Pilotlight has partnered with Barclays for more than 15 years, developing programmes that enhance the skills of staff across the country while helping charities tackle strategic challenges.

Since 2008, more than 1,000 Barclays employees have supported 200 charities addressing some of the UK's most pressing social issues.

Initially focused on sponsoring senior leaders through the Pilotlight 360 programme, the partnership quickly expanded to include programmes for emerging and senior leaders, both in London and across regional offices in the UK.

Through this collaboration, Barclays has successfully integrated its Learning & Development (L&D) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts, offering programmes that have become key to its employee engagement strategy.

In 2024 alone, Barclays supported more than 20 charities through the Pilotlight Direction, Inclusive Leadership, and Brain Trust programmes, providing crucial support to the UK charity sector.

“The guidance Pilotlight provides to both charities and business throughout its skills-sharing programmes consistently delivers greater impact than participants anticipate, with many finding the experience of giving back at a strategic level personally rewarding as well.”

Rachel Murphy, VP Citizenship, Barclays

The long-standing partnership has earned recognition, with Barclays and Pilotlight being named finalists for the Long-Term Partnership Award at the 2021 Third Sector Business Charity Awards and for the Community Partners category at the Lord Mayor’s Dragon Awards in 2018.

In 2021, Pilotlight also developed the Inclusive Leadership programme with Barclays, to offer support exclusively to charities led by and/or supporting people from underrepresented communities.

Barclays was keen to expand its Pilotlight programme offering to employees across corporate grades and divisions. This new programme saw colleagues across the business collaborate for the first time.