“For any new business, connections are one of your biggest superpowers”

Creating connections across the city

One local resident who knows Southampton's Network Eagle Lab inside out is Barclays' Sam Hobbs. As the Lab's Ecosystem Manager, it's Hobbs' responsibility to support its users in the most effective way.

"We do that by encouraging collaboration and networking, and by creating a really vibrant business environment," he says. "Southampton is such a well-connected city. We have two great universities, and we're known for digital innovation. So, it's the perfect location for a forward-thinking business incubation space."

Hobbs is particularly fond of the Lab's open-plan layout: "I love watching two members doodling on a whiteboard together - this space naturally encourages collaboration."

With a focus on offering funding readiness, mentoring and global connectivity to the startup community, the Network Eagle Lab also provides access to state-of-the-art equipment, including cameras, lighting equipment, 3D printers and laser cutters, and a team of engineers to help local businesses to prototype new products.

Shogun Digital has already benefited from these facilities, says Gayle. "We've taken a massive step up in the quality of our content," he says. "We've developed a new podcast called the Authenticity Hour, which will serve as a new hero piece for us as a business and a potential new avenue for revenue."

Gayle believes that working from Shogun's recently customised space within Network Eagle Lab has allowed him to attract even better talent, and as a first-time business owner, he's appreciating the opportunities to meet potential mentors.

"Starting up your own company can be very lonely," adds Fitzhenry. "Interacting with other people can help you overcome those challenges."