Intelligent SME.tech Issue 53 | Page 6

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Amanda Allan , Director of Barclays Eagle Labs ; Howard Dawber , London Deputy Mayor for Business and Growth ; Abdul Qureshi , Director of Growth and Specialist Propositions at Barclays UK
Barclays boosts London ’ s tech ecosystem with Eagle Labs expansion
In a significant boost for London ’ s thriving tech sector , Barclays Eagle Labs is set to expand its footprint by partnering in seven sites across the city , designed to support tech start-ups and entrepreneurs on their growth journeys .
In addition to the existing lab in Chiswick , Eagle Labs will now be available to access in : Euston , Fulham , Hammersmith , Lambeth , Whitechapel , Wandsworth and Wimbledon .
Barclays has also launched a dedicated London Growth Team , aimed at empowering small- and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) to maximise their growth potential . The new London Growth Team will comprise 12 specialised roles , focusing on the unique needs of SMEs as they seek to scale .
The government has been clear that it aims to secure the highest growth in the G7 and has highlighted the importance of private sector support to deliver this . The expansion of these sites across London , with dedicated support for entrepreneurs , demonstrates Barclays is working hand-in-hand to deliver this mission .
MPs push for four-day working week council AI start-ups have a record-breaking start to the year
A group of Labour MPs are calling for the UK government to include a four-day working week as part of the Employment Rights Bill .
An amendment to the Bill has been put forward by Peter Dowd , Labour MP for Bootle , to create a Working Time Council which could make
recommendations on how the UK could move away from a five-day working week .
Kevin Fitzgerald , UK Managing Director at Employment Hero , said : “ While a four-day work week might be manageable for large corporations with abundant resources , it poses serious risks for SMEs . What ’ s often overlooked is the fundamental difference in operational resilience and business continuity between big and small businesses . The government should tread very carefully before making this the new ‘ standard ’ for workplaces . Even if SMEs are able to ‘ opt out ’ of four-day weeks , the existence of them as a new standard will make it impossible to recruit .”
Although the US government ’ s expanded export restrictions on AI chips to China , concerns about AI giants ’ valuations and disappointing earnings reports in the first half of 2024 sent shockwaves through the market and caused mixed investor sentiment , AI start-ups still managed to make 2024 one of their best years so far . During the 12 months , these companies raised a record-breaking US $ 89.7 billion in funding
rounds , the highest figure in the market ’ s history . However , the strong venture capital funding momentum continued in 2025 , helping the AI sector to see the strongest start to a year yet .
According to data presented by AltIndex . com , AI start-ups raised US $ 10.4 billion year-to-date , turning Q1 2025 into their best first quarter so far .
Ever since the Nvidia boom , AI start-ups have been a shiny object for VC investors , attracting more fresh capital than most other sectors . That didn ’ t change in 2025 , as several key developments brought new momentum to an already strong VC funding landscape .
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