Ecosystem Partnership Programme
Powered by Barclays Eagle Labs funded by UK Government
The Ecosystem Partnership Programme supports organisations, embedded in their local entrepreneurial ecosystem to help boost their support to tech and digital businesses. Organisations can apply for matched funding to deliver new or amplify existing activities that address opportunities or challenges that have been identified within their local ecosystem.
Applications open
19 Oct 2023
Applications close
7 Dec 2023
Applications reviewed
Dec 2023
Successful applicant(s) notified
Jan 2024
Successful applicant(s) begin activities
1 Apr 2024
Successful applicant(s) complete activities
31 Mar 2025
Why apply?
If you’re currently running activity to support your local tech ecosystem, we invite you to apply for matched funding via our Ecosystem Partnership Programme.
Organisations can apply for up to £250,000 (per NUTS1 region) in matched funding to support their activity and we’re inviting applications from (list not exhaustive):
- Industry-specific tech cluster organisations
- Local Authorities
- Local Enterprise Partnerships
- Tech-focused incubators, accelerators and local networks
- Universities and other educational institutions
Selection criteria
Applications will be judged against set criteria and all applicants must be able to demonstrate that:
- They can match the funding they are applying for through a combination of private funding (and / or) grant funding
- They have the capability to run localised programmes that contribute towards achieving the Digital Growth Grant objectives and complement activity in their region(s)
- They have identified a localised need or opportunity within their ecosystem
- Their proposed project does not duplicate activity which is currently being addressed by the UK Government funded programmes
- They have a robust plan in place that delivers activity (and in-year benefits realised) between 1st April 2024 and 31st March 2025
- They are committed to encouraging and growing diversity in the tech sector within their region(s)
- They are willing to share best practices with fellow organisations across the UK to benefit the whole UK Tech ecosystem
- They have channels to promote Ecosystem Partnership Programme activity in their region(s) if they are awarded matched funding.
Please note we are only accepting applications from organisations who can provide evidence that they can match the funding that they are applying for to ensure the Ecosystem Partnership Programme can effectively increase regional support. The matched funding will need to be in place before 1st April 2024 to demonstrate the project is fully funded prior to commencement. The matched funding needs to be a cash contribution, therefore contributions in-kind are not eligible for this programme.
Programme exclusions
Given the regional focus of the programme, activity specific to the London ecosystem is out of scope, however London based organisations are eligible to apply for funding to deliver activity based in other regions of the UK.
Application Terms
In submitting your application, you agree to the following terms which will govern your application up until we have signed a full commercial agreement.
Applications will be progressed at the sole discretion of Barclays, with input from the Digital Growth Grant Independent Advisory Board. Barclays is under no obligation to proceed with matched funding, pending entering into a binding commercial agreement with the applicant. All discussions and correspondence with Eagle Labs as part of your application must be treated as confidential by you.
Successful applicants will be required to enter into a Programme Agreement with Barclays. This will be on Barclays’ standard supplier terms and include standard grant funding requirements from UK Government. Given the timelines for consideration and delivery of applications, Barclays will not be in a position to materially negotiate these terms with successful applicants.
In addition, you understand that your matched funding will be limited as follows
- Funding will be capped at £250k per region
- Minimum request of £50k per application, which must be fully utilised
- Funded activity must commence on or after 1st April 2024 and be completed by 31st March 2025
- Payments to be made to UK bank accounts only, in GBP
- As part of the matched funding, the funded activity will be associated with the Digital Growth Grant programme and carry the Funded by UK Government logo/word mark
- Validation of costs of how the money was spent and impact of the spend must be provided
- Matched funding requests must be inclusive of VAT
Ecosystem Partnership Programme FAQs
Application submission
Can organisations be involved in multiple applications?
Organisations may submit applications independently, as part of a consortium and / or participate in multiple applications for one or multiple NUTS1 regions
What happens after I have submitted an application?
Following the application closure date of 7th Dec 2023, Barclays Eagle Labs will review and score the applications submitted, before ultimately creating a shortlist of applications we propose to take forward, seeking input from the Digital Growth Grant Independent Advisory Board. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of applications in Jan 2024.
If I was successful for the first round of the Ecosystem Partnership Programme, can I apply again?
Yes, you can apply again. However, we ask that your proposed activity is different from your successful application. For example, the programme or location is different, or you have a new industry focus.
Brand positioning
How will the activity delivered as part of the Ecosystem Partnership Programme be branded?
All activity funded by the Ecosystem Partnership Programme should carry the applicant(s) / contracting organisation(s) logo, the Barclays Eagle Labs Logo and the ‘Funded by UK Government’ Logo. Specific branding requirements and guidelines will be shared during the contracting stage.
