Victoria Ritchie

Ever wanted to know how to grow your business internationally? Join our live Webinar to understand the practical steps you need to consider to grow your business globally. European EMC Products Limited Make UK Department for Business and Trade

8

🔎 In the UK, SMEs play a crucial role, contributing nearly two-thirds of employment and an impressive £2.4 trillion in turnover. However, many are facing significant hurdles, with nearly half finding it harder to secure funding recently. ✔️ Lekshmi Nair from Finastra discusses how traditional banks are struggling with outdated processes, while Finastra is providing innovative solutions to enhance efficiency and support SMEs. Read more about this essential issue here: https://okt.to/20h6Jp #SMEs #Finance #Innovation #FinancialInclusion #Finastra

2

Our Chief Economist @Sebastianburnside delves into the insights from our latest Regional PMI Report to discuss economic growth trends, cost pressures and business output across all nations and regions of the UK. https://lnkd.in/e2HMr8bu

7

Financial Conduct Authority is calling on industry to identify rules which could be removed or simplified if they overlap with the Consumer Duty.  This is great news. It's something we at Innovate Finance have been calling for since 2021 - when we said: "Outcome-based rules will not promote innovation if they are superimposed on top of existing prescriptive rules. In advance of the introduction of the new Consumer Duty, we recommend that there be a thorough, post-Brexit review of FCA retail consumer regulation to identify existing prescriptive rules which could be removed when the Consumer Duty is introduced." We were delighted when Tulip Siddiq and Rt Hon Rachel Reeves adopted this in their review of Financial Services 'Financing Growth' earlier this year. Now it is being taken forward by the regulator. Sometimes the best things come to those who are persistent and patient! We will be working with @Innovate Finance members to respond to this review. Let's make the most of this huge opportunity to simplify and streamline the rule book - to achieve better outcomes for consumers and support innovation and growth. The FCA have said "We particularly want to address potential areas of complexity, duplication, confusion, or over-prescription, which create regulatory costs with limited or no consumer benefit. We also want to include appropriate flexibility in our rules to be responsive to future changes and innovation." What would you put on the list? #Innovation #Growth #ConsumerDuty #OutcomebasedRegulation

6

Manufacturing is a lifeline to the UK economy so it’s vital that businesses in this sector get the adequate support they need. We’ve partnered with Make UK to understand how manufacturers are financing their investment plans and how this is unlocking oppprtunities for them to grow, innovate, digitalise and become more sustainable. Access to finance provides access to opportunity and we’re keen to ensure businesses continue to benefit from this to reach their long term ambitions and plans. Read the key findings and access the report below 👇🏻 #ukmfg #shoutaboutukmfg #manufacturing #investment #accesstofinance #fuelinggrowth #finance #lombard #natwest #makeuk #rbs #ubni Ian Isaac Stuart Clark Stephanie Melrose Stephen Phipson CBE Fhaheen A Khan Jo Wright Sarah Alexandra Henderson Samantha Swift Russell Whyte Liam Douglas Craig Emmerson Simon Webb Neil Devney Garry Wilkinson Gary Johnson Tom Corr Stuart Welch Richard Dowen Mark Caulkin, DipLS Liz Denman Gavin Tilling Andrew Kettle Tony Clowes Rhys Williams Paul Edwards Rashel Chowdhury Judith Cruickshank Catherine van Weenen Malcolm Buchanan Mark Crimmins Jonathan Barrow Richard Hill David Scott Peter Williamson CDir Mike Wilson Katherine Bennett CBE Steve Warren Stephen Morley

78

In truth this is an old article but its good to see the recognition from the JustMoney Movement in their Greener, Fairer Banking Guide which can be downloaded from the below link #cafbank #charitiesaidfoudation #bankingwithpurpose

4

Fintech is a key sector for the UK's future

1

Finding and retaining quality staff is an increasing challenge for growth-focused financial advice businesses, as identified in the latest BT Adviser Sentiment Index. Groups like Striver share our passion to present this industry as an attractive option for graduates, so that the challenge isn't only solved from within our current employment pool. It's a wonderful industry, poised for even more growth and the opportunity to help more clients meet their financial goals. #growth #financialplanning #valueofadvice Alisdair Barr

