Show Notes 171: From Branch to Breakthrough: How Barclays Eagle Labs is Powering Cambridge’s Climate Tech Revolution

Cambridge’s tech ecosystem is one of the most vibrant in the world, and this week’s episode of the Cambridge Tech Podcast shines a spotlight on a powerful engine behind much of that momentum—Barclays Eagle Labs.

In a brilliant conversation, hosts Faye Holland and James Parton sit down with Sam Woods, Director of Technology, Media and Telecoms for UK Corporate Banking at Barclays, to explore how Eagle Labs and innovation banking are lighting the way for startups, scale-ups, and the entire local ecosystem.

“Banking for all its pretense and purpose is moving money, receiving money, sending money… What I really want to do is enable my clients to do that in the least stressed way possible.” – Sam Woods

Sam knows the challenges of standing out in both the corporate world and in startup banking. She emphasises finding your niche, making your passion visible, and surrounding yourself with the right advocates—a message that resonates as much for career builders as for founders at the start line.

Eagle Labs: Where Real Impact Meets Community

Originally launched to revitalise underused bank branches, Barclays Eagle Labs started life in 2015 right here in Cambridge. Since then, these Labs have grown into a 43-strong UK network, featuring state-of-the-art facilities, community-driven programming, and sector-focused hubs powered by partnerships (think GCHQ in Manchester for cybersecurity, Carbon13 in Cambridge for climate tech).

Eagle Labs’ Noteworthy Features:

• Physical & Digital Community: From on-site workspaces and retrofitted sustainable premises to virtual mentorship via the Eagle Lab online platform.

• Demo Directory: A unique showcase where startups pitch to investors, leading to serious funding opportunities and real visibility.

• Founders’ Academy: Free online courses covering pitching, networking, finance essentials, and more.

• Targeted Accelerators: Programmes for female founders, black founders, and scale-up CEOs, all designed to put real power behind diversity and growth.

• Sector-Specific Support: Cambridge Eagle Lab is now a national climate tech hub, complete with solar panels, energy efficiency innovations—and a can-do, collaborative vibe.

“From idea to IPO, we can support every single stage of that process for a tech company—and that’s absolutely incredible.” – Sam Woods

Hard Numbers, Honest Talk

Sam doesn’t shy away from the UK scale-up funding gap:

“As businesses start to accelerate that growth, there just isn’t enough money within the UK to support that. We’re third globally for innovation but overshadowed by the US when it comes to funding.”

Barclays is lobbying at the top and launching innovation banking brands designed to streamline support and connect startups with VCs, investors, and the right products at every growth stage.

In Cambridge, Climate Tech Takes Centre Stage

The retrofitted Eagle Lab, adorned with solar-thermal panels by Naked Energy (one of their own investment successes), models the ecosystem in microcosm. It’s an HQ for clean growth founders, and a proving ground for genuinely sustainable business.

“If anybody listening to this hasn’t been, reach out to Paul [Lab Manager], he’ll more than happily show you around because it really is an amazing space.”

TL;DR – Why You Should Listen

• Insider tips from a top tech banker on career growth and building your niche

• How Barclays is differentiating in startup banking through specialism and relationships

• The evolution of Eagle Labs into a nationwide engine for innovation and diversity

• Honest insight into the scale-up and funding challenge in the UK

• Cambridge’s climate tech focus and examples of sustainable innovation in action

• If you’re building, funding, or scaling a tech business in Cambridge (or wish you were), this episode is packed with actionable insight and community optimism.

Subscribe, tune in, and get inspired by what’s happening at the intersection of finance and tech right now.

To listen and subscribe, search for ‘Cambridge Tech Podcast’ on your favourite podcasting platform or visit cambridgetechpodcast.com.