Barclays Eagle Labs and Sustainable Ventures have partnered to launch The National Climate Tech Accelerator (NCTA), a new programme designed to rapidly scale high-potential climate tech startups across the UK.

The initiative unites the UK’s leading growth partner for climate tech startups, Sustainable Ventures, with one of the UK’s largest entrepreneurial networks, Barclays Eagle Labs, to deliver an ecosystem unmatched in the UK.

This programme is built to support UK-registered businesses with climate or sustainability at their core and a clear aspiration to grow and scale their impact.

Founders participating in the accelerator programme will benefit from a blended package of commercial and technical support, including access to the Sustainable Ventures Digital Learning Platform, the Eagle Labs Entrepreneur Academy, and up to $250,000 in Google Cloud credits.

Barclays customers will additionally unlock premium, high-impact acceleration tools including funded 1:1 mentoring, pitch events with climate tech investors, dedicated workspace access across the Eagle Labs network or at Sustainable Ventures and enhanced national visibility through the Barclays Entrepreneur Awards and the NCTA Pitch Competition.

Established in 2011, Sustainable Ventures has built one of Europe’s climate tech startup communities.  Located in key regions across the UK, its programmes have supported 1000+ startups, achieving a leading success rate of 80% (compared to the industry average of  <60%), generated 7000 plus green jobs and provided £1.2bn in funding.

“This programme will provide hundreds of climate tech companies with advice and support, giving them an unfair business advantage that will help them scale faster from idea to exit,” Andrew Wordsworth, CEO and founder of Sustainable Ventures, said.

Recommended reading

• Glasgow Accelerator Opens for Scottish Climate Tech Startups
• 66% of Companies Think Climate Tech is Essential
• Glasgow Uni to Develop Climate Change Sensor Network
• Aberdeen Uni to Create Arctic Digital Twin to Monitor Climate Change

“This partnership with Barclays Eagle Labs will scale up our award winning model of expert advice, networks, and hubs to reach more companies across the nation. These climate tech companies will play a vital role in helping the UK meet its net zero targets.”

Abdul Qureshi, head of Business Banking at Barclays said: “At Barclays, we recognise the critical role that scaling climate tech is going to play in accelerating the UK’s transition, and in achieving our ambition to become a net zero bank by 2050.

“Supporting UK founders as they work to grow their businesses from idea through to IPO is central to the mission of Barclays Innovation Banking, and scaling climate tech in particular requires integrated support that brings capital and expertise together in one place.

“By partnering with Sustainable Ventures to deliver The National Climate Tech Accelerator, we are strengthening that support. Together, we are creating a platform that helps ambitious UK climate start-ups to overcome the barriers to growth and become the market-leading businesses that the transition demands.”