RBS Accelerator Catalyst Event Glasgow: Why No One Gets Your Brand (Yet), and How to Fix It
Hosted by: Glasgow Royal Bank Accelerator
Date: Thursday, 19 March 2026 · 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Location: Royal Bank Accelerator Hub, 36 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh
Booking via Eventbrite
About the event
Most founders don’t have a brand problem. They have a clarity problem. If the people you’re trying to reach can’t immediately grasp why your brand is for them — and why now — they won’t buy, no matter how strong the product is. The problem isn’t the market. It’s what you’re saying, and how you’re positioning it.
In this hands-on masterclass, Sid Kathirvel, Founder and Strategic Growth Partner at Unlock Growth, unpacks the real psychology behind why people buy — and just as critically, what hidden forces are quietly stopping them from switching to you. You’ll work through positioning and messaging frameworks live in the room, leaving with worksheets and tools you can use immediately.
Expect real examples, sharp frameworks, and a shift in how you think about what your brand is actually communicating — and to whom.
What you’ll learn
- What genuinely makes people buy or switch to a new brand — and why it’s rarely what founders assume
- The hidden forces holding your ideal customers back from committing to you
- How to position your brand so it’s instantly clear, relevant, and desirable
- How to craft messaging that grabs attention and makes people want in
- Why most brand and marketing efforts stall — and the reframe that changes everything
You’ll walk away with practical tools, worksheets, and frameworks you can apply straight away to strengthen your brand and fuel growth.
Who it’s for
This masterclass is built for:
- Early-stage founders struggling to articulate clearly why people should care about their brand
- Founders gearing up for a go-to-market push or a significant marketing sprint
- Anyone whose growth has plateaued and suspects positioning or messaging is the bottleneck
- Teams tired of watching a great product get overlooked by the right audience
What Attendees Said
Feedback from the same masterclass delivered at the Edinburgh hub:
“This was a very insightful session with great explanations, examples and practical worksheets.”
“10/10! Completely changed the way I’m now thinking about approaching my new venture.”
“Comprehensive and digestible. Challenging and accessible.”
“To the point information shared with humour from someone who knows what they are talking about and wants you to succeed.”
About the speaker
Sid Kathirvel is a Strategic Growth Partner and Founder of Unlock Growth, with over 24 years of experience across brand strategy, e-commerce, and growth marketing. He helps founders and teams — from early-stage startups to scaling SMEs — break through growth ceilings and sharpen the positioning that unlocks their next level. Trusted by leading programmes including the Scottish Government’s Techscaler, Edinburgh University’s Innovations, and Digital Boost to mentor their founders, he has also worked with major brands including Coca-Cola, Cadbury, NHS, and Unilever, and collaborated with leaders from FanDuel, Meta, PayPal, Klarna, and Ogilvy. Sid was named Marketing Mentor of the Year 2024.