A Perthshire-based food and drink training business has strengthened its internal operations and embraced new digital tools after receiving tailored growth support from Business Gateway. Craft Skills Scotland, operational for over 50 years, is a specialist training provider delivering on-the-job training and Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) including Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs) to employees across the food and drink industry – including cafes and restaurants, farm shops, butchers, breweries, distilleries and even ice cream parlours. The organisation was previously known as Scottish Meat Training. The organisation supports learners to work towards Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications, helping businesses raise standards, improve food safety and build a skilled, confident workforce. Its programmes focus on equipping people with the confidence, knowledge and practical ability needed to succeed in a fast-moving and highly regulated sector. All MAs delivered through Craft Skills Scotland are available to all age groups and abilities including new and existing staff, helping employers invest in staff development without them leaving the workplace. As a growing business, Craft Skills Scotland was keen to take a step back and review how it operated internally to ensure it was well positioned for future growth. Working with Business Gateway, the business received one-to-one support from adviser Andrew Webster, alongside access to a Skills for Growth analysis. This process focused on understanding staff strengths, identifying development opportunities and ensuring the whole team had a voice in shaping the business’s future. The team was keen to diversify after previously having a focus on butchers. Business Gateway supported them with opportunities to grow the business by introducing them to other industries and supporting the growth. Alongside this, Craft Skills Scotland accessed specialist marketing and social media support, as well as signposting to external digital training, including courses on tools such as ChatGPT. Thanks to Business Gateway, the team is welcoming two marketing interns in January who will help share the business more widely. The business was also introduced to wider funding opportunities, including the Tay Cities Fund, opening up new ideas and potential routes for development. The impact has been wide-ranging. By listening more closely to staff and using their experience to inform decision-making, the business has made practical improvements to how it works day to day, from rethinking how meeting spaces are used, to creating stronger, more consistent social media content using tools like Canva. The team has also begun using digital tools to support everyday tasks, improving efficiency and confidence across the business. Claire Simpson, Training Manager at Craft Skills Scotland, said: “The support from Business Gateway has been incredibly valuable. The Skills for Growth work helped us better understand our team and how we can use everyone’s strengths more effectively. It’s encouraged a more collaborative approach and given us the confidence to make changes that will benefit the business in the long term." "The team also helped us move into different industries and diversify a 50 year old business, which has been a fantastic success and allowed us to provide more training opportunities. We now have the tools, insight and confidence to keep building on this work as demand for our training continues to grow.” Andrew Webster, Business Gateway adviser, said: “Craft Skills Scotland provides an essential service to Scotland’s food and drink industry, supporting both businesses and employees to develop the skills they need to succeed. Claire and her team have been very open to new ideas and have engaged fully with the support available. It’s been great to see how that’s translated into practical improvements that will support the future growth of the business.” To find out more about Business Gateway and how they can help your business grow and succeed, visit here .

Aldi Scotland has marked a major milestone for its Scottish Sport Fund, reaching £500,000 in donations after ten years of supporting grassroots sports clubs across the country. Since launching the Scottish Sport Fund in 2016, Aldi Scotland has committed £50,000 each year to help individuals of all ages and abilities get involved in sport within their local communities. Over the past decade, the initiative has supported more than 650 clubs across Scotland, from grassroots football and curling to rowing, swimming and tennis, helping to improve access to sport and encourage active lifestyles. Clubs supported through the fund span the length and breadth of the country, from Annan Athletic Ladies Football Club in the south to Orkney Rowing Club in the north. Funding has helped organisations invest in vital equipment, coaching, facilities and kit, enabling them to welcome more participants and continue delivering opportunities within their communities. Aldi has also announced that its 2026 Scottish Sport Fund will launch this spring, as Scotland gears up for a landmark year of sport. With the men’s national football team heading to the World Cup for the first time since 1998, Glasgow set to host the Commonwealth Games and a packed calendar of major sporting events and competitions, the fund will continue to support and nurture the next generation of sporting talent. Sandy Mitchell, Regional Managing Director, Aldi Scotland, said: “Reaching £500,000 in donations is a proud moment for everyone involved in the Scottish Sport Fund. Over the past decade, we have seen first-hand the difference this funding can make to clubs and communities right across Scotland." “Across the breadth of Scotland, the fund has helped hundreds of clubs provide opportunities for people to enjoy and benefit from sport. As the country looks ahead to an exciting year of major sporting moments, we remain committed to supporting grassroots sport and helping inspire the next generation to get active and follow their sporting ambitions.”

