NatWest and ITV have today announced the launch of a new competition where three of the UK’s brightest small businesses will win their own TV advert worth £150,000, produced by acclaimed London-based advertising agency Pablo, with guaranteed, tailored airtime on ITV and through NatWest’s owned channels.

The high street bank and broadcaster have combined forces to show their support to the UK’s small business sector following the most challenging year for SMEs in recent history. Open to any sector and size, business owners need to be based in the UK and over 18 to enter, with entries open until midnight on 2 November at natwestbusinesshub.com/extraordinary.

The campaign kicks off on 17 October with the first in the series of the four adverts featuring Cornwall based success story Buttermilk, who specialise in a wide range of confectionary, with an inclusive and sustainable purpose. The business began as a fudge shop in Padstow in 1964, and today now ships its diverse range of sweet treats to customers in 10 different countries, and to most of the UK’s major supermarkets.

Margaret Jobling, Chief Marketing Officer, NatWest Group, said: “Small business owners around the UK have been through an unbelievably difficult year, and have fought hard to continue supporting their customers through the challenges that the pandemic has brought all of us, so we want to give three extraordinary businesses the opportunity to share their message and build their brand through a professionally filmed and produced ad, as well as tailored airtime.

As the biggest business bank in the UK, NatWest is delighted to be teaming up with ITV and Pablo to offer this unique opportunity to three of the UK’s best up and coming businesses.”

Mark Trinder, Director of Commercial Sales and Partnerships at ITV, said: “Lockdown has posed challenges and difficulties for so many businesses, and we have constantly been looking at agile and effective ways of helping brands to stay connected and closer to their customers. This partnership with NatWest and Pablo is all about honouring creativity and ingenuity, and will provide three small businesses with an invaluable free advertising package that will keep them front of mind throughout these uncertain times.”

NatWest will also provide over 50 additional support packages to the top entrants, including places on NatWest’s Accelerator programme for entrepreneurs, 1:1 coaching sessions, and advertising spend for LinkedIn. Business owners can enter by visiting natwestbusinesshub.com/extraordinary.

Earlier this year, ITV launched ITV Backing Business, an initiative designed to support businesses as they return to growth over the coming months. The Backing Business hub offers a specially tailored toolkit providing marketing support, digital content, information, resources, special offers and trading flexibility. Additionally ITV commercial offered support packages specifically targeting universities, charities and arts heritage.

* Entrants must be UK residents, aged 18 and over.