Digital Growth Grant and objectives
What exactly is the Digital Growth Grant?
Barclays Eagle Labs have been awarded a £12 million Digital Growth Grant, funded by UK Government to support tech businesses in all corners of the UK. Through the grant Barclays Eagle Labs is boosting the growth of UK tech startups and scaleups. More information on the Digital Growth Grant and associated activities can be found here.
What are the Digital Growth Grant objectives that the Ecosystem Partnership Programme applications should be looking to support?
Programme applications should be looking to support one or more of the following Digital Growth Grant objectives:
- Deliver support services to the digital sector, particularly in transformative/emerging technologies. These services should address key challenges faced by a wide range of tech companies from the seed funding stage to series A/B, their first or second round of financing
- Grow regional support networks for tech startups and scaleups. Activities should deliver concrete improvements in three of the areas that were identified in DCMS’s Regional Ecosystems report as crucial to the success of the digital economy. These are: investment, innovation and business growth. Support should be tailored to local needs and tech specialisms, and should be developed in partnership with local bodies and existing tech groups
- Ensure founders and firms can access digital entrepreneurship and investment readiness training, with tailored advice to help develop their skills to start and grow a tech business
- Clearly signpost startups and scaleups to existing initiatives in the private and the public sector across the UK that can help them access finance, talent and markets
Do Ecosystem Partnership Programme applications need to support all four objectives?
No, the requirement is that applications should support at least one objective as a minimum. Applications should clearly document which objective(s) the activity is looking to support, and how such activity complements activity in the defined region(s).
Eligible activity
Does the proposed activity need to be brand new?
Activity funded by the Ecosystem Partnership Programme can be a brand-new intervention or an amplification of existing activity, whether that be in terms of scale and / or duration.
Funding / matched funding
How much money has been ring-fenced from the Digital Growth Grant to support the Ecosystem Partnership Programme?
Barclays Eagle Labs has ring-fenced over £1m from the Digital Growth Grant to specifically support the 2024 Ecosystem Partnership Programme. This amount is indicative only and subject to change.
What is deemed as Matched Funding and does this include contribution in kind?
Applications require actual cash match funding, not in-kind match funding. Resource commitments, use of infrastructure and/or provision of facilities cannot be used as evidence of matched contribution(s). However, the cost for required resource, and associated infrastructure and/or provision of facilities are deemed as eligible expenditure and can be included as a cost to deliver the activities proposed within the application.
Can existing Grant funding be used as Matched Funding?
Grant Funding may be proposed as the matched funding component of an application. However, it is the responsibility of the applying organisation to ensure the use of existing Grant funding is permitted to be used in the context of matched funding for the Ecosystem Partnership Programme.
What are the timeframes for delivering the funded activity and / or realising the associated benefits?
Any activity funded via the 2024 Ecosystem Partnership Programme must commence on or after 1st April 2024 and be completed by 31st March 2025, in line with the Digital Growth Grant funding window. Some benefits will be realisations outside of the delivery window, i.e. Investments.
Is this a grant?
No, Barclays will be commercially contracting with organisations to deliver the services outlined in their application. This is not a grant arrangement.
Is VAT applicable?
Assessment of VAT applicability is the responsibility of the applying organisation. The amount requested should make all appropriate previsions for any applicable VAT.
Legal arrangements / supplier terms
What are Barclays’ standard supplier terms?
We will share a full contract with successful applicants for their consideration once we have decided whether to proceed with their application and they have signed a non-disclosure agreement. Eagle Labs uses oneNDA so applicants should ensure they are comfortable to use this for negotiations.
Monitoring & reporting
What Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) will applicants need to report if successful in their application?
In addition to the KPI’s proposed in the application (which will be bespoke to the specific EPP intervention), as a minimum successful applicants will be required to report on quantitative performance metrics e.g., businesses supported, programme participants (including demographic breakdown) as well as qualitative key performance metrics inclusive of participant feedback.
NUTS1 regions
Can an application span multiple NUTS1 Regions?
Due to the hyper-local nature of the EPP, applications need to address a specific challenge or opportunity within a NUTS1 Region. However, we recognise that NUTS1 boundaries may not necessarily align to ecosystem boundaries, and / or the same challenge may exist in more than one NUTS1 region, in which case applicants are eligible to submit an application that supports more than one region.
Does an application need to impact an entire NUTS1 Region?
EPP activity can be targeted at a smaller ecosystem than the entirety of a NUTS1 Region.
Is there a maximum value being allocated per each individual NUTS 1 Region?
The current proposal is for funding to be capped at £250k per NUTS1 Region. This capped value may be a combination of a single or multiple successful applications.