N4 Partners appoints Gordon Merrylees for launch of UK startup fund

Gordon Merrylees from N4 Partners
Gordon Merrylees from N4 Partners

N4 Partners has hired Gordon Merrylees, the former managing director of entrepreneurship for NatWest, RBS and Ulster Bank, as a director ahead of the launch of a new investment fund targeting entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses based in the UK.

During his 36 years at RBS, Merrylees worked with and supported a number of entrepreneurs, early-stage startups and high-growth SMEs as he led the bank’s support programme for UK businesses, culminating in the launch of the Bank’s first in-house Entrepreneur Accelerator programme and the subsequent creation of 12 UK-wide accelerator hubs. Under his leadership, the accelerator network supported over 60,000 entrepreneurs, which benefited from over £400m of investment, and continues to form a core part of the Bank’s proposition to SMEs today.

“Throughout my career I’ve always been incredibly passionate about supporting the growth of talented entrepreneurs and startup businesses across the UK,” Merrylees said in a statement. “From establishing a leading startup and scaleup accelerator programme at RBS, to my current role with Know-it as chief commercial officer, playing my part to ensure the innovative credit management software firm fulfils its potential as one of the UK’s most innovative fintech startups, I have now experienced first-hand the level of support required for startups and entrepreneurs to be successful and achieve their growth ambitions. Having known the team at N4 for some time and sharing the same desire and urgency to help early-stage businesses grow and thrive, I’m thrilled to join the firm and look forward to helping the team identify and execute exciting investment opportunities within the talented UK startup community.”

Established in 2020, N4 Partners is a Glasgow-based investment and advisory firm that partners with talented entrepreneurs and businesses operating across a range of sectors throughout the UK. Since launching, N4 has continued to expand both its investment team and advisory offering with the recruitment of key senior hires, including last year’s appointment of the former CEO of Tesco Bank, Benny Higgins, as chair.