Southampton City Council appoints Barclays to run Network Eagle Lab co-working space

• The Barclays Eagle Labs team has won a tender from Southampton City Council to manage Network Eagle Lab, the city’s first co-working space for creative, digital and knowledge-based start-ups
• The appointment marks the first collaboration between the Barclays Eagle Labs team and a local authority, and represents the 22^nd location in the nationwide Eagle Lab system
• The space, located in the Marlands Shopping Centre, will open this summer and applications are now live for residents to join the Network Eagle Lab

Barclays has been appointed by Southampton City Council to manage Network Eagle Lab, Southampton’s new unique co-working space at the Marlands Shopping Centre.

With cutting edge facilities, including a photographic studio and maker space, Network Eagle Lab will support creative, digital and knowledge-based start-ups and scale-ups by delivering the city’s first collaborative, co-working environment.

The re-purposed 12,500 sq ft retail storage space on the second floor of the Marlands Shopping Centre has already attracted a huge level of interest from potential residents. The location will provide them with a city-centre environment, flexible memberships, and amenities such as a bike store and shower facilities.

The space will be run by the Barclays Eagle Labs team, a group with a track record of helping entrepreneurs and businesses grow and scale in their local communities and beyond. Network Eagle Lab marks the first collaboration between Barclays Eagle Labs and a local authority, and becomes the 22^nd location in the nationwide system – continuing the expansion of one of the UK’s largest co-working, collaboration and innovation networks.

Beyond providing a home, Eagle Labs offer ‘residents’ the opportunity to connect with like-minded entrepreneurs, local organisations, universities, industry bodies and potential clients and investors. These resources will provide more opportunities for Southampton start-ups and scale-ups to grow, in turn strengthening the city’s established position in the digital sector.

The appointment of the Barclays Eagle Labs team to run Network Eagle Lab follows the creation in 2018 of a new business unit at Barclays called Barclays UK (BUK) Ventures. BUK Ventures has an independent mandate to deliver new customer experiences at pace and scale – ultimately driving growth for communities, businesses and Barclays – and is responsible for growing the Eagle Lab network.

Caroline Burley, Head of SME for the South Coast, Sussex and Surrey at Barclays, said: “We’re proud to have entered into our first partnership with a local authority in Southampton, a city known for its digital innovation. We’ll bring our Eagle Labs philosophy to the Network Eagle Lab, helping to provide start-ups and scale-ups a home and fostering the connections to help them grow.

“In addition, the space aligns with our belief that city-centre locations can and should be used creatively to become new hubs for the communities they serve. We’re excited to be part of the growth story here, and to partner with Southampton City Council to provide continued support to what is an already-thriving sector in the city.”

Leader of Southampton City Council, Councillor Christopher Hammond commented: “There’s a network of Eagle Labs throughout the UK offering bespoke, collaborative environments for entrepreneurs in the digital and knowledge-based industries. As the managers of Network Eagle Lab, the Barclays team will bring their experience of working with start-ups and scale-ups to provide expert advice and vital connections to those using this incredible venue.

“Co-working environments are well established in cities such as London and Manchester and it was imperative that we provided a fit-for-purpose flexible space in order for this growth industry sector to continue to thrive in Southampton. Network Eagle Lab will deliver exactly that.”

Doors will open this summer and businesses interested in joining Network Eagle Lab can find out more by visiting https://labs.uk.barclays/

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About Eagle Labs

Eagle Labs are Barclays spaces to help entrepreneurs and ambitious businesses collaborate, innovate and grow. Eagle Labs aim to cultivate a community of likeminded entrepreneurs and provide them access to a collaborative environment, peer networks, and opportunities to maximise growth.

Eagle Labs also offer support to established larger organisations, developing programmes to help corporates create an entrepreneurial culture by introducing innovative practices and encouraging intrapreneurship.

With 21 Eagle Labs across the country and more in the pipeline, the focus is to help accelerate UK scale-ups, promote collaborative innovation across the entire ecosystem and enable access to, and training on, new and emerging technologies such as AI, blockchain, 3D-printing and the Internet of Things which make up ‘Industry 4.0’ – the fourth industrial revolution.

For further information about Barclays Eagle Labs, please visit our website labs.uk.barclays. 

About Barclays

Barclays is a transatlantic consumer and wholesale bank offering products and services across personal, corporate and investment banking, credit cards and wealth management, with a strong presence in our two home markets of the UK and the US.

With over 325 years of history and expertise in banking, Barclays operates in over 40 countries and employs 83,500 people. Barclays moves, lends, invests and protects money for customers and clients worldwide.

For further information about Barclays, please visit our website www.home.barclays