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Climb26 National Innovation Competition

Sponsored by Barclays Innovation Banking

Terms1. Definitions2. Promoter and Sponsor3. Nature of the Competition4. Eligibility5. Competition Timeline6. Assessment and Selection7. What Winners Receive8. Notification and Participation 9. Data Protection and Privacy 10. Publicity and Use of Materials11. Intellectual Property12. Liability and Disclaimers 13. General 14. Governing Law and Jurisdiction 15. Changes to the Terms

Terms


Downloadable copy of the Terms

These Competition Terms and Conditions ("Competition Terms") govern participation in the Climb26 National Innovation Competition (the "Competition") operated by The Investor Ladder Limited trading as Climb Group ("Climb Group", "Climb", "Climb UK", "ClimbUK", "we", "us" or "our"). Barclays Innovation Banking ("Barclays") is the Competition Sponsor only. 

By submitting an application to or participating in the Competition, you ("Participant", "you", or "your") agree to be bound by these Competition Terms, as well as the general Terms of Service available at www.climb-group.com/terms, which are incorporated herein by reference. 

1. Definitions

For the purposes of these Competition Terms, the following expressions shall have the meanings ascribed to them: 

  • "Application" means the completed Competition application submitted via the official Climb website in accordance with these Competition Terms. 

  • "Assessment Criteria" means the criteria used by Climb to evaluate Applications, as set out in clause 6.2. 

  • “Competition" means the Climb26 National Innovation Competition described in these Competition Terms. 

  • "Judging Panel" means the panel of judges selected by Climb to review and assess Applications. 

  • "Participant" means any eligible UK-registered business that submits an Application.  

  • "Sponsor" means Barclays Innovation Banking, acting solely as sponsor of the Competition.  

  • "Winner" / "Winners" means the ten (10) Participants selected by Climb in accordance with these Competition Terms. 

2. Promoter and Sponsor

  1. The promoter and administrator of the Competition is The Investor Ladder Limited trading as Climb Group. 

  2. Barclays is the Sponsor only and is not responsible for the administration, assessment, operation, or selection of Winners. 

  3. All decisions relating to the Competition (including eligibility, scoring, shortlisting, selection, interpretation of these Competition Terms, and the award of Winner benefits) are made solely by Climb and shall be final, subject always to applicable law. 

3. Nature of the Competition

  1. The Competition is a skills and criteria-based competition and not a prize draw, lottery, or game of chance. 

  2. Winners will be selected based on merit against the Assessment Criteria, and not by random selection. 

4. Eligibility

  1. The Competition is open to UK-registered businesses that are innovation-led, growth-focused, and operating within the UK innovation economy. 

  2. To be eligible, Participants must submit a completed Application via the official Climb website and provide accurate, complete and up-to-date information. 

  3. The following are not eligible to apply: 

    1. employees, officers, contractors, or agents of Climb Group; and 

    2. employees of Barclays Group companies 

  4. Climb reserves the right to require reasonable evidence of eligibility and to disqualify any Participant who fails to provide such evidence within a reasonable timeframe. 

5. Competition Timeline

  1. The Competition is intended to operate in accordance with the following timetable: 

    1. Applications open: 5 May 2026  

    2. Applications close: 29 May 2026 at 23:59 (BST)  

    3. Assessment period: 30 May 2026 - 6 June 2026  

    4. Winner notification: by 10 June 2026  

  2. Climb reserves the right to amend the timetable where reasonably necessary (including due to operational, legal, or unforeseen circumstances). Any material changes will be communicated via official Competition channels. 

6. Assessment and Selection

  1. All eligible Applications will be reviewed and assessed by the Judging Panel. 

  2. Applications will be evaluated against transparent criteria including (without limitation): 

    1. growth trajectory and scalability;  

    2. level of innovation within product, service or business model;  

    3. turnover and commercial traction;  

    4. number of employees and job creation potential; and  

    5. investment raised to date and future capital ambition. 

  3. Ten (10) Participants will be selected as Winners based on the Judging Panel’s assessment against the Assessment Criteria. 

  4. Climb is not obliged to provide scoring breakdowns or individual feedback and will not enter into correspondence regarding assessment outcomes. Climb’s decision is final. 

  5. Climb may, in its sole discretion, disqualify any Application that is incomplete, illegible, misleading, fraudulent, submitted outside the stated timeline, or otherwise submitted in breach of these Competition Terms. 