A spectacular display of more than 1,000 balloons floating above Farringdon marked the reopening of historic City pub The Hoop and Grapes . The eye-catching launch transformed the five-storey building into a real-life version of the house from Disney’s Up, celebrating the long-awaited return of one of the area’s most distinctive pubs. Independent family brewer and pub company Shepherd Neame  has invested £1.8 million in restoring the Grade II-listed landmark, which had been closed since 2019 during redevelopment of the surrounding area. The renewed pub now offers three distinct experiences. The ground floor retains the character of a classic London pub, opening onto a courtyard terrace. Upstairs, customers can unwind in the relaxed first-floor Terrace Bar, or retreat to the intimate Parson’s Parlour at the top of the building, ideal for private dining and gatherings. The space features a striking black lacquered self-playing piano, along with a darts board and games table. Located just minutes from Fleet Street, The Hoop and Grapes dates back to 1721. Built on land that once formed part of St Bride’s Church burial ground, the pub is famously associated with illicit ‘Fleet Marriages’ linked to nearby Fleet Prison. Its colourful past is reflected in a bespoke swing sign depicting a clandestine wedding scene, alongside hand-painted external signwriting that enhances the restored façade. Throughout the refurbishment, traditional craftsmanship has been prioritised. Highlights include a hand-painted ceiling mural in the first-floor bar and handcrafted stained-glass panelling across the back of the ground-floor bar. The décor also celebrates the shared heritage of the pub and Shepherd Neame, with quirky historic news articles about Britain’s oldest brewer displayed near the bathrooms. Sustainability was also a key focus during the refurbishment, with energy-efficient fridges, smart cellar technology, and LED lighting installed throughout. The pub is led by General Manager Phil McAree, whose relationship with Shepherd Neame spans more than 20 years, including managing the Coach & Horses in Mayfair and the Cock & Woolpack in Bank. Working alongside new Head Chef Aleksandrs Voroncovs, Phil has helped develop a distinctive food offer centred on locally sourced, seasonal produce and relaxed, shareable dishes. Oysters are a speciality, served freshly shucked or grilled in the pub’s take on Oysters Rockefeller. Small plates include miso-glazed aubergine with sweet tahini yoghurt, burrata, and grilled lamb koftas with smoky baba ganoush, while larger dishes range from Whitstable Bay beer-battered haddock and chips to tandoori chicken skewers and a 5oz grilled sirloin with Parmesan and garlic butter. The extensive drinks offer features Shepherd Neame’s award-winning Kentish ales and lagers, premium English wines - including from Champagne Taittinger’s Domaine Evremond vineyard in Kent - and a curated cocktail list. The reopening is part of Shepherd Neame’s ongoing investment in its premium London estate, following major refurbishments at The Tom Cribb, The Westminster Arms, The White Horse and Bower, and the acquisition of the Bishops Finger in Smithfield. Operations Manager Ryan Torrie said: “Seeing more than 1,000 balloons billow above the Hoop and Grapes was a truly magical moment - a joyful way to mark the return of a pub with such a remarkable history." "We’ve worked hard to create a space that showcases the building’s heritage while offering a contemporary, welcoming experience, and the response from our team and customers has been incredible. The energy and excitement in Farringdon on opening day really reflected the care and creativity that has gone into this transformation. We’re thrilled to welcome guests back to enjoy this special place for years to come."

