference to the founders themselves, their businesses, and their wider communities.” 

As the biggest bank for start-ups in Great Britain, NatWest provided funding for the grants and has been a longstanding supporter of Hatch, donating £1-million pounds to the charity last year to accelerate its work. NatWest also sponsors Hatch’s Launchpad and Incubator programmes, helping entrepreneurs to develop the knowledge, skills, confidence and network needed to launch and grow their business.  

James Holian, head of Business Banking at NatWest, said: “At NatWest we believe no matter who you are or where you come from, with the right support, entrepreneurs from any background can succeed in business.

“Our research shows that breaking down barriers to entrepreneurship will not only make the UK fairer, but also stimulate growth of the wider UK economy.”