Want a slice of a £10k pie? Pitch live at #SBSEvent2026!
#SBS has been supporting the UK’s small business community for over 15 years. It is a commitment we have in common with our long-standing partner, NatWest Accelerator.
In the name of helping our community “think BIG”, we are thrilled to give our winners the chance to win a share of £10,000 at this year’s #SBSEvent2026!
What do I need to do?
Each and every one of our winners has a passion for entrepreneurship. Your challenge is to convey that passion in a 60-second video pitch.
To enter, email a one minute video pitching your business and explaining why you deserve a share of the prize fund to sbs@tpretailgroup.com. Three finalists will be selected to pitch on the main stage at #SBSEvent2026 at the ICC in Birmingham on 20th February 2026.
At the event, finalists will deliver a 3-minute pitch followed by 5 minutes of Q&A from our panel, in a mainstage session hosted by Theo Paphitis himself!
There are incredible prizes for all three finalists:
🏆 1st Place: £7,500
🥈 2nd Place: £2,500
🥉 3rd Place: Exclusive Business Mentoring
Are you eligible?
✅ Must be an #SBS winner
✅ Must be signed up to the NatWest Accelerator app
✅ 18+ and a UK resident
Submit your 60-second video pitch by the end of January. This must be submitted by email to the #SBS Crew at sbs@tpretailgroup.com.
Key dates:
31st January 2026 – Entries Close
6th February 2026 – Finalists Confirmed
20th February 2026 – The Live Final at #SBSEvent2026
Please note: Finalists must be able to attend the live final in person and will be required to participate in media and video content creation as part of the competition.
Sign Up to the NatWest Accelerator App with the QR Code Below: Your business is unique. Find the practical tools, expert advice and support that’s right for yours with NatWest Accelerator. Join our community and learn how to increase sales, secure funding, and become the leader you need to be to grow your business your way.
Full Terms and Conditions below:
The #SBS x NatWest Accelerator Live Pitch Competition Terms and Conditions
The competition is open to small businesses who are winners of the Small Business Sunday (“#SBS”) competition from 12.30pm Monday 12th January 2026.
To be eligible to enter, entrants must:
- Be a winner of the #SBS competition
- Be based in the UK
- Be aged 18 or over
- Have registered on the NatWest Accelerator App via https://qrfy.io/p/BU2nrjyN42?utm_source=qrcode&utm_medium=app&utm_campaign=55289218
- Have shared their video pitch with the #SBS Crew via email to sbs@tpretailgroup.com
- Attend the #SBSEvent2026 in Birmingham on 20th February 2026 and deliver their live pitch. Every #SBS winner receives an invitation and the event is attended by c1000 small business owners.
#SBS x NatWest
NatWest is a long standing partner of #SBS is funding and supporting this competition.
The competition is not open to Strategic partners, Employees of NatWest Group, (“NatWest”) companies, their families, or anyone professionally connected with this competition. Equally the competition is not open to employees of the Theo Paphitis Retail Group. If entrants have been a Finalist or have won a prize in another ‘NatWest Accelerator Pitch’ Competition, they are not eligible to participate in this or any future NatWest Accelerator Pitch competitions.
Terms & Conditions
a. Entrants must submit a 60-second ‘video pitch’. Guidance regarding the video requirements can be found here: https://www.theopaphitissbs.com/news/want-a-slice-of-a-10k-pie-pitch-live-at-sbsevent2026/
b. One entry per business is allowed. Entries must be submitted via email to sbs@tpretailgroup.com.
All entries, including the video, and the copyright for them, become the property of the Promoter and entrants agree to execute such further documents, and do any act that may be necessary or desirable, to ensure ownership of such copyright vests in the Promoter.
c. Entries must be received between 12.30pm Monday 12th January 2026 and 11:59pm on 31st January 2026.
d. Entries not submitted in accordance with these rules, or that are delayed, damaged, incomplete, altered or illegible will be disqualified. No responsibility is accepted for entries lost or delayed. Proof of sending by email will not be accepted as proof of entry.
e. 3 businesses will be selected to proceed to a pitching competition live final which will take place in Birmingham at #SBSEvent2026 on 20th February 2026.
f. Entrants selected for the live final (“Finalists”) will be those who, in the view of the judges, present the strongest illustration of how the funding will help their business to grow.
g. Finalists will be notified of their nomination by email by 6th February 2026.
h. At the live final, Finalists will be asked to present an 8 minute pitch performance (consisting of a 3 minute pitch, and up to a 5 minute Q&A).
i. Prizes will be awarded to the three Finalists (“Winners”) who present at the live final based on the judging criteria above (two monetary prizes for 1st and 2nd place, and one non-monetary prize for 3rd place). The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into regarding such decision.
j. A total prize pot of £10k grant will be awarded as follows – NB. Prize funds are intended to support the winner’s business growth and development.:
1st place – £7.5k.
2nd place – £2.5k.
3rd prize – A one-hour Mentoring session with NatWest. The mentor will be matched based on the areas the 3rd place winner needs support with to ensure they get the most from the session. The mentoring session will take place online at a time agreed by both the mentor and the runner-up; and
A 90 minute Mentoring session with Theo Paphitis Retail Group CEO, Kypros Kyprianou in 2026 (this can be online or in person).
Any monetary prizes will be paid to the winners within 30 days of providing their bank details to the #SBS Crew via sbs@tpretailgroup.com. Bank details will be deleted after the payment has been made.
k. Winners will be announced live at the event. Prizes are non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash or other alternatives.
l. The winners agree to participate in promotional activities related to this competition, acknowledging that their entries may be used by the Promoter for marketing purposes, which may include, but are not limited to, online platforms, media, featuring in a round up VT and the Promoter’s social media channels. Additionally, they may be featured in content created by the #SBS and NatWest marketing team and its affiliates, encompassing videography and photography.
Winners may be invited to take part in networking opportunities taking place in a NatWest Accelerator Hub. Details to be discussed and agreed between NatWest and Winners prior to any networking events taking place.
Winners will need to commit a total of no more than 4 hours to PR & Marketing initiatives until the end of 2026.
m. The Promoter reserves the right to publish or make available such information as is necessary to demonstrate that a valid award took place including, if appropriate, the name and business name of the Winners and copies of the winning video entries.
n. If a prize is unclaimed after reasonable efforts have been made to contact the Winners the Promoter will be entitled to dispose of the prize as it sees fit without any liability to the Winners for having done so.
o. #SBS and NatWest are not liable for covering travel expenses or any related costs associated with attending the live final, events or experiences associated with the competition.
p. The Promoter reserves the right to alter, amend or foreclose the competition promotion without prior notice.
#SBS is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. You can find more information at Our privacy policy | #SBS Small Business Sunday. Selected video entries will be shared with NatWest for shortlisting purposes only.
The Promoter is Theo Paphitis Small Business Sunday Limited with registered company number 08540787 and registered office address Kindred House, 17 Hartfield Road, London, United Kingdom, SW19 3SE.
