Bank of England governor speaks as maiden UK Fintech Week begins

Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

The UK’s first Fintech Week will this week promote innovation, openness and collaboration to the fintech industry.

The week will kick off with a keynote from Bank of England governor Mark Carney at the Innovate Finance Global Summit (IFGS) in London, with speakers from all corners of the industry.

IFGS will be held at the Guildhall, London, today (Monday 29 April) until tomorrow. As well as Carney speakers will include: Anne Boden, CEO at Starling Bank; Jaidev Janardana, CEO at Zopa; Kaushalya Somasundaram, head of fintech partnerships & Strategy, at HSBC; and Kosta Peric, deputy director, financial services for the poor, at Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

But there is also a long list of events planned for the entire week, which organisers hope will help the UK cement its position as a leading global fintech hub. See this link for all the events.

The UK attracted £3.3bn in fintech investment last year. But it is not just about attracting investment. In fact the week will have the theme; “fintech’s value and purpose to society.” Participants will be united in striving to make sure the UK remains an investment friendly environment for fintech, that it continues to attract and retain a diverse and global pool of talent, and that it is the home of progressive regulation

Chancellor Philip Hammond will also speak during the week.

Charlotte Crosswell, CEO at Innovate Finance, said fintech is now a key driver of economic growth and social betterment for countries across the world. “The UK has long been held as a global hub of fintech and we will continue to work with ecosystems across the world, connecting international and national organisations

Lord Mayor of London Peter Estlin said fintech is already a major asset for London and the UK, employing over 75,000 people across the country. “I expect this figure expected to surge to well beyond 100,000 by 2030.”

“I look forward to welcoming firms, investors, and young people starting out their careers in fintech to the City of London to explore how we can realise the sector’s full potential in the years to come.”