Barclays’ deep commitment to transform itself, the banking industry and the communities they serve through innovation to ensure that the UK economy can thrive in an increasingly digital world is evidenced by it establishing Barclays Eagle Labs – a national platform that connects and supports the entrepreneurial ecosystem by creating opportunities for ambitious business founders and by giving them access to a broad range of skills and services to help their business grow.

Eagle Labs started by taking over under-used Barclays branches and offices and converting them into thriving spaces that are tailored to the needs of the local business community by creating a hub for sharing ideas and experiences and encouraging collaboration and innovation.

Alongside this, they provide access to a network of mentors, partners and experts - all positioned to help their members’ businesses to grow. They also provide exposure and access to the technologies that make up Industry 4.0 to enable future skills development and to support businesses and individuals with rapid prototyping and product development to help get products to market quicker.

In Cumbria:

Each Lab is managed by a dedicated Ecosystem Manager whose role it is to support Lab members and introduce them to our wider network and to mentors who will help them scale their businesses faster. They also create and build relationships with local community, academic and business groups to embed their Lab as an important community hub.

Eagle Labs are set up to give entrepreneurs and business founders access to the right people, knowledge, and opportunities to scale and succeed and run a series of educational growth programmes, virtual events and an online support hub to help founders develop the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.

Eagle Labs also specialises in positively disrupting key industries by bringing together key corporate players, industry bodies, leading universities and start-ups to enable rapid innovation and investment by asking them to collaborate and currently have dedicated LawTech, HealthTech, EnergyTech and AgriTech industry-aligned programmes.

As well as providing business incubation, Eagle Labs also partner with local authorities and local UK Government initiatives and help them to revitalise the local economy by setting up and running incubators and

dedicated business growth programmes that support the local tech sector and drive economic growth in the region.

Each Lab is managed by a dedicated Ecosystem Manager whose role it is to support Lab members and introduce them to our wider network and to mentors who will help them scale their businesses faster. They also create and build relationships with local community, academic and business groups to embed their Lab as an important community hub.

In Cumbria:

One such space is in Whitehaven, Cumbria where they partnered with Britain’s Energy Coast (BEC) and Sellafield to launch a new incubator, which forms part of the redevelopment of Whitehaven’s former bus depot on Bransty Row. The space comprises a mix of co-working, offices and meeting space, plus a ‘makerspace’ with rapid prototyping equipment including vinyl cutter, laser cutter and 3D printers, Eagle Labs was selected as a partner because of its track record of helping entrepreneurs and businesses grow and scale in their local communities and beyond.

Eagle Labs have grown to 24 Labs in key locations in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland since launching their first space in Cambridge in 2015 by partnering with like-minded organisations who are equally as passionate about creating thriving digitally-enhanced local communities.

Find out more about Barclays Eagle Labs at labs.uk.barclays or get in touch John McAllister, Ecosystem Manager, john.mcallister@barclays.com

In Cumbria: