Leaders from Wales’ fintech and financial services sector met Adam Price MS, Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy, at a FinTech Wales roundtable on 1 October to discuss access to capital, talent and growing businesses beyond Wales.
Companies represented included Admiral, Burbank, Collections Cloud, Driverly, Final Rentals, Hodge Bank, Menna, IE Hub, Principality, Valart and Vodafone Business.
Sarah Jones, CEO at FinTech Wales, said: “Wales has built a thriving fintech and financial services ecosystem, but today’s discussion was about what we need to do next to unlock further potential.
“It was an open and constructive conversation about what businesses need to start, scale and succeed here. One of the clearest messages from around the table was the need to create easier access to funding and remove some of the red tape that prevent companies being able to move swiftly in their respective markets.
“The opportunity for Wales is significant. The challenge now is ensuring that industry and government continue to work together, there were some clear actions to take away and the onus is now on us to make these happen and support the continued development of Wales’ fintech ecosystem.”
Adam Price MS said: “Fintech is transforming how individuals and businesses access financial services. While rapid change creates challenges, the Welsh Government is committed to supporting innovation and strengthening cybersecurity across the sector.
“The Welsh Government will continue to listen to the sector, work with partners and promote Wales’s strengths at home and internationally. Our aim is clear: to enable innovative companies to grow with confidence, retain talented people in Wales and ensure that technological progress delivers broad economic and social benefit.”
Matt Wintle, Talent and Capability Director at Admiral Group Plc, said: “We were pleased to welcome Adam Price MS, FinTech Wales and representatives from businesses across Wales to TÅ· Admiral. I’d like to thank everyone who took part and contributed so openly to the conversation.
“Collaboration and learning from each other’s experiences and expertise is incredibly valuable. By bringing industry and government together, we can better understand what’s needed to attract the right skills and investment, and support a strong environment for businesses to grow.”
