AMR Software
AMR Data Centers

Barclays Offers Eagle Labs MakerSpaces & Incubators for Startups—Encouraging Makers in the Community

Share this Article

barclaysWhen banks start getting in on a new technology or trend, you can be certain it’s a fairly good bet, and one that they see yielding a pile of green down the line in one way, shape, or form—and in this case, those will all most likely be 3D printed. The motives on the part of Barclays Bank, too, are pretty clear: they want to see their customers thrive. That’s eventual money in the bank for everyone, not to mention the value offered to those who are able to use the new MakerSpaces being offered by Barclays, headquartered in the UK.

While some might be surprised that they would take an interest in the maker community, if you delve a bit deeper, it makes perfect sense as those inhabiting maker spaces and establishing the skillsets found within are not only taking on better jobs in manufacturing and many other sectors, but they are also making prototypes, establishing startups, and often cutting out the middleman to become their own mini-factories. Those within the maker community are the artists, designers, and engineers who literally are shaping the future, involved in a new industry and economy that is experiencing accelerated growth. That all sounds like good stuff that would go over awfully well at a banking board meeting to me—not to mention the numbers expected for the 3D printing industry in the next few years, which fall well into the billions.

UntitledBarclays’ MakerSpaces offer not only 3D printers but other tools of the trade which are often used as well like laser cutters. The spaces are making good use of both vacant branches and office spaces, and they are not just set aside for customers. Local business owners are invited to use the services for fabricating designs, employing rapid prototyping, and more.

“So whether you own a business, are a student or simply like to create things, you can use our tools to test your ideas,” states Barclays on their website.

The banks also invite the spaces to be used for community events, corporate days, school trips and training sessions as well. Pilot spaces are currently open at Cambridge and Bournemouth locations. While the first two already open are known as ‘Eagle Labs,’ they will also be opening ‘Incubators’ soon.

barclaysThe Eagle Labs seem to be more of a full-service makerspace, operating under what they foresee as a full-fledged education program in offering a more contemporary skillset to community members—mainly those who own businesses already. The Incubators are meant for startups to begin actually starting up with all the appropriate activities. They envision groups of entrepreneurs working together, networking, brainstorming and even enjoying mentoring from experts at Barclays. Meeting rooms are available for all of these activities befitting those in high growth mode.

While there is not a date set yet for the opening of the first Incubator MakerSpace, a new Eable Lab will open in Brighton this week. Plans are for a total of 20 to be open, and other listed locations so far are in Birmingham and Huddersfield.

These MakerSpaces offer not only a great way for many to continue in learning valuable skillsets, but it gives them accessibility to great tools that are all too often out of financial reach. Having a group of enthusiastic 3D printing designers in close proximity should most certainly take the stereotypical ‘boring’ out of banking too! Would you like to see something like this in your area? Discuss in the Barclays 3D Printing MakerSpaces forum over at 3DPB.com.

[Source: engadget]

 



Share this Article


Recent News

3D Printing News Briefs, April 19, 2025: Material Extrusion Standard, Metal Powder, & More

ADDiTEC Adds LPBF 3D Printing to Portfolio with Launch of Fusion S at RAPID



Categories

3D Design

3D Printed Art

3D Printed Food

3D Printed Guns


You May Also Like

Sponsored

ADDITIV Metals World Gives Metal AM a Stage

Metal 3D printing is constantly evolving. Driven by high-performance sectors such as defense, aerospace, automotive, oil & gas and maritime, new processes and solutions for additive manufacturing with metal are...

3D Printing News Briefs, April 16, 2025: AM Award Winners, Cold Spray, Drones, & More

We’ve got some more news from last week’s RAPID+TCT to kick off today’s 3D Printing News Briefs, and then moving on to some interesting pieces of military AM news. Read...

RAPID 2025: Stratasys & trinckle Announce Strategic Software Partnership

News continues to flood in from last week’s RAPID+TCT 2025, including a new partnership between AM market leader Stratasys and Berlin-based software company trinckle. By automating important steps in fixture...

How Farsoon’s Metal 3D Printing Brought a 100-Year-Old Motorcycle Back to Life

Visitors at this year’s RAPID + TCT event in Detroit got to see an unexpected showstopper at Farsoon’s booth: a beautifully restored, vintage-inspired motorcycle known as the Pennsylvania 8. Nestled...