New UK IPO Academy Aims to Bridge Critical Gap Between Scale-Up Success and Public Market Listing
The UK’s vibrant start-up scene is producing world-class companies, but a persistent bottleneck prevents many from reaching their full potential through a public market listing. To tackle this, Aquis Stock Exchange (AQSE) has launched the Aquis IPO Academy, a dedicated readiness program developed in partnership with Barclays Eagle Labs, one of the UK’s largest incubator networks. As the only public markets preparation program run directly by an exchange, it offers ambitious companies a structured pathway to explore an Initial Public Offering (IPO) as a viable growth strategy.
The timing is crucial. Joint research from Aquis, Barclays, and financial data firm Beauhurst reveals a concerning trend: UK IPO activity has slowed significantly since its 2021 peak. This creates a “scale-up gap,” where promising companies often fail to transition from private success to public market participation. The Academy is designed as a direct response, moving beyond theoretical advice to provide practical tools, mentorship, and direct investor access, helping companies navigate the complexities of going public with greater confidence.
Addressing the UK’s Scale-Up-to-IPO Challenge
The underlying issue is not a lack of entrepreneurial talent but a deficit in targeted support for the specific demands of the public markets. The UK continues to excel in creating high-growth private businesses, yet the journey to a stock market listing remains daunting and poorly understood for many founders. This results in a loss of potential capital, visibility, and growth momentum for the UK economy.
The Academy’s curriculum is built on proven models from SIX, the Swiss exchange group that acquired Aquis in 2025, combined with the domestic scale-up expertise of Barclays Eagle Labs. This fusion brings international best practices to a UK context, focusing on demystifying regulation, governance, and investor relations—areas often cited as major hurdles for first-time issuers.
A Focus on Underrepresented Founders and Tech Innovation
In a bid to strengthen diversity at the market entry point, the program will give particular attention to tech-enabled and women-founded businesses. Data highlights the urgency: analysis shows that only around 7% of UK high-growth IPOs since 2011 have been led by female-founded companies. Aquis and Barclays Eagle Labs have set an ambitious target of achieving 50% female-founded participation within the Academy cohort, directly addressing a significant representation gap in the small-cap ecosystem.
The Six-Month Pathway to Public Market Readiness
The program is a comprehensive, six-month engagement. Participating companies receive a package of support tailored to the AQSE market segments, including:
- Direct access to a network of institutional and retail investors.
- Specialist funding advice and pitch development coaching.
- Mentoring from experts in finance, corporate governance, and regulatory compliance.
- Pre-eligibility support and discounted admission fees for listing on AQSE.
This “engine for UK capital markets” aims to create a pipeline of well-prepared, diverse companies ready to access growth capital, thereby strengthening the overall small-cap market infrastructure.
Leadership Voices on Building a Sustainable Growth Ecosystem
David Stevens, CEO of Aquis Exchange, emphasized the strategic intent: “Aquis Stock Exchange has become the home of growth companies seeking scale up capital. The UK has no shortage of ambition or entrepreneurial talent, and by providing earlier engagement, targeted education and practical support, we can help more of these high potential businesses successfully navigate their next stage of growth and remain here in the UK. The Aquis IPO Academy in partnership with Barclays Eagle Labs sets out to do just that. It is an investment in the future of UK capital markets, creating tomorrow’s success stories and acting as a long-term engine for small-cap markets.”
Abdul Qureshi, Head of Barclays Business Bank, added: “Barclays Eagle Labs works with thousands of high-growth businesses across the UK, many of which are beginning to think seriously about long-term funding and growth options. The journey from private to public markets is one of the most powerful engines of innovation and growth, but what we’re seeing is that too many promising UK businesses are struggling to access the knowledge, networks and capital needed to take that step confidently here in the UK. The Academy will give founders the insight, support and network to navigate the public markets journey, while helping to strengthen the UK’s growth ecosystem for the long term.”