Property consultancy Vail Williams has welcomed a government move to help beleaguered public houses by offering a discount on business rates. The support package means that pubs – and music venues – will be given a 15% discount on their business rates bills from April, with no increases for two years. The move will be worth £1,650 for the average pub in 2026-27, according to Treasury Minister Dan Tomlinson. It will cost the government an estimated £80m in its first year alone, with subsequent years still to be assessed. The policy change comes as government figures show an estimated 7,000 pubs to have closed since 2010 – a 15% reduction. UK Hospitality has warned that hotels, restaurants and other businesses in the sector are also at risk, calling for the support package to be widened. Vail Williams partner and head of business rates Adam Barnfield said: “While any support to help our pubs stay afloat is to be welcomed, this package has been described as a ‘sticking plaster’ which would only delay the pain. I’m somewhat surprised that other hospitality businesses were not included but the government has to draw the line somewhere." “We also have to ask the question as to whether a 15% discount in business rates will amount to much at a time when landlords are facing increasing financial pressures with higher wages, suppliers’ costs and cautious customer spending hitting profit margins." “There is also a fine line to tread between increasing the price of a pint to cover costs without driving customers to supermarkets to have a cheaper drink at home." “Costs are still likely to rise for the vast majority of pubs, meaning this support will have a somewhat limited impact, but we expect fewer landlords will be calling last orders for the final time.” Vail Williams’ business development executive John Bicknell added that the government’s review into how pubs are valued ahead of the 2029 revaluation would be crucial and he urged that the industry should be widely consulted. “This spring, the Government will also be consulting on whether there should be a further loosening of planning rules to benefit pubs such as, as has been mentioned, allowing the addition of new guest rooms or main room expansion without needing planning consent." “Whatever happens, we are convinced that the pub is as integral to British life as fish and chips, the Royal Family and the pastime of queuing, and we must do all we can to safeguard this national institution – as well as other crucial hospitality venues.”

A precocious golfing youngster from Broadstone Middle School has qualified for two world championships this year. Luc Taylor recently travelled to New Zealand and won the US Kids New Zealand Under 12 Golf Championship. He impressed at the spectacular Windross Farms Golf Course in Auckland – completing two rounds of 70, finishing 4-under par. The victory means Luc, who has a handicap of five, has secured an automatic invitation to the US Kids World Championships at hallowed Pinehurst, North Carolina, this July. Before that, he will take part in the Daily Mail World Junior Golf Championships at Villa Padierna in Malaga, Spain, at the end of this month. Dad Andy said: “Luc was born in Poole then we returned to New Zealand where I’m from and he started playing golf when he was about seven. He just loves hitting balls and when he was 11 we came back to the UK and moved to Broadstone so we could be near the golf club. He goes there every day after school." “He qualified for the Daily Mail Worlds through competing on the British Junior Golf Tour. And by winning the event in New Zealand he qualified for the US Kids Golf world championships. He will also play in the Uswing Mojing Worlds in the US, a tournament that Tiger Woods won a number of times. The school has been extremely supportive and this enables us to give Luc the best chance of chasing his dream.” Jade Palmer Head of School at Broadstone Middle said: “We are all extremely proud of Luc who plays in a number of our sports teams. We believe extra-curricular activities are really important and always encourage our students to do as much as they can and sport is something that provides invaluable lessons.” Broadstone Middle and First Schools are part of Southern Education Trust (SET).

