Source: Creative England
Today we announce a new partnership with Barclays that will focus on boosting fast-growing, creative technology businesses.
Together, we are launching a new twelve-week accelerator, providing creative technology entrepreneurs with the support and help they need early on in their business lifecycle through workshops, masterclasses and mentor programme. ‘Barclays’ Eagle Lab - Flight’ will be led by us and implemented through Barclays’ successful Eagle Labs programme.
Matt Hancock, Minister of State for Digital and Culture said:
“This government is committed to backing the success of the UK’s creative industries as design and digital capability will be at the heart of the future economy. This great initiative from Creative England and Barclays will help deliver vital knowledge and skills to businesses in this sector and ultimately boost the number of UK scale-ups. I'd urge any creative business wanting to expand and grow to apply for this scheme.”
The programme will offer eight investments of £25,000 to creative tech and digital companies with an interesting product to market as well as 3 months of business support through the accelerator.
Applications are now open - deadline to apply is 31st December 2016 and is open to customers and non-customers of Barclays.
Caroline Norbury, CEO Creative England, commented:
“As recognised in the Autumn Statement, digital is future critical, as is the need to back start-ups to scale up. Our partnership with Barclays and the launch of Barclays’ Eagle Lab - Flight is an important step in our mission to support creative, digital businesses across the country, both driving economic growth and creating high wage, high skill jobs.”
Steven Roberts, MD Strategic Transformation at Barclays said:
“We are determined to support UK entrepreneurs and enterprise and help to close the UK’s scale-up gap. We are delighted to be the first bank to partner with Creative England - and working together means we can target the creative sector with a solution to help them 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.”