Barclays opens tech incubator in Burnley

Barclays is to expand its Eagle Labs network into Lancashire, creating a tech hub in Burnley's The Landmark.

Eagle Labs is a national network of incubator spaces providing business incubation, mentoring and co-working and office space for ambitious high-growth businesses, as well as digital skills development and rapid prototyping through onsite digital fabrication equipment and Industry 4.0 expertise.

They can be found in major cities including London, Manchester, Leeds and Cambridge and now The Landmark has become an independent site partner, less than a year after its opening.

Landmark members, start-ups, entrepreneurs and tech businesses seeking to grow and develop, will now have access to the support and services delivered by the team of skilled experts from the worldwide leading banking group.

Eagle Labs will curate a range of activities including educational support for start-ups through a series of workshops, including seminars on how to start a business and how to scale up, with access to digital learning material and resident Barclays bank managers.

Plans also include sector specific events and meet-ups along with access to high growth banking specialists. The Landmark has already attracted the interests of Google and Facebook, hosting sell-out training events and seminars and now its members will also have access to the entire Eagle Lab network throughout the country, enabling collaboration between businesses and sharing of digital skills.

Mark Crabtree, founder and owner of The Landmark, said: “This is a significant milestone, both for our current members using the unique facilities offered at The Landmark and for the wider business community. Barclays Eagle Labs will bring support and innovation for ambitious young start-ups and entrepreneurs seeking to develop their businesses."