USW And Barclays Team Up To Deliver USW Exchange

An artist’s impression of the USW Exchange layout ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Entrepreneurs in South Wales are being offered access to free expert support when a new advice hub launches early next year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Service on offer through USW Exchange, which will open in February 2017, will be available to business owners when it opens at the University of South Wales (USW) Treforest Campus. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Supported by sponsorship from Barclays, USW Exchange forms part of the institution’s drive to support Wales’s start-up and entrepreneurial activities by focusing on increasing SME contributions to the economy, developing students with relevant skills, and enhancing the status of the University as an institution for business. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In addition to providing a centre for collaboration and interaction, a place to support start-ups and expand existing businesses, and somewhere to build links between industry and graduate talent, it will also offer an opportunity for discussions around graduate placements, research, consultancy training, and access to industry expertise through local sponsors. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As well as having Barclays as the principal sponsor, there is further backing from Alcumus, South Wales Chamber of Commerce, and Capital Law. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Our proposition is clear,” said Siwan Rees, Director of USW Exchange. “We aim to support growth while also delivering a unique student experience that gives companies access to future talent sooner than before, allowing companies to grow their own talent and skills. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Businesses that are looking to grow need to be working with the USW Exchange – it is a catalyst for growth, supporting start-ups, entrepreneurs and businesses by providing access to relevant skills and networks. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The response from the business community has been very encouraging, as we all recognise the value of the entrepreneurial economy and the importance of support and guidance during those early days.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Jonathan Good, Barclays Business Banking Area Manager for Cardiff and South Wales Valleys, added: “This significant investment from USW demonstrates the importance of business, entrepreneurs and SME growth to the education sector. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“If we can nurture and support great ideas from the education sector or the wider business community into successful sustainable businesses, then that has to be good news for the Welsh economy. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It’s imperative that the financial system in the UK is able to fully back brave entrepreneurs who create jobs and unlock new advances. Barclays financed the world’s first steam railway in 1819, which went on to bring about the industrial revolution. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“By giving expert support to today’s entrepreneurs we can help the UK to win in the digital revolution. We want to be the financial partner for high-growth firms and the people behind them – giving them support across every step of their journey, so this sponsorship made a natural fit. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Barclays has a strong track record in supporting scale-up businesses and is ideally placed to help and support ambitious businesses and their founders at all stages of growth.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​