Barclays has unveiled a state-of-the-art financial campus in Glasgow to turbo charge innovation in the sector and house 5,000 employees by the end of 2023.
The sprawling 500,000 sq. ft. site in the city’s Tradeston district will host technology, operations and functions teams, bringing new high-value roles to the city.
It is the latest step in Barclays’ global location strategy which is focused on bringing teams closer together to drive innovation and collaboration.
The campus aims to give the bank a competitive advantage by attracting the best talent to drive the business forward in a redeveloped part of the city on the banks of the Clyde.
Barclays has grown its workforce in Glasgow by over 90 per cent in the last four years and has been working with universities in Glasgow and Edinburgh to develop a pipeline of graduate and apprenticeship opportunities, the majority of which are going into high-skill technology roles.
Jes Staley, chief executive, Barclays said: “This campus will give us a competitive advantage through its technology and capabilities, and help us attract the best talent to drive our business forward.
“We wanted to create something transformative that would have a lasting impact on Glasgow, its people and the local economy.
“I am proud of the opportunities we have created – not just through jobs, but also through our supply chain and community initiatives. The UK is a world leader in financial services and Glasgow plays an important part. With this investment we are increasing the strategic importance of the city to our future.”
Beyond the new roles being created within Barclays, the campus is rooted in the local community and economy. During the development of the site, there has been a focus on using local suppliers and contractors wherever possible. Some of these firms have scaled their businesses as a result of their work on the campus.
The site has transformed a brownfield area into a new city centre park, including indoor and outdoor spaces for community events.
A curated space “The Street” has been developed for social enterprises and local entrepreneurs to showcase and sell their products to the public. Amenities on campus will include wellbeing facilities, community exhibition spaces, along with a street food market offering fresh and healthy food options.
The campus comprises five buildings. Working in partnership with the University of Glasgow, Barclays has reflected the rich heritage of the city in their names. Tradescroft, Windmillcroft and Wellcroft are new buildings and their names reflect the crofting and industrial heritage of the area. Two historic buildings, Clyde Place House and the BECO Building have been restored for public use.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “The opening of Barclays’ Glasgow campus – one of the biggest inward investments to have ever come to Scotland – represents a landmark moment for our country’s thriving financial services industry. It is a real statement of confidence in the talent and skills of our people and reinforces Scotland’s status as a global finance and technology hub.
“This campus itself will be a fantastic asset for the Tradeston community and Glasgow. It will contribute to the sustainable regeneration of a historic section of the Clyde Waterfront, and offer employment opportunities for local people and those who have faced barriers into work, including people with disabilities and school leavers.”
Scottish Enterprise has worked closely with Barclays to deliver the project, providing a broad range of support and advice to the company.
Adrian Gillespie, CEO of Scottish Enterprise, who attended today’s opening, said: “By formally opening this incredible new campus, Barclays has reached a major milestone. Today is a special day and marks the culmination of many years of partnership working to deliver such a significant and transformative project for Glasgow and Scotland.
“Scottish Enterprise was pleased to work with partners, including Glasgow City Council, to highlight why Glasgow was the ideal location for this campus, and we have been delighted to provide Barclays with a broad range of support services to help turn their vision into reality.
“Barclays Glasgow Campus will deliver thousands of jobs and economic opportunities for local communities. We are particularly pleased that many of the roles created will be high value jobs, and a significant number of positions will be for disadvantaged workers or those who have a disability.
Designed with collaboration and the future of work in mind, the workspace has complex lighting systems, smart acoustics, creative spaces and technology to support hybrid working. A fundamental aspect of the design process was ensuring that the campus was inclusive to all, with a specific focus on neurodiversity through our partnership with Scottish Autism.
The campus will be home to the latest Barclays Eagle Lab hosting members of the Glasgow technology start-up community. The lab will focus on supporting and developing skills in new and emerging technologies, innovation and entrepreneurship.