FinTech North Does it Again: A Showcase for Northern Business and Talent
Guest Post by Kylie-Jo Greeff, Compliance Manager at rebuildingsociety.com on last weeks FinTech North event in Leeds.
On Thursday 26th April, we attended the 3rd Annual Fintech North event held at aql in Leeds. Having attended and enjoyed all the previous years, we were again blown away by the growth of the event and the excellent calibre of speakers on the day. FinTech North, Founded by Whitecap Consulting and White Label Crowdfunding, has clearly set itself out as the premier FinTech Event in the North of England.
Over the course of the day more than 300 delegates enjoyed a wide variety of presentations and speakers from AI and new innovations in compliance tech, to pitches from new and innovative companies such as Blukudu and InvestUp and even presentations from Anna Wallace of the FCA and Tom Riordan of Leeds City Council.
Amongst the delegates in attendance on the day were H.E Baiba Braže Ambassador Extraordinary from Latvia, Aaron Rosland, Councillor at the Canadian High Commission.
Tom Riordan and Henri Murison of The Northern Powerhouse Partnership both addressed the audience separately both highlighted the depth of strength and talent that the region boasts within the Financial Services and Technology industries.
On the decline of the traditional financial services in favour new emerging and disruptive technologies, Henri believes that The North has the legacy infrastructure to become a leader. However, he stressed that the cities that make up the Northern Powerhouse, must work as a single team, a single region to continue to grow and to continue to challenge The City. With most of the ‘work’ in financial services already being done outside of London, in towns and cities such as Bradford, Halifax, Leeds and Manchester, cooperation will be crucial in ensuring that the industrial revolution that new tech is bringing about does not have a hugely detrimental impact on these areas.
With many of the speakers talking about the future of Fintech and their experience of building businesses in the region, Oliver Gadja of the European Crowdfunding Network addressed the audience and provided a thought provoking message on the future of UK Fintech post Brexit and stressing the need for the region to also think how it will present itself as being open to foreign markets and collaboration. He left the audience with a warning that if the region fails to present itself as being open to international, particularly European collaboration by saying ‘if you don’t live here, or have a reason to come here, then all you may know of Leeds is Leeds United Hooligans’.
In previous years, after enjoying a jam packed Fintech North conference, we’ve had to wait whole year until the next event, however this year that is not so, with FinTech North also hosting two other events this year in Manchester (22nd May) at the University of Manchester and Liverpool (12 June), as part of the Liverpool International Festival of Business. If you are interested in attending, you can book your tickets via Eventbrite. Members of our team will be attending both of these events so feel free to seek them out for a chat.
