Event round-up
11 Feb 2026

Scaling in Financial Services [Event Round up]

On Tuesday 03 February, techUK hosted a panel on how to scale in Financial Services. The panellists included leading voices in the sector and after the panel we put a spotlight on real technologies that are making a big impact in the industry. 

Scaling - FS - image1.jpg

 

Opening keynote 

Tom highlighted three key themes that have an impact on the future of Financial Services.  

  • Data and AI: There is still much to be learnt and experimented in this area. Education is a good start as well as robust proof of concepts. The challenge is figuring to deploy it safely and responsibly at scale.  

  • Digital Assets: Interesting way of digitising high friction actions to reduce the cost of transactions, freeing up time and capital.  

  • Resilience and Security: Trust and partnership with industry is essential. People trust banks as long as they are safe.  

Success will need better scaling, better API management, better oversight and better orchestration of experiences.  

Key takeaway  

Banking operating models and the talent that runs them is changing rapidly. It is key for the Financial Services to scaling their intelligence, their rails and maintain trust. Operating models and buying powers are shifting. Tech companies need to help banks today whilst help them prepare for tomorrow.  

Scaling - FS overview.jpg

 

Panel Discussion 

Industry leaders and innovators joined the stage for a discussion on the challenges and opportunities for the use of technologies in Financial Services. The panellists were:  

  • Tom Graham, Managing Director, Banking, Accenture (Chair) 

  • Kulwinder Johal, Group Head of Technology Cyber and Change Risk Management, Coventry Building Society 

  • Ian Ellis, Director of Customer & Industry Partnerships, LSEG 

  • Thea Loch, Head of Digital Payments, Lloyds Banking Group.  

Technology Spotlight

Scaling in - FS - Panel Discussion.jpg

 

Panel  

The panel explore ranging topics, from the use of tech in Financial Services to the modernization of legacy tech stacks and how to scale intelligently. Key focuses of the discussion were:  

  1. Scaling is more than just more tech: Integration of banks is complex; risk frameworks, resilience, legacy stacks and culture need to be aligned. Modernisation is now a core strategic priority to support customer journeys, the opportunity is wide open and through new technology, new ways of doing things will be implemented. There is a new ambition in financial services to modernize.  

  2. Data is central to the future: The focus is shifting from “do we adopt AI?” to “how do we use it effectively, safely and at scale?”.  There is a more flourishing ecosystem where the data provided is key, it defines use cases and mitigates risks from cyber.  

  3. Relationships are evolving:  The relationship between banks and fintechs has evolved from “two sides of the room” to a more integrated ecosystem. Initiatives like innovation labs and sandboxes are designed to foster long-term partnerships and scaling paths.  

  4. Ecosystem and collaboration: Regulators and policymakers are understanding the positive impact tech can bring and are engaging positively. New private-securities and secondary-markets infrastructure allows companies to stay private longer while still accessing liquidity.  

  5. For tech companies, tailoring your message is key: Tech companies need to identify their unique selling point that address real pain points and to identify there they put their capacity. Banks and financial services want partners who understand enterprise readiness, risk and regulatory constraints, not just technical abilities.  

Overall, the industry is optimistic about technology and strategy, but under real pressure on people, legacy and risk. With the right partners, the right balance of innovation and stability, and a clear understanding of what “good” looks like for both institutions, individuals and tech companies. 

 Technological Spotlight  

Quantexa:  

Quantexa is a software company. They provide decision intelligence platform connecting lots of disparate internal and external data and operationalise to empower more confident and accurate decision making. Chris stated that there is a lot of excitement in the space of AI but there are things to keep in mind. Here are the key takeaways for tech companies:  

  1. Start with data and trust, not models: Financial Services is underpinned by trust. Position your solution to build a trusted, contextual data layer and can ground LLMs and agents, not just as another “AI model”. It is essential to establish the right foundations and guardrails.  

  2. Be honest about your product or solution: Clearly articulate what is truly agentic, versus simple chat or retrieval and help distinguish your solution from “agent-washed” competitors.  

  3. Keep in mind the pace of change and design modularity:Emphasis how your platform future-proofs their investment and build composable, modular architectures.  

Scaling in - FS - GBG.jpg

GBG:  

GBG is a tech company in the digital identity space. Their mission is to ensure more genuine people have digital access to opportunities and businesses have access to more genuine people through identity and verification. Stefan has framed identity as evolving in “waves” and positioned digital IDs as the next major wave.  

  1. Balance risk, compliance and user experience: Use risk-based approaches to personalise friction and avoid a one-size-fits-all onboarding. Show how your tech can optimise both conversion and compliance.  

  2. Design for digital-ID-ready ecosystems: Emphasise interoperability so that your solution can work across multiple schemes and wallets, reducing fragmentation for financial services firms.  

  3. Align identity with broader growth and payments trends: Frame identity like payments rather than a single standard. Show how smoother, trusted identity can drive conversion, cross‑sell, and customer lifetime value. 

Scaling in - FS - Quantexa.jpg

For more information or to get involved in techUK’s work across financial services and advanced technologies, please contact [email protected].

James Challinor

James Challinor

Head of Financial Services, techUK

Ed Bevan

Ed Bevan

Head of SME Engagement, techUK

Stephanie Barr

Stephanie Barr

Programme Manager, SME Engagement and Nations & Regions, techUK

Lourdes de Miguel

Lourdes de Miguel

Junior Programme Manager - Financial Services & SME Engagement

Financial Services Programme activities

The techUK Financial Services programme connects tech firms, the FS industry, and regulators to ensure innovation and technology can be fully embraced. Through market engagement activities and events, we help to empower decision makers and aid collaboration.

 

Upcoming events

24 February 2026

Tech and the City – How can Britain build the next tech giants? The role of capital markets

25 February 2026

Is Quantum Sensing ready for business adoption?

Digital Catapult, 101 Euston Road, London Partner
2 March 2026

From local to national: techUK member feedback session on the future of policing (Home Office white paper)

Online Webinar

Latest news and insights 

Learn more and get involved

 

Financial Services updates

Sign-up to get the latest updates and opportunities from our Financial Services programme.

 

 

Here are the five reasons you should join the Financial Services programme.

Learn about the value members get from our work.

Download

Join techUK groups

techUK members can get involved in our work by joining our groups, and stay up to date with the latest meetings and opportunities in the programme.

Learn more

 

Become a techUK member

Our members develop strong networks, build meaningful partnerships and grow their businesses as we all work together to create a thriving environment where industry, government and stakeholders come together to realise the positive outcomes tech can deliver.

Learn more

Meet the team  

James Challinor

James Challinor

Head of Financial Services, techUK

Lourdes de Miguel

Lourdes de Miguel

Junior Programme Manager - Financial Services & SME Engagement

Lucas Banach

Lucas Banach

Programme Assistant, Data Centres, Climate, Environment and Sustainability, Market Access, techUK

 

 

 

Return to listing