Last week, the historic Cloth Hall Court in Leeds, a monument to the city's textile past, pulsed with the energy of fintech's future, and CreateFuture were fortunate to witness firsthand the debates and demonstrations shaping the industry's trajectory.

The core focus of the day was innovation itself – dissected, debated, and celebrated in all its forms. From regulatory frameworks to funding frontiers, talent tides to transformative tech, the conference delivered a potent blend of insight and inspiration.

The insights were too valuable to keep confined within the four walls of the conference space, so we’ve broken down the key takeaways of the day.

Regulation: Can policy keep pace with progress?

The conference opened with a crucial question: Could regulation truly support – and not stifle – fintech's rapid evolution?

A morning panel, expertly steered by Julian Wells (Whitecap), explored the complex interplay between the UK's global fintech standing and the ever-evolving regulatory landscape.

Nicole Sandler (CFIT) expressed a strong concern, suggesting the UK has "fallen far down the line in terms of policymaking," and emphasised the urgent need for a more dynamic regulatory framework, particularly in pivotal areas like open finance and AI.

However, there were glimpses of a more positive outlook. The UK government and the FCA's revised approach, detailed in their March 2025 policy paper, signals a commitment to fostering growth within the sector. Mohammed Gharbawi (BoE) reinforced this sentiment, highlighting the Bank of England's proactive strategy of forging public-private partnerships and actively engaging with industry experts through initiatives like the CDBC forum.

In a compelling post-lunch keynote, Colin Payne (FCA) declared that "innovation is now the baseline for everything we do.” He outlined the FCA's strategic shift under the Smarter Regulatory Framework (SRF), a move towards a more customer-centric and innovation-friendly stance aimed at bolstering the UK's global fintech leadership. While underscoring the continued importance of rules, Payne stressed the need for "proportionate" risk management, acknowledging the delicate balance between fostering growth and ensuring stability.

Investment: Fuelling the fintech revolution

Innovation, undeniably, demands capital, and the conference thoroughly addressed the critical issue of investment.

Richard Carter (Lenvi), a seasoned veteran of the fintech scene, offered a reassuring perspective: funding gaps are narrowing thanks to increased activity from PE and VC firms. His advice to fintech startups was to seek external investment not just for the cash injection, but for the invaluable mentorship and guidance that often accompanies it.

The investment conversation extended beyond private capital, with Tracy Babin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, detailing her ambitious regional growth strategy, placing fintech and professional services front and center, alongside strategic infrastructure investments like the Weaver Network. Gilda Smith-Leigh (Leeds City Council) further emphasised this point, showcasing the city's commitment to fostering innovation through the development of cutting-edge workspaces and business hubs such as West Village and Nexus.

A pre-lunch panel, featuring Jennifer Anderson (National Health Fund), Jordan Dargue (Lifted Ventures), and Josh Perry (Sedulo), delved into the investor mindset, exploring the key ingredients that make a startup investment-ready: disruptive innovation and a solution to a real, large-scale market problem.

Partnership and talent: The people powering progress

Beyond capital, innovation hinges on people – the right talent and the right collaborations.

Gilda Smith-Leigh underscored Leeds' emergence as a fintech hotspot, emphasising that "innovation begins through ecosystems" – the intricate web of partnerships and collaborative networks spanning the public and private sectors.

The role of bank innovation labs in nurturing fintech partnerships sparked debate during the conference. While progress has been made, the lingering challenge of bureaucratic hurdles for fintechs was acknowledged by some attendees. Christina Cooper (Mastercard) provided a compelling counterpoint, showcasing Mastercard's regtech partnership program as a model for successful collaboration that drives innovation, streamlines compliance, reduces costs, and fortifies cybersecurity.

Jackie Kingham (Raison) and Anupam Bansal (Oxygen Consulting), building on the theme of the partnership, dissected the "build or buy" dilemma, championing the power of partnerships and the synergistic potential of banks (with their vast customer bases and robust balance sheets) and fintechs (with their agility and innovative spirit).

Looking ahead, Natalie Moore (Leeds Beckett University) addressed the crucial need to cultivate future talent, discussing the university's efforts to modernise curriculums, integrate AI, and forge stronger ties between employers and academia to ensure graduates possess the skills demanded by the evolving fintech landscape. Nicole Sandler added a critical point: the industry must prioritise retaining this talent within the UK.

Innovation unleashed: Real-world examples take centre stage

Beyond the panel discussions, the conference provided a platform to showcase tangible examples of fintech innovation in action.

Kris Brewster (LHV Bank), in a captivating conversation with Fintech PR Consultant Ellie Kirkman, recounted LHV's remarkable feat of launching a retail bank in under a year – a testament to the power of a product and engineering-led culture.

Simon Wright (Pexa) and Pat Szubryt (Leeds Building Society) offered a glimpse into the future of home buying, revealing how digital technology, data, and AI are poised to revolutionise the customer experience by streamlining processes, boosting efficiency, and providing intelligent guidance.

Alex Craven (The Data City) demystified their AI-powered approach to the notoriously complex SIC code problem, highlighting its potential to improve risk assessment, and Neil Richardson (Cyber Alchemy) delivered a thought-provoking presentation on the double-edged sword of AI innovation, acknowledging its power to combat cybercrime while also fueling the rise of sophisticated deepfakes.

And finally, Innovate Finance’s Pitch360 competition injected a dose of startup energy into the event, showcasing five compelling pitches from early-stage innovators:

• Adiona Insurance (Paul Harvey) proposed an AI-driven IoT solution to disrupt the unfairness of postcode-based motor insurance premiums.
• Doconomy (Adam Armer) presented a banking solution leveraging behavioural science to empower customers to understand the environmental impact of their spending.
• Ndewo (Joshua Ojo) tackled the challenge of financial inclusion for migrants and the "credit invisible" with a solution for transferring credit history across borders.
• Nuke From Orbit (James O'Sullivan) captured the competition's top prize with a cutting-edge smartphone security solution for instant control over cards, accounts, and SIMs.
• Recirculate (Alasdair Hood) offered a sustainable solution for the circular economy, automating refunds for reusable cups within existing POS and payment systems.

Conclusion: A glimpse of what's to come

Fintech North Leeds delivered more than just presentations and panels; it fostered a palpable sense of optimism, with the resounding message of the event being that the future of fintech hinges on collaboration.

The conference underscored the critical importance of a cohesive ecosystem – where regulators, policymakers, investors, academia, banks, and fintechs align on common goals and work together in partnership. Fueled by rapid technological advancements and a thriving community like the one in Leeds, the industry is poised for transformative growth.

CreateFuture is excited to be at the forefront of this evolution, partnering with organisations to navigate the complexities and capitalise on the opportunities within the fintech landscape. To explore how our expertise can help shape your fintech future, please get in touch.