54

1 Comment

Make UK’s latest report Finance: Opening Doors to Investment in Manufacturing in partnership with NatWest and Lombard has canvassed the opinion of manufacturers to understand their thoughts and preferences when accessing finance to grow their businesses. See our highlights below and click here to read the report in full. https://lnkd.in/eAvZ_mGA

2

We, the Financial Inclusion Commission (FIC), are today excited to welcome the new Labour Government's commitment to a National Financial Inclusion Strategy. This crucial initiative aims to tackle financial exclusion and enhance resilience across the UK. In January, the new Labour Government published its 'Plan for Financial Services,' highlighting some alarming statistics: over 1 million people in the UK lack a bank account, and 14 million have less than £100 in savings. Addressing these critical issues will significantly improve the nation's financial resilience. Today we released a statement that includes a comment from our Chair, Chris Pond: “The extent of financial exclusion is a source of shame for a country that prides itself on being a global leader in financial services. We cannot go on with a two-track system with a globally successful financial services sector on one hand, but millions of people who cannot access basic products and services on the other”. We need a comprehensive strategy to ensure everyone has access to essential financial services, fostering #InclusiveGrowth. At FIC, we are committed to working alongside other campaigners and partners to engage with the new Government. Together, we aim to ensure that all UK citizens can contribute to economic growth and lead financially fulfilled lives. Learn more about our mission and the steps we are taking by visiting our website and reading today's statement in full: https://lnkd.in/e9jA6c4N #FinancialInclusion #GeneralElection #FinancialResilience #InclusiveEconomy

41

3 Comments

Mid-market corporates (MCCs) play a significant role across the East of England jobs market, employing nearly a quarter of the workforce. And with the right support and investment, they have the potential and capabilities to have an even greater impact on the region. These companies, typically turning over between £25m-£500m, are the critical backbone of our economy. Today, we’ve launched our latest report, aimed at championing MMCs and understanding their vital economic contributions as the critical middle. The insights from the report are compelling. With the correct support, MMCs could achieve turnover growth of £115bn and contribute an additional £35bn Gross Value add to the UK’s economy by 2030. Learn more about their potential in our latest report ‘The Critical Middle’: https://lnkd.in/ey6BUCyD #TheCriticalMiddle @NatWest Business, @NatWest Commercial and Institutional, @NatWest Group 

37

2 Comments

James Close, Head of Climate Change at NatWest Group, and member of the Transition Finance Market Review’s Expert Group, discusses an unexpected finding from the Transition Finance Market Review. Central to the findings of the Review are recommendations on how to unlock required levels of finance by creating the right policies, pathways and signals for investment through collaboration between government, investors, business and civil society. This landmark Review is co-sponsored by HM Treasury and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and hosted by the City of London Corporation. Download the full findings of the review: https://lnkd.in/eaTRx6s8 #TransitionFinanceMarketReview #IndependentReview #SustainableFinance

24

Protecht's Managing Director EMEA Gary Lynam has an article in the latest edition of International Banker magazine discussing Protecht's survey of UK financial services institutions. The survey highlights the strategic adaptations and investments banks are making to navigate a rapidly changing financial landscape, with the backdrop of regulatory evolution and increasing reliance on technology. Find out more and read the article: https://hubs.ly/Q02xSJDt0 If you are interested in finding out more about our UK financial services survey, then you can download it here: https://hubs.ly/Q02xSFTG0 #internationalbanker #ukbanks #risksurvey #operationalresilience

11

Really interesting to read about TISA's new select ID scheme. Allowing customers to select their preferred Digital ID provider, this will not only simplify the customer jounrey and reduce fraud but forge the future of Digital ID within the industry. http://spr.ly/6044ewNTj

2

The number of staff employed by UK banks saw its biggest increase in a decade last year, new data shows, as headcount returned to pre-pandemic levels and lenders enjoyed record profits. UK bank staff numbers see biggest jump in a decade as sector outperforms Europe. UK banks employed 612,519 people globally in 2023, according to figures compiled by trade publication The Banker. This number is up by just over 21,000, or 3.56 per cent, from 591,435 in 2022 and marks the biggest increase since the dataset started in 2013. Still, headcount has plummeted 20 per cent, equating to around 154,000 job losses, over the decade as lenders try to become more cost-efficient and improve returns. #careers #banking

17