OBN Welcomes Barclays as Corporate Patron
November 2025, Harwell, UK – OBN, the not-for-profit membership organisation dedicated to catalysing success in life sciences, is delighted to announce the appointment of Barclays as a new Corporate Patron.
OBN aims to support R&D SMEs’ growth through helping them to Create Connections, Save Time and Money and to Secure Investment and this partnership with Barclays is a tangible example of augmenting the OBN ecosystem with partners who are focused on supporting those members’ growth.
Barclays, through Barclays Innovation Banking are active supporters of the early-stage life sciences ecosystem in the UK, and the decision to expand involvement through OBN Corporate Patronage reflects their ongoing commitment of support.
Barclays’ experience in providing greater access to finance, networks, and expert support for high-potential life sciences and health tech companies across the UK, with a particular focus on supporting regional clusters of innovation, will be hugely valuable to the ever-growing OBN network of c.530 member companies, which includes early-stage ventures, established businesses, investors, and professional service providers.
Stuart Rose, CEO of OBN, said: “We are delighted to welcome Barclays as a Corporate Patron. Their commitment to innovation and investment aligns perfectly with OBN’s mission to accelerate growth in the life sciences industry. This partnership will open new doors for our members by providing invaluable support for businesses at every stage of their journey.”
Ben Reasbeck, Head of Life Sciences and Health Technology within Barclays Innovation Banking, said: “This partnership with OBN reflects our shared ambition to back the brilliant science and innovation happening right across the UK. Life sciences is a sector that does more than fuel economic growth – it transforms lives.
At Barclays, we’re committed to being more than a bank. We want to be a long-term partner for founders, connecting them to capital, expertise, and ecosystems that help them scale their ideas into real-world impact. Joining OBN as a Patron is a natural step in that journey.”
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About OBN (UK) Ltd
OBN is a not-for-profit membership organisation dedicated to catalysing success in life sciences. With a growing network of over 530 members, OBN provides sector-specific networking, partnering, purchasing support, and opportunities to meet, learn, and grow – with a particular focus on early-stage UK life science SMEs.
About Barclays
Barclays is a British universal bank, diversified by business, customer type, and geography. The bank supports innovative companies across all sectors – including life sciences – by providing strategic financial solutions, growth support, and access to a global network of expertise and investors.
Contact Information
Sarah Walker – Interim Marketing and Communications Manager – communications@obn.org.uk
Stuart Rose – CEO – info@obn.org.uk
