Banking giant Barclays opens major financial campus in Glasgow

By Jenness Mitchell & Susan Ripoll

Banking giant Barclays has officially opened a new financial hub in Glasgow.

The campus in Tradeston, next to the River Clyde, will house technology, operations and functions teams.

The firm said the move would bring “high-value roles to the city”, with 5000 staff expected at the 500,000 sq ft site by 2023.

The campus includes both 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 include wellbeing facilities and community exhibition spaces, along with a street food market.

The campus comprises five buildings.

Tradescroft, Windmillcroft and Wellcroft are new, with their names a reflection of the crofting and industrial heritage of the area.

Two historic buildings, Clyde Place House and the BECO Building, have been restored for public use.

Barclays said the campus was 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 the bank’s partnership with Scottish Autism.

Barclays said the hub’s opening is the latest step in its “global location strategy”, which is focused on bringing teams closer together to “drive innovation and collaboration”.

The firm is also working with universities in Glasgow and Edinburgh to develop a “robust pipeline” of graduate and apprenticeship opportunities.

Jes Staley, chief executive of 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.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon added: “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.”