Functional Skills UK are excited to unveil the Hidden Talent Project, a programme to connect local people with local start-ups in Brighton. Supported by Barclays Eagle Labs Ecosystem Partnership Programme and funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, this project is a shared commitment to driving social mobility through tailored training and mentorship.
Functional Skills UK will be working with our delivery partner Startup Street to help college students, job seekers and existing startups who are already using digital marketing or have a passion and willingness to develop their digital marketing skills. This helps us discover our ‘Hidden Talent’.
At the heart of the Hidden Talent Project lies our innovative “1, 2, 3” approach.
- Startups/Scaleups identify their Digital Marketing needs and problems.
- Hidden Talent develops skills and solutions from our diverse and inclusive talent pool.
- The local startup ecosystem networks and services improve.
Luke Hardy – CEO Functional Skills UK said: “Our programme addresses the most pressing challenges faced by startups, from limited brand recognition to attracting top-tier talent and recruitment inexperience. The Hidden Talent Project offers a low-risk, high-impact solution, effectively reducing recruitment challenges and fostering a culture of innovation within businesses.”
Matt Corbidge, Director Barclays Eagle Labs said: “Barclays is proud to support this Hidden Talent project to support start-ups in Brighton and provide opportunities and mentorship to allow individuals to excel.
“This particular project, with Functional Skills UK, will provide skills training and mentorship to a diverse and inclusive group and help them to progress their skills and follow their passions, which is an important ambition for Barclays Eagle Labs. This will help support local businesses and drive growth.”
Carl Southwell, Startup Street Founder said: “Hidden Talent taps into a diverse, inclusive, and eager cohort of college students, job seekers, and members of the startup ecosystem. Through a carefully curated curriculum, we empower individuals to develop digital marketing solutions that are precisely aligned with the unique digital marketing needs of local startup and scaleup businesses.”
Minister for Tech and the Digital Economy, Paul Scully said:
“Britain’s innovative tech start-ups span the nation and drive global innovation forward.
“Directly supporting businesses in this way is the cornerstone of our Digital Growth Grant, which champions a future where every corner of the UK benefits from the job creation and growth technology provides.”
About the Hidden Talent Project
Join us on this transformative journey as we support the Brighton startup ecosystem, beginning at a local level but with ambitions to extend our impact and scale the programme. Through Hidden Talent, we are unlocking potential, driving social mobility, and creating a hidden talent pool that will benefit both businesses and individuals alike.
About Barclays
Barclays is a British universal bank. We are diversified by business, by different types of customer and client, and geography. Our businesses include consumer banking and payments operations around the world, as well as a top-tier, full service, global corporate and investment bank, all of which are supported by our service company which provides technology, operations and functional services across the Group. For further information about Barclays, please visit our website www.barclays.com.
For more information about Barclays Eagle Labs please visit: https://labs.uk.barclays/about
About the Digital Growth Grant
The £12m Digital Growth Grant, funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, aims to provide specialised support to accelerate the growth of tech startups and scaleups across the regions and nations of the UK. The two-year grant, awarded to Barclays Eagle Labs, was launched in April 2023, and builds on more than £42.2 million invested by the Government to support tech startups and scaleups since 2016. Combined investment from Eagle Labs and the government will increase support for the tech sector so more than 22,000 businesses can benefit, with at least 80 per cent based outside London.
For further press information relating to Barclays Eagle Labs, please contact:
Jared Lawthom, Media Relations Manager, via: jared.lawthom@barclays.com