Hendy Group is starting 2026 on a high after securing a top 20 position in the national Family Business Apprentice Employers Report 2025, underscoring its continued commitment to nurturing future talent. Published by Family Business United, the report highlights family businesses making a significant contribution to the UK’s apprenticeship landscape. Last year, Hendy welcomed 15 new apprentices, bringing the total to 38 apprentices currently undergoing training across the family-run business. Hendy also celebrated the graduation of six apprentices from the previous cohort, including two who achieved distinctions. All six were offered and accepted permanent full-time technician roles across Hendy Group. The process of bringing on new apprentices continues unabated. Hendy is always looking for talented people to join the Group. People who are interested in apprenticeship opportunities within the Group and are keen to be part of an innovative and exciting organisation, visit here . Nathan Dyson, Apprentice at Hendy Group, says: “Completing my apprenticeship with Hendy has allowed me to develop my skills and confidence to be able to communicate and build my professional network in the motor trade. Hendy has guided me to perform at my best and allowed me to progress on to the next stage in my career after qualifying with distinctions.” Structured training and a clear career pathway Hendy’s apprentice programme provides one-to-one mentoring, manufacturer-led college training and ongoing support from dedicated College Coaches, Trainers and Apprentice Ambassadors, who help guide new apprentices throughout their apprenticeship journey. The programme can take from one to three years, depending on the chosen speciality. Recruitment has increased following a successful year for Hendy Group in 2025, which now represents 25 automotive brands and has continued to expand its footprint across the South and South West through major site developments. Paul Hendy, CEO at Hendy Group, commented: “Being recognised as one of the UK’s top family-business apprentice employers is a great acknowledgement of the work that so many Hendy colleagues put into developing future talent. Our apprentices play an important role in the business, and it is a privilege to see each one grow into their role and give them a strong start in a dynamic, ever-evolving industry.” Tags: Hendy Group Apprenticeships News

JCB apprentices have created a unique 80th anniversary project at the company’s World Headquarters that invites the public to tune into its past, present, and future. The team of 15 young engineering, manufacturing and business apprentices designed the innovative ‘listening bench’ for the grounds of the company’s Rocester factory – giving employees, visitors, and the local community the chance to sit, relax and hear JCB’s story. The bench, designed in the style of Joseph Cyril Bamford’s first ever product - a tipping trailer made out of wartime scrap - has built-in speakers which play recordings at the push of a button, capturing the company’s remarkable story over the past eight decades. JCB Chairman Anthony Bamford officially unveiled the listening bench and pressed the button to introduce a recording of his father speaking 30 years ago on the company’s 50th anniversary. Lord Bamford said: “It’s a real thrill to unveil this listening bench and I hope people will enjoy sitting here and listening to stories about JCB. What I think is so clever is the way that our apprentices have integrated speakers into the bench and when I pressed the button, who should be speaking but my father, which was very emotional to hear.” Over ten weeks, a team of engineering, manufacturing, craft, commercial, finance and marketing apprentices were challenged to design and build the bench with a focus on sustainability, using surplus materials from production lines to keep the project as close to carbon neutral as possible. Project leader and Business Administration Apprentice Lana Hockaday, 21, said: “This project has really helped us develop a wide range of skills - from communication and teamwork to organisation and problem-solving." "For many of us, it was our first time taking on something of this scale, so it was a great opportunity to build confidence and experience working across different departments and sites. Seeing it all come together and hearing the finished audio playing from the first bench was an amazing moment.”

A Poole storage facility is investing more than £500,000 to increase its footprint by a third. Store & Secure  in Hamworthy opened four years ago and has been so successful it applied for permission to expand. It is now preparing the site so work can begin on extending the premises at the back, providing hundreds more units. The family-owned business is run by ‘storage sisters’ Lucy and Sophie Maidman and the facility is named Joyce House after their late mother. Lucy said: “We opened four years ago and the 40,000sqft included hundreds of storage units of varying sizes as well as serviced offices. We are in the fortunate position of requiring more units and have been able to secure permission to increase the facility by around 30 per cent." “Already the new units which will be at the back of the facility are being allocated. We cater for domestic and commercial clients and we have many online retailers who store their stock with us."   "We take in deliveries for them and it enables them to have a second income – it’s a trend that began during the pandemic." “Being a family business we really do focus on excellence of service and people are always welcome to pop in for a cup of tea – you can’t miss the facility because it’s bright yellow and next to Lidl.” Photo:   Kavan Wood of Store & Secure

