Nexters, a Big Society Network UK programme to find and nurture social entrepreneurs, has enlisted the support of Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks to expand into the North.

The banking group joins Nexters’ existing sponsors – which include UnLtd, Nesta and Deloitte – in a programme that supports social entrepreneurs who use networked technology in a ‘new and innovative’ way.

The programme currently supports 23 partners, including Pimp My Cause, SportInspired and People Who Share, around half of which have won grants and investments since the start of 2012.

All of these organisations aim to help communities share and engage with each other across a range of social activities, using platforms such as the web, mobile or games. Nexters provides support that includes channel development for new markets, mentoring support and early-stage investment.

Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks advises its support will "involve a financial element", but the company is mostly going to be providing ground-level support to individual Nexters members by, for example, taking part in board meetings, providing its brand and supplying business contacts.

This move continues Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks' community work, which includes launching the Yorkshire and Clydesdale Bank Foundation in 2008, a venture that provides support to charities and other voluntary organisations in the north of England and Scotland.