Britain will host some of the biggest names in UK and international FinTech when the second UK Fintech Week takes place in London next week.
Building on the success of last year, the week-long event will bring together industry, government and regulators to discuss the issues affecting Britain’s world leading FinTech sector, including investment, access to skills and business support to FinTech start-ups.
The centrepiece event of Fintech Week 2017 is the first International FinTech Conference organised by HM Treasury and the Department for International Trade on 12 April.
Hosted by the Chancellor and featuring the Governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney and the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Simon Kirby as well as other leading figures from FinTech, Venture Capital and Financial Services organisations including Taavet Hinrikus (TransferWise), Samir Desai (Funding Circle), Eileen Burbidge (HM Treasury Fintech Envoy), Xavier Rolet (LSE plc), Douglas Flint (HSBC), Alastair Lukies (Prime Minister’s Business Ambassador – FinTech) and Andy Stewart (Motive Partners).
The conference, sponsored by EY, HSBC, Pinsent Masons and Motive Partners will include exhibition space for 100 of the UK’s top FinTech firms. 10 of these firms have been selected to pitch their business to attending investors from the main stage. The event will be an opportunity to meet over 200 domestic and international investors who will learn more about the UK’s world-leading FinTech sector.
Looking ahead to the event, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond said:
Britain is already the best place in the world to start and grow a FinTech company. These events are a great opportunity to show why. The first ever International FinTech conference will bring together dynamic UK firms with an exciting vision of the future, and global investors who can support their future growth.
We have a plan for Britain and a modern Industrial Strategy and I see FinTech as an essential sector as we forge new trading relationships within, and beyond, Europe.
Secretary of State for the Department for International Trade, Liam Fox, said:
FinTech makes a huge contribution to our economy, and our knowledge, skills and expertise strengthens the UK’s position as a global leader. We have created the right environment for businesses to start and grow in this thriving sector, and with my department’s support and events like this international FinTech conference, we will help even more UK-based FinTech companies to capitalise on the international opportunities and attract inward investment to our shores.
Economic Secretary, Simon Kirby said:
Growing our FinTech sector will deliver a radical change for consumers. It will revolutionise how we all bank and improve financial inclusion at home and abroad.
FinTech Week 2017 is an exciting opportunity for UK firms and investors and an important part of our plan to forge a truly Global Britain that remains a great place to do business.
Imran Gulamhuseinwala, EY’s Global FinTech leader, said:
This conference really underlines UK FinTech’s place as a global market leader. Our industry’s potential for redefining the financial services landscape is huge and we’re already seeing significant new digital solutions coming to market – and this pace of innovation is likely to quicken over the next few years. Investors will continue to recognise both the huge potential the UK represents as a hub and as an attractive destination to do business. It’s vital that the UK continues to support FinTech in order to maintain our lead, which is the envy of many other countries.
Douglas Flint, Group Chairman, HSBC Holdings plc, said:
Digital technology is rapidly changing the world. At HSBC we’re working alongside FinTech companies to harness the opportunities arising from new technology to offer a wider range of products while making banking simpler and more secure for our customers.
FinTechs complement HSBC’s internal expertise, and at the same time we can help them to refine their products and expand to new international markets, propelling their growth.
HSBC is delighted to support the Government’s FinTech conference. The UK is one of the leading locations for FinTechs, attractive to the international entrepreneurial talent that propels the industry and is enhanced by a supportive regulatory regime, in particular the FCA’s sandbox.
Luke Scanlon, Head of Fintech Propositions, Pinsent Masons:
Fintech is driving a rapid transformation in financial services, changing the way in which we think and talk about money, payments and finance. The UK has for some time now flourished as a hub for the sector, and one of the reasons why it has flourished is the level of open access that FinTech businesses have in engaging with investors, regulators, legal experts and others at forums such as the International Fintech Conference. There are however, many detailed legal and regulatory questions which remain around how existing and future products and services of FinTech businesses can be delivered and bring benefits to customers. These questions need to be answered at a pace at which these emerging businesses are innovating. Our expertise in Fintech means we are well placed to support these firms with these legal and regulatory challenges that face them.
Alastair Lukies CBE, Founding Partner, Motive Partners and Prime Minister’s Business Ambassador – FinTech said:
The United Kingdom has established itself as a leading destination for financial technology innovation and has long been a global financial services hub. This event, at this time, marks the UK’s intent to continue building on this progress and welcomes entrepreneurs and institutions from all over the world to work with the UK in building a more sustainable, socially responsible and efficient financial services ecosystem for everyone.
Monday 10th April – Tuesday 11th April
Innovate Finance Global Summit
The first day of Innovate Finance’s conference for the financial technology industry will feature a series of keynotes and panel discussions on issues like Brexit, globalization, new technology, regulation and cybercrime. Speakers will include Rajesh Agrawal, Deputy Mayor of London for Business, David Sproul, Chief Executive of Deloitte UK, and Chris Woolard, Director of Strategy Competition at the FCA.
The second day’s focus will be on ‘Pitch360’, in which start-ups will be given the opportunity to pitch their idea in front of the global FinTech community.
Wednesday 12th April
International Fintech Conference
HM Government will host the International FinTech Conference in London on 12 April 2017. The Conference will bring together domestic and international investors and UK FinTech firms for an exciting one-day programme that aims to attract more investment into the UK’s world-leading FinTech sector.
Speakers include:
- Philip Hammond, Chancellor of the Exchequer
- Mark Carney, Governor, Bank of England
- Simon Kirby MP, Economic Secretary to the Treasury
- Eileen Burbidge, HM Treasury’s Special Envoy for FinTech
- Alastair Lukies, Founding Partner, Motive Partners and Prime Minister’s Business Ambassador – FinTech
- Taavet Hinrikus, CEO, TransferWise
- Samir Desai, CEO, Funding Circle
- Imran Gulamhuseinwala, Global Head of FinTech, EY
- Douglas Flint, Chairman, HSBC
- Andy Stewart, Managing Partner, Motive Partners
- Elizabeth Corley, Vice Chair, AllianzGI
- Antony Jenkins, CEO, 10x
- Constantin Cotzias, Director, Bloomberg Europe
- Keith Morgan, CEO, British Business Bank
- Xavier Rolet, CEO, London Stock Exchange Group
- Ron Kalifa, CEO, Worldpay
- William Russell, Chair of FinTech Network Action Group, City of London
- Chris Woolard, Executive Director for Strategy and Competition, FCA
- Adrienne Harris, Former Special Assistant to the (US) President for Economic Policy
- Richard Wazacz, CEO, Octopus Labs
- Tim Bunting, Partner, Balderton Capital
- Samantha Ghiotti, Partner, Anthemis
- Jan Hammer, Partner, Index Ventures
- Dr Chris Sier, HM Treasury’s Northern Powerhouse Envoy for FinTech
- Miles Celic, CEO, TheCityUK
- Darren Westlake, CEO, Crowdcube
- Edward Twiddy, CIO, Atom Bank
- James Varga, CEO, the ID Company
- Oli Barrett, Director, Start Up Britain
Wednesday 12th April – Thursday 13th April
Pensions Dashboard TechSprint
Simon Kirby, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury will publically launch the Pensions Dashboard Prototype and challenge teams of developers from over 20 technology firms to build potential applications in a 24 hour TechSprint. The ABI event will also be attended by policy and consumer experts to discuss how dashboards can best help consumers understand and make decisions about their pensions.
Follow this news feed: HM Government