Barclays Eagle Labs

Barclays Eagle Labs is a network of incubator spaces to help entrepreneurs and ambitious businesses to innovate and scale.

Eagle Labs have dedicated co-working office and event space for businesses to work, receive structured mentoring, attend technical events and participate in industry-focused transformation and growth programmes.

From each location, Eagle Labs aims to cultivate a community of likeminded entrepreneurs who can benefit from access to a collaborative environment and peer networks. Each community benefits from access to curated activity relevant to maximise growth opportunities, including Barclays’ transatlantic connections and Barclays’ banking products and services. Eagle Labs also offer support to established larger organisations having developed programmes to help larger corporates create an entrepreneurial culture by introducing innovative practices and encouraging intrapreneurship.

With Eagle Labs dotted across the UK and the world, the focus is to help accelerate UK scaleups and startups and promote innovation across the entire ecosystem.

The journey for Barclays Eagle Labs began in 2015 when Barclays launched Eagle Labs, a network of spaces aimed at fostering entrepreneurship, innovation, and digital skills development.

In 2016, Barclays recognised the potential of underutilised office space and announced plans to convert these spaces into digital training sessions, providing opportunities for individuals and businesses to enhance their digital skills. This initiative was part of their commitment to supporting the growth of the digital economy.

Expanding its reach, Barclays launched the first Eagle Lab outside London in Edinburgh in 2018. This move aimed to tap into the vibrant Scottish entrepreneurial ecosystem and provide local startups with access to resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities.

In 2019, Barclays continued its expansion by managing a new Eagle Lab workspace in Southampton. Recognising the potential of the agricultural sector, Barclays launched Eagle Lab Farm in 2020. This initiative aimed to boost the future of UK agriculture by providing a platform for collaboration, innovation, and technological advancements in the sector.

Barclays continued to strengthen its presence in different regions in 2021. They offered business start-up support at the Whitehaven Bus Station development and established Barclays Eagle Labs Cumbria, positioning it as the new home for Cumbrian start-ups.

In 2022, partnerships played a key role in the growth of Barclays Eagle Labs. The University of York partnered with Eagle Labs to provide business support and advice to entrepreneurs and businesses in the city. The Landmark in Burnley was also recognised as a unique site under the Barclays Eagle Labs network.

Barclays Eagle Labs also embraced the importance of digital security by opening a digital security accelerator in the North West in 2022. This accelerator focused on supporting early-stage startups in developing innovative cybersecurity solutions.

Moreover, in June 2023, Barclays welcomed Gemba to its Funding Readiness Programme powered by Capital Enterprise. This program aimed to support early-stage startups in their funding journey and provide them with the necessary resources and guidance to succeed.

The primary goals and purposes of Barclays Eagle Labs are to foster innovation, drive economic growth, and support entrepreneurs and startups across various industries. The initiative aims to create an ecosystem that connects technology, talent, and trends to accelerate innovation in different sectors. By leveraging Barclays' global network, expertise, and resources, Eagle Labs provides a supportive environment for businesses to thrive and make a positive impact.

One key goal of Eagle Labs is to facilitate collaboration and networking within the startup ecosystem. Through partnerships with universities, industry experts, investors, and other organisations, Eagle Labs connects entrepreneurs with the right people and resources to drive their ideas forward. The initiative aims to foster a sense of community and provide a platform for like-minded individuals to connect, share knowledge, and collaborate on innovative projects.

Another goal of Eagle Labs is to provide startups with the necessary tools, support, and guidance to navigate the challenges of scaling and growing their businesses. This includes access to mentoring programs, expert guidance, and tailored resources specific to each industry. By offering industry-specific programs, such as accelerators and incubators, Eagle Labs helps startups refine their ideas, develop their products or services, and accelerate their growth trajectory.

Eagle Labs also seeks to bridge the gap between traditional industries and emerging technologies. By connecting established businesses and industry leaders with startups and innovative technologies, Eagle Labs aims to drive digital transformation and create sustainable efficiencies in sectors such as AgriTech, Climate and Nature Innovation, Digital Security, EnergyTech, HealthTech, and LawTech. The initiative serves as a catalyst for collaboration and innovation, enabling the adoption of new technologies and the development of disruptive solutions to address industry challenges.

Additionally, Barclays Eagle Labs aims to support the broader ecosystem by providing access to specialised banking and financial services. By offering tailored deals, access to funding opportunities, and expertise in areas like high growth and entrepreneurship, corporate banking, and wealth management, Eagle Labs helps startups and entrepreneurs navigate the financial aspects of their businesses and position themselves for success.

AgriTech: The goal of Agritech division is to connect traditional agriculture with new and emerging technologies to create sustainable efficiencies in farming and close supply chain gaps in food production. Through partnerships with institutions like Harper Adams University, University of Lincoln, and others, Eagle Labs provides access and connects businesses to its AgriTech Ecosystem, consisting of over 500 businesses. This community offers mentoring, expert guidance, industry events, and tailored deals and offers, as well as specialist banking support from Barclays' High Growth & Entrepreneurs corporate banking and Wealth and Investment Management teams. Additionally, Eagle Labs offers specific programs such as the AgriTech Accelerator with the University of Lincoln, a fully funded 10-week accelerator program focused on early-stage AgriTech business development and growth.

Climate and Nature Innovation: Barclays Eagle Labs supports startups and scaleups in the ClimateTech and NatureTech sectors. The community provides opportunities for entrepreneurs, investors, big companies, and academics to connect and collaborate. Similar to the AgriTech focus, there are mentoring services, industry events, and access to relevant content and resources. Programs like the Sustainability Bridge and the Carbon13 Venture Launchpad offer platforms for established businesses and startups to come together, share innovative ideas, and develop climate tech ventures with global impact. Barclays' expertise in banking and financial services is also available through specialised teams, including High Growth & Entrepreneurs, Corporate Banking, Wealth and Investment Management.

HealthTech: Eagle Labs collaborates with industry experts, innovators, and health and social care providers to transform the healthcare industry through collaboration, innovation, and technology. Programs like Propel@YH, FemTech Lab Accelerator, and Venture Builder Incubator provide targeted support to digital health startups and entrepreneurs. 

LawTech: Eagle Labs partners with the Law Society to connect LawTech businesses with leading law firms, facilitating collaborative solutions using new and emerging legal innovation. The LawTech Sandbox Mentoring Programme offers dedicated one-on-one support to fast track transformative LawTech offerings.