FinTech North, a hub dedicated to advancing financial technology across northern England, is calling on fintechs in the region to help shape the industry’s future by supporting its latest skills-building initiative.
Since its establishment in 2016, FinTech North has brought fintechs together, hosting events and conferences that tackle the sector’s big challenges and support its growth. Now, in partnership with Leeds Beckett University, FinTech North has launched the ‘FinTech Talent Upskilling Course’.
The programme aims to close the skills gap by providing graduates and professionals with essential knowledge in areas like digital payments, wealthtech, blockchain, regtech, digital banking and compliance.
Additionally, through this initiative, fintechs have the opportunity to directly influence the course content, ensuring that it addresses real industry needs and prepares participants with relevant skills.
Bridging the skills gap
Silas Ozoya, the newly appointed fintech talent upskilling associate at FinTech North, introduced the initiative at the recent two-day Northern FinTech Summit, held in York’s Guildhall.
He outlined the disconnect between the skill needs of fintech employers and the accessibility of fintech careers for new talent.
“We’re looking to help develop skills in the fintech sector as there’s a significant gap between the employers needing skilled talent and the talent themselves trying to enter the sector,” Ozoya said. “We’ve been doing work to bridge the gap between the sector looking for professionals wanting to transition into fintech from finance and the talent graduating out of university.”
Expanding educational initiatives
As well as the upskilling course, FintechNorth is working to develop a fintech trailblazer course in conjunction with iFATE (the UK’s employer-led body overseeing technical education and apprenticeships), and has also forged a strategic skills partnership with Luminate Group, a collective of Yorkshire-based education providers.
Fintechs have several ways to contribute to the progress – they can provide training materials, help design a fintech apprenticeship or become an official ‘skills partner’ with FinTech North.
Joe Roche, general manager at FinTech North, also added: “We believe we’re perfectly placed in the heart of the ecosystem to bring the right group of people together to positively impact the skills agenda, and with the support of our skills steering co and our partners, deliver additive initiatives for the benefit of our sector and the development of fintech skills for the next generations of fintech talent.”
FinTech North has recently teamed up with Whitecap Consulting as well as LegalTech in Leeds to work alongside the UK Centre for Events Management at Leeds Beckett University.
The collaboration aims to foster knowledge exchange and create hands-on project opportunities for students interested in careers in the events and technology sectors.
Through this partnership, students can gain practical experience by working on real-world applications, such as assisting with FinTech North and LegalTech in Leeds events. They participate in best practice sessions, undertake consulting project work as well as gain exposure to live case studies, preparing them for careers in the fintech and legaltech sectors.
Find more details about the FinTech North skills mission and strategy.
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