Barclays has announced a collaboration with ExpectAI, a technology company specializing in artificial intelligence solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The partnership aims to support SMEs in improving profitability through sustainability insights.
According to Barclays, artificial intelligence is being utilized within the bank to increase efficiency and enhance client service. The new initiative will explore how advanced AI can assist SMEs in strengthening their energy resilience and reducing emissions—objectives considered vital for the UK’s economic transition. SMEs contribute about half of the UK's private-sector turnover and employ around 60% of the workforce, making their role significant in national sustainability efforts.
Beginning in early 2026, Barclays will pilot ExpectAI’s Una platform. This AI-powered tool uses publicly available data to create digital models of SME operations. It is designed to offer adaptive carbon profiles, tailored recommendations for energy efficiency, and facilitate connections with verified solution providers and funding partners.
The pilot will assess whether AI-generated insights from Una can help UK businesses identify sustainability opportunities that lead to improvements in productivity, cost efficiency, and competitiveness.
Daniel Hanna, Group Head of Sustainable and Transition Finance at Barclays, said: “Barclays believes that AI platforms will play an important role in supporting businesses with sustainability-related initiatives and decision-making. Our ambition with this initiative is to support the development of an emerging climate tech business and help our clients understand the connection between sustainability and business value creation.”
Anand Verma, Founder and CEO of ExpectAI, stated: “We are delighted to be working with Barclays on this important initiative. ExpectAI was founded to help SMEs become more profitable, productive and sustainable. Barclays’ long-standing focus on SMEs and their commitment to supporting clients through the transition make them the ideal organisation to advance this work. We look forward to demonstrating how this could create real value for UK-based businesses.”
This collaboration forms part of Barclays’ broader climate strategy as detailed in its Transition Update report. The approach includes supporting clients during their transitions toward lower emissions, financing these transitions, and scaling up climate technology solutions.
Barclays operates as a diversified universal bank with global consumer banking, payments operations, corporate banking services, investment banking capabilities, and supporting technology functions.
ExpectAI is based in the UK and provides artificial intelligence tools aimed at helping SMEs reduce costs while improving performance through decarbonization strategies. Its Una platform delivers operational insights designed to foster both profitability and sustainability.