Project Nemo launches to create better fintech disability inclusion
FinTech North is delighted to share news of the launch of Project Nemo, an industry inclusion initiative urging the FinTech industry to better serve disabled people in the UK.
The project is a 12 month initiative, aiming to make a change in disability inclusion across the fintech industry. It is focused on long-term systemic change in three ways; education, empowering and showcasing people with disabilities.
Project Nemo seeks to improve awareness of the barriers and opportunities for fintech to be more inclusive to those with disabilities and lived experiences, as well as connecting fintech business leaders, allies, advocates and those with lived experience to a toolkit of resources and expertise that will enable them to build inclusive workplaces, products and services.
More than one in five people live with a disability in the UK, representing an estimated £274bn a year in spending power. Furthermore, 24% of the British working age population has a disclosed disability, indicating low levels of disability employment in UK fintech.
A cornerstone of the initiative is Project Nemo’s Fintech Festival of Inclusion, an events programme to empower fintech business leaders to adopt changes as part of their longer-term inclusion journey. Each workshop event will bring together disability expertise and success stories within the fintech community, to help leaders implement change.
The launch of Project Nemo was officially announced by disability inclusion champion and fintech industry leader, Joanne Dewar.
Dewar, Project Nemo lead, said: “What started as isolated conversations a year ago have rapidly gathered momentum and, in just a few short months we are launching at IFGS.
“I have long held the mantle on equity and inclusion in fintech and yet I have never received such unequivocal support and personal resonance around one issue – disability inclusion. It is a massive missed opportunity for fintech.
“Fintech thinks of itself as the future of financial services, and we have made great strides in streamlining, broadening reach and lowering costs. But if we ever want to truly achieve mainstream adoption beyond the digital natives, we need to ensure that our workplaces, all of our products and services fully consider accessibility.”
Several organisations have already supported the initiative, including Innovate Finance. Janine Hirt, CEO of Innovate Finance, commented: “As the industry body for UK FinTech, Innovate Finance is delighted to support Project Nemo.
“We believe that fostering greater diversity across our industry is critical to ensuring our world-leading UK fintech sector can continue to move from strength-to-strength. Project Nemo is an industry-first in terms of championing disability inclusion in our sector.”
To find out more about Project Nemo, click the link here.