Regal Food Products Group has officially opened a new multi-faith room at Leeds Bradford Airport, reinforcing its ongoing commitment to creating inclusive and welcoming spaces within community and public environments.   Guests joined representatives from Regal Foods, ISSE (Inspire Support Sports Empower) and Leeds Bradford Airport on Friday 6 February to mark the official opening of the new facility.  The landside multi-faith room has been thoughtfully designed to provide a calm and quiet space for prayer and reflection. It is available to passengers arriving at or departing from Leeds Bradford Airport, as well as airport staff and business partners working on site.   The space features newly installed flooring and furnishings, including seating and dedicated footwear storage. Prayer mats and a qibla compass have also been provided to support faith practices.   Regal Food Products Group Plc has a strong track record of delivering multi-faith facilities in public venues. Previous projects include Valley Parade, home of Bradford City Football Club (February 2023), and Headingley Cricket Ground, home of Yorkshire County Cricket Club (August 2016).   Faz Ali, Sales & Marketing Director at Regal Food Products Group Plc, commented: “We are proud to continue our work in creating safe, inclusive spaces for people of all faiths in places where communities come together.” “The new multi-faith room at Leeds Bradford Airport provides a welcoming environment not only for prayer, but also for quiet reflection, offering passengers and staff a calm space. We look forward to developing our partnership with Leeds Bradford Airport as we work together to support wellbeing, inclusion and community needs.” Humayun Islam, Chief Executive of charity ISSE (Inspire Support Sports Empower) Ltd, commented: "Access to calm, respectful spaces for prayer and reflection in public settings is an important part of creating genuinely inclusive environments. The opening of the multi-faith room at Leeds Bradford Airport is a positive step that recognises the diverse needs of passengers and staff alike.” “Initiatives like this help people feel seen, respected and supported, particularly in high pressure environments such as airports, and demonstrates how practical design choices can make a meaningful difference to wellbeing and dignity."   Kunaal Wharfe, General Counsel and Company Secretary and DEI Executive Sponsor at Leeds Bradford Airport, commented: “This new multi-faith room is an important step in ensuring people of all faiths and beliefs feel supported when travelling through Leeds Bradford Airport. We’re grateful to Regal Food Products Group for their support in delivering a calm, welcoming space for passengers, colleagues and business partners.” “This comes ahead of the delivery of a purpose-built airside multi-faith room, due to open in early 2027 as part of LBA:REGEN, which will also include dedicated ablution facilities.   “These investments reflect our ongoing commitment to inclusion, wellbeing and improving the experience for everyone who travels through and works at LBA.”

Exclusive Collection has taken a further step in its sustainability journey with the introduction of Kress electric mowers across a number of its hotel and golf properties, reinforcing its commitment to responsible land stewardship.   Following extensive trials at Lainston House and The Manor House, the group has begun rolling out Kress RTKⁿ robotic electric mowers across its portfolio, supporting a more efficient, lower-impact approach to managing its golf courses and surrounding landscapes. The move aligns with Exclusive Collection’s wider environmental ambitions, underpinned by its B Corp certification and, at The Manor House, GEO Certification® for sustainable golf operations.   At The Manor House, where sustainability is embedded across both hospitality and golf operations, the technology has been tested over the past year on fairways and rough areas of the championship course. The trial period allowed the greenkeeping team to assess not only performance and quality of cut, but also how the system could integrate into day-to-day operations on a busy estate.   The results delivered a consistently high-quality sward while reducing soil compaction and supporting healthier grass growth. The quiet, fully electric operation has also brought benefits for wildlife, golfers and guests, particularly during peak periods when traditional machinery can be disruptive.   The shift supports broader sustainability objectives at The Manor House, which has been recognised with GEO Certification® for its approach to golf course management. Working closely with the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, the estate has introduced habitat parcels to protect biodiversity, while recent initiatives have included water-saving irrigation upgrades, renewable energy generation and significant reductions in carbon emissions. Robotic mowing now forms part of this wider framework, helping to lower emissions, reduce noise pollution and make more efficient use of resources.   