7. What Winners Receive

  1. The ten (10) Winners will receive the following benefits (the "Winner Benefits"): 

    1. a demo and showcase opportunity at Climb26, in front of investors, partners and ecosystem leaders 

    2. attendance at an invitation-only private dinner with senior ecosystem figures; and 

    3. mentoring and growth support, including access to curated support from Climb and ecosystem partners. 

  2. Winner Benefits: 

    1. have no cash alternative;  

    2. are non-transferable and may not be sold, exchanged or assigned; and  

    3. may be subject to reasonable scheduling, capacity, security, or operational requirements communicated by Climb. 

  3. Unless expressly stated in these Competition Terms, Winners are responsible for any costs and expenses associated with taking up Winner Benefits (including, without limitation, travel and accommodation). 

8. Notification and Participation 

  1. Winners will be notified using the contact details provided in their Application. 

  2. If a Winner fails to respond within a reasonable timeframe, or is unable or unwilling to take up the Winner Benefits, Climb reserves the right to withdraw the Winner’s status and offer the opportunity to another Participant (or to reduce the number of Winners), at Climb’s sole discretion. 

  3. Winners may be required to complete reasonable onboarding steps (including confirming attendance details and providing any necessary information to facilitate the delivery of Winner Benefits). 

9. Data Protection and Privacy 

  1. Climb will process all personal data submitted by Participants in accordance with applicable UK data protection legislation and Climb's published privacy information. 

  2. Participants may explicitly opt in to permit Climb to share certain personal data with Barclays Innovation Banking for the purposes of supporting, evaluating, and following up in connection with the Competition. 

  3. Where a Participant provides valid opt‑in consent, data shared with Barclays will be limited to: 

    1. name; 

    2. email address; 

    3. business name; 

  4. Opting in to data sharing with Barclays is entirely optional and is not a condition of entry into the Competition. Participants who do not opt in will not be disadvantaged in the assessment or selection process. 

  5. Barclays will process all data received in accordance with its own privacy policies and applicable data protection law. 

  6. Participants acknowledge that Barclays acts as an independent data controller in respect of data received and that Climb is not responsible for Barclays' subsequent processing activities. 

  7. Participants may exercise their statutory data protection rights by contacting Climb in respect of data processed by Climb, or Barclays directly in respect of data processed by Barclays. 

  8. Participants may withdraw consent for data sharing at any time by contacting Climb. Withdrawal of consent will not affect the lawfulness of any processing carried out before such withdrawal. 

10. Publicity and Use of Materials

  1. Climb may request that Winners participate in reasonable publicity connected to the Competition and Climb26. Any such participation shall be subject to applicable law and reasonable notice. 

  2. Participants warrant that information and materials submitted as part of an Application are accurate and that they have all necessary rights and permissions to submit such materials to Climb for the purposes of operating the Competition. 

  3. Participants grant Climb a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence for the duration of the Competition to use, reproduce and share submitted Application materials to the extent reasonably necessary to administer, assess and promote the Competition and to deliver the Winner Benefits. 

11. Intellectual Property

  1. All intellectual property rights in Climb Group’s branding, content, and promotional materials shall remain the exclusive property of Climb Group. Participant(s) are granted a limited, non-exclusive, revocable licence to use such materials solely for the purpose of promoting Climb Group in accordance with these Competition Terms. 

  2. Any unauthorised use, reproduction, or distribution of Climb Group materials shall constitute a breach of these Terms and may result in legal action. 

12. Liability and Disclaimers 

  1. Nothing in these Competition Terms limits or excludes liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot be limited or excluded by law. 

  2. Subject to clause 12.1, Climb and Barclays shall not be liable for: 

    1. any loss or damage arising from participation in the Competition or reliance on Winner Benefits; or  

    2. any indirect or consequential loss, including loss of profit, loss of business, or loss of opportunity. 

  3. Barclays is not responsible for the Competition’s administration or selection of Winners and makes no representation or warranty as to the conduct, assessment, or outcomes of the Competition. 

13. General 

  1. These Competition Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales. 

  2. If any provision of these Competition Terms is held to be unlawful, invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. 

  3. A failure or delay by Climb to exercise any right or remedy shall not constitute a waiver of that right or remedy. 

14. Governing Law and Jurisdiction 

  1. These Competition Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales. 

15. Changes to the Terms

  1. Climb Group reserves the right to amend, update, or otherwise modify these Terms at any time. Where such changes are made, Climb Group shall publish the revised Terms on its website and may, at its discretion, notify users by email or other appropriate means. 

  2. Continued use of Climb Group services following the publication of revised Terms shall constitute acceptance of those changes. Users are advised to review the Terms periodically to ensure they remain informed of their rights and obligations.