In partnership with Creative England, a not-for-profit supporter of the creative industries, the Barclays accelerator will offer support to creative technology entrepreneurs in the initial stages of business development.
Startup founders are able to apply for a twelve-week intensive Barclays accelerator programme, including workshops, masterclasses and mentoring.
Successful applicants will gain skills in leadership, business planning, market and audience analysis and evaluation, sustainability and the culture of creative industries.
With coaching from experts at both Barclays and Creative England, participating entrepreneurs will learn how to develop their product and offering, with a focus on creative thinking and cross-collaboration.
Commenting on the launch, Barclays’ managing director for strategic transformation Steven Roberts said he was delighted that the lender was the first major UK bank to partner with Creative England. “We are determined to support UK entrepreneurs and enterprise and help to close the UK’s scale-up gap,” he added.
“[The partnership] means we can target the creative sector with a solution to help it to grow, and in turn stimulate UK economic growth. Our joint accelerator will be open to any business nationwide, with a focus on the South East.”
Barclays’ Eagle Lab – Flight will be implemented via Barclays’ existing Eagle Labs initiative and will run in the bank’s Brighton-based Eagle Lab in Spring 2017. Applications to the accelerator are now open, and the deadline to apply is 31 December 2016, and is open to customers and non-customers of Barclays.
In support of the initiative, the minister of state for digital and culture, Matt Hancock, reiterated the government’s commitment to creative and digital businesses. He said: “I’d urge any creative business wanting to expand and grow to apply for this scheme.
“Design and digital capability will be at the heart of the future economy. This great initiative from will help deliver vital knowledge and skills to businesses in this sector, and ultimately boost the number of UK scale-ups.”
Barclays’ Eagle Labs proven to help startups innovate, says business banking head
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