Six robotic units are now operating at The Manor House, with further units introduced at South Lodge, Royal Berkshire, Lainston House and Ansty Hall, bringing the total to ten across the  Exclusive Collection  portfolio. During the summer months, the majority of rough at The Manor House will be maintained by the robotic fleet, allowing greenkeeping teams to redirect time and expertise towards detail-focused work that enhances playability, presentation and the overall golfing experience.   Andrew Ryan, director of golf at The Manor House, said: “Sustainability at The Manor House is about making considered, practical choices that benefit the course, the environment and our members and guests. The trial period gave us confidence that this technology could support those aims while maintaining the standards golfers expect.” The partnership with Kress robotic mowers has been supported by premium distributor ATH Machinery in delivering tailored solutions across the properties.   Nicola Jones, head of marketing at Kress, said: “Exclusive Collection is a perfect example of how robotic mowing can elevate standards while reducing environmental impact. The flexibility and precision make them ideally suited to golf courses and estate settings of this calibre.” Tim Lane, managing director at ATH Machinery, added: “Exclusive Collection have embraced innovation throughout the trial period and seeing the technology perform so well and then scale across such outstanding properties is something we’re really proud of.” The wider rollout reflects Exclusive Collection’s continued investment in responsible luxury. As a B Corp-certified business, the group has committed to measurable progress across governance, community and environmental impact, with land management playing a central role given the scale and setting of its estates.   By integrating electric, autonomous technology into its grounds and course care, Exclusive Collection continues to evolve how its landscapes are managed - quietly, efficiently and with long-term environmental resilience in mind. About The Manor House The idyllic countryside retreat like no other at The Manor House. Offering a fairy-tale setting for romance and escapism in the historic manor or mews cottages, with fine dining and gastro fare, as well as a championship golf course, all set in the picture-perfect village of Castle Combe.   The hotel offers a choice of 50 luxurious rooms, suites, and cottages, all individually designed and full of historic character. Refined palates will appreciate the tasting menu offering British modern classics that never fail to delight at the Michelin starred Bybrook restaurant. For relaxed dining, local charm meets exceptional experience at The Castle Inn, an attractive 12th Century and top 50 gastropub.   Offering golf on another level, the 18-hole, par-72, parkland course was designed by Peter Alliss and Clive Clark, and opened for play in 1992. The championship course measures 6,500 yards and is set within 365 acres of picturesque rolling countryside on the southern edge of the Cotswolds. For more information visit here.

As National Apprenticeship Week 2026 kicks off, Make UK is calling on the Government to commit to a Skills Investment Pledge to address the decline in apprenticeship starts and rise in those not in education, employment or training (NEET).   The pledge would be a clear, public guarantee that every pound collected from the Skills and Growth Levy (formerly Apprenticeship Levy) and the Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) will be spent on developing the workforce the UK needs.   Skills shortages remain one of the biggest barriers to growth and productivity for manufacturers, with around 50,000 live vacancies in the sector.   Despite record employer contributions through the Growth and Skills (G&S) Levy and the Immigration Skills Charge (ISC), billions are collected each year that are not reinvested in the skills system – effectively hitting employers with an extra tax.   Make UK’s Industrial Strategy Skills Commission found that a lack of the right local training provision was a significant barrier to employers taking on more apprentices. With a large chunk of the money – estimated to be over £1 billion – paid by businesses via the Growth and Skills Levy and Immigration Skills Charge not being used by the Government to fund training, it is within ministers’ gift to address this challenge. Without action, manufacturers fear that valuable skills training will be reduced even further.   Industrial Strategy commitments to allow G&S Levy funds to be spent on short courses are welcome. However, action is needed to address the 40% decline in engineering and manufacturing apprenticeship starts since 2017 and reported perceptions that the G&S Levy is making it harder for manufacturers to plug skills gaps.   Make UK is calling on the Government to commit to a Skills Investment Pledge – a clear, public guarantee that every pound collected will be spent on developing the workforce the UK needs.   