Despite temperatures exceeding 30°C, the Northern fintech community turned out in force as FinTech North celebrated its 10th anniversary with its flagship Leeds conference, bringing together founders, regulators, investors, financial institutions and technology leaders for a day of discussion, networking and collaboration.
Held at the unique aql Salem Chapel venue in Leeds, which notably houses a data centre beneath the historic chapel floor, the event highlighted both the heritage and innovation that continue to define the region’s fintech ecosystem.
The FinTech Intel team attended throughout the day, meeting with businesses across the sector and supporting editorial coverage of one of the UK’s most established regional fintech events.
Opening discussions highlighted the UK’s continued strength as a global fintech market, with the sector attracting £3.6 billion in investment and remaining second only to the United States globally. Speakers also discussed the increasing importance of stablecoins and tokenisation, alongside ongoing government efforts to strengthen the UK’s position as a leading destination for fintech innovation.
One of the standout sessions of the day, FinTech in Leeds, 10 Years On, brought together Jennifer Anderson, CIO at the National Wealth Fund; Sushil Kuner, Partner & Head of Financial Services Regulation at Freeths; Sebastian Ricketts, Senior Manager, Innovation at the FCA; and Richard Carter, CEO of Lenvi.
The panel explored the opportunities and challenges facing fintech businesses across the North, with investment remaining a central theme throughout the discussion.
While concerns were raised around access to capital and investor confidence, panellists also highlighted the significant progress made over the past decade. Richard Carter noted that access to fintech-focused investment and angel networks has improved considerably, while Jennifer Anderson emphasised the need for greater regional investment presence outside London if Northern fintech ecosystems are to continue scaling.
Artificial intelligence emerged as another key topic, with panellists discussing its potential to reshape financial services over the next decade. Areas highlighted included the democratisation of wealth management, accelerated product development, smarter regulation and the emergence of a more connected data economy.
Looking ahead, there was a strong sense of optimism surrounding the future of Leeds as a fintech destination. Panellists predicted greater collaboration between universities and industry, increased movement of talent from London to regional hubs, and continued growth in Leeds’ international reputation as a centre for fintech innovation.
That sentiment was reinforced by Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, who described Leeds as “the City of London’s younger, funkier sibling”, while outlining ambitions to continue scaling the region’s technology ecosystem, including plans to launch a fintech accelerator programme.
The wider programme covered some of the industry’s most pressing topics, including the future of open banking, financial inclusion, artificial intelligence, regulation, risk management, and startup collaboration, alongside extensive networking opportunities throughout the day and into the evening.
As FinTech North celebrates its first decade, the message from Leeds was clear: the North’s fintech ecosystem is not only thriving, but increasingly positioning itself as a globally recognised centre for innovation, investment and growth.
FinTech Intel would like to thank FinTech North for hosting another exceptional event, and we look forward to continuing to support the growth of the Northern fintech ecosystem in the years ahead.
Image provided by FinTech Intel