To ensure that the revenue from skills levies is spent productively, the Government should:   Increase the supply of apprenticeships and other high-value courses through direct incentives, particularly targeted at smaller employers. Identify ways to loosen the training criteria with a primary focus on its Industrial Strategy sectors, trusting businesses in these sectors to know how to address the skills shortages they face. For manufacturers, the benefits would be immediate, securing vital resources to expand apprenticeships, Skills Bootcamps and Higher Technical Qualifications, and improving funding bands in high-cost technical disciplines such as engineering, and rebuild capacity in further-education providers.   Ringfencing levy funds for skills would reallocate over £1bn per year (0.1% of GDP) towards workforce development and training by 2029-30. This is a 69% increase on current government funding for apprenticeships, equivalent to around 234,000 additional starts a year.   Applying more conservative assumptions than the Government’s own estimates would still produce an annual boost to the economy worth between £4.4 and £5.9bn in the long run, driven by higher wages and employment from a more skilled workforce.   Rt Hon. Robert Halfon, Executive Director, Make UK said: “Manufacturing and engineering apprenticeships are in steep decline, yet billions from the Growth and Skills Levy and Immigration Skills Charge are not being used by the Government where they’re needed most – risking valuable training being cut back." "Ringfencing these funds through a Skills Investment Pledge could instead unlock hundreds of thousands of new apprenticeships, plug skills gaps, and deliver at the very least a £4.4 billion boost to the economy. The time to act is now - our young people and our sector cannot wait.” Photo Credit:  Make UK

Atlassian Williams F1 Team and Barclays are proud to announce a major new global partnership, uniting two British icons defined by excellence, innovation and trust with their sights set firmly on the future. Williams is one of the top three most-successful Formula 1 teams of all time with 114 wins, nine Constructors’ World Championships and seven Drivers’ World Championships over its 48-year history. The team is joining forces with Barclays, the world-renowned bank founded more than 325 years ago and trusted by tens of millions of customers in more than 40 countries. Barclays will become Official Banking Partner to Williams as Formula 1 enters a completely new regulations era for 2026. The team has been building towards the rule change with focus and determination as part of its long-term plan to return to the front of the grid, an ethos shared by Barclays in the way they support their clients. The attributes shared by Williams and Barclays are significant: data-driven performance and advanced analytics, precision execution and investment in technology, through to continual adaptability and innovation. This is Barclays’ first-ever partnership in Formula 1, complementing its leading sports partnership portfolio which includes the Premier League, Barclays’ Women’s Super League, Wimbledon, the WNBA New York Liberty and Lord’s – the home of cricket. Barclays has chosen Williams as a strategic partner to support the team’s transformation, open doors to key markets and decision-makers who share passion for Formula 1, and connect Barclays with the next generation of fans – 43% of whom are under-35 and 42% women. Barclays branding will feature prominently on the FW48, Williams’ all-new challenger, with the racing livery being unveiled later today. It will also feature on the helmets of drivers Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz, team clothing and throughout the team’s trackside garages and hospitality. The partnership marks a renewed alliance for Barclays and Williams, whose legendary founder Sir Frank Williams was a customer of the bank which also provided the team with banking services for many years. The announcement also continues Williams’ commercial growth which has seen a host of major global brands join the team’s mission to return to the front of the grid. Over the past three years Williams has welcomed Atlassian as Title Partner, alongside Komatsu, Super Group, NMC2, VAST Data, Stephens, Airia, Brillio, Keeper Security, Zoox and New Era. Kraken, Gulf Oil International Ltd and Duracell have all extended their partnerships, recognising Williams’ award-winning and innovative approach. Heading into 2026 the team has announced new partnerships with Anthropic, BNY, Wilkinson Sword and Nuveen. James Vowles, Team Principal, Atlassian Williams F1 Team: “We are delighted to welcome Barclays into the sport as Official Banking Partner to Atlassian Williams F1 Team. As we prepare for one of the most significant regulatory changes in Formula 1 history, we’re preparing to seize the opportunities of the new era together with Barclays as we continue investing for long-term success.” Stephen Dainton, President, Barclays Bank PLC: “Our partnership with Atlassian Williams F1 Team will deepen our client engagement and elevate our brand across our key markets as we grow our investment banking and private banking and wealth management relationships. Working with one of the most storied teams in Formula 1 brings unparalleled global visibility." “Barclays has long been one of sport’s most committed corporate partners — from the Premier League and the Women’s Super League to Lord’s, Wimbledon, NBA Brooklyn Nets and WNBA Liberty — and we pair those world stage platforms with major investment in community and grassroots sport. It’s this combination of elite performance and local impact that defines our approach.”