World news story

UK fintech takes centre stage at Sibos and Intersekt

A 15 strong delegation of UK fintechs heads to Australia for Sibos 2018 and the Intersekt Fintech Festival to forge stronger trade links in financial services.

From:
Department for Business and Trade Australia
Published
18 October 2018

The UK’s representation at Sibos 2018 in Sydney will include a visiting delegation of UK fintech companies as part of the GREAT Britain showcase, led by the UK Department for International Trade and supported by Prime Minister Theresa May’s Fintech Business Ambassador, Al Lukies. The delegation’s aim is to identify and develop business opportunities with potential Australian partners.

The UK contingent at Sibos also includes:

  • several British fintechs who will exhibit independently
  • major UK banks Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, Natwest and Standard Chartered
  • UK trade development bodies Invest Northern Ireland and London & Partners

This highlights the UK’s increasing commitment to bolster trade and investment ties with Australia.

In March this year the UK-Australia Fintech Bridge was established, opening a gateway to increase trade between both countries, reducing regulatory barriers and enabling alignment on policy frameworks.

During Sibos week, the UK Department for International Trade will host an ‘Open Banking’ breakfast panel on opportunities for Australian and UK business and benefits for consumers. It will feature experts from the global ‘Open Banking’ community, including Jamie Campbell of Bud – Britain’s award winning new bank changing the face of financial services.

A panel event on stage at Sibos will look towards Sibos 2019, to be held in London, and featuring Fintech Ambassador Al Lukies, Cathy Lyall of Seismic Foundry, Peter Edelholm of Fractal Labs and a representative from Natwest. The discussion will explore the future of fintech and the headline issues likely to dominate over the next 12 months.

After a week in Sydney, the UK fintech delegation will head to Melbourne for the Intersekt Fintech Festival and an opportunity to pitch to major Australian financial services organisations at an event hosted by KPMG.

The Intersekt audience will also hear from Jo Cooper, founder of Australia’s ID Exchange and UK serial entrepreneur and angel investor Julian Ranger, founder of DigiMe. They will speak on the importance of international partnerships, the opportunities inherent in the UK-Australia Fintech Bridge and how it has supported their global partnership and success.

Michael Ward, British Consul General and Director General, UK Department for International Trade Australia and New Zealand said:

It’s been a tremendous year so far for UK-Australia trade relations in financial services - including a delegation led by the Lord Mayor of the City of London and the establishment of the UK-Australia Fintech Bridge earlier in the year - and I am delighted to see such a significant UK presence in Australia during Sibos.

With over £1.34 billion in venture capital invested in London’s fintech sector in 2017 – more than anywhere else in Europe - the UK is leading the way in fintech innovation and is also becoming a magnet for Australian companies looking for international growth opportunities.

We’re excited to share the UK experience with Australian counterparts over the next few weeks and I look forward to hearing about the new opportunities and partnerships that emerge as a result.

Companies interested in learning more about the visiting UK fintech delegation and DIT events during Sibos and Intersekt should contact odette.hurle@mobile.trade.gov.uk.

Further information

UK fintech delegation

The delegation includes:

UK companies exhibiting at Sibos

Exhibitors include:

UK fintech facts

The UK:

  • is a global centre of excellence in fintech, home to nearly a quarter of fintech unicorns
  • is an ideal place for fintech investment with unrivalled access to financial expertise, a supportive regulatory environment and a large and technologically sophisticated customer base
  • tech industry attracted 4 times more funding in 2017 than Germany US$937.5 million (GBP 694 million) and more than France, Ireland and Sweden combined
  • fintech sector contributes US$8.91 billion (GBP 6.6 billion) annually to the UK economy and employs over 76,500 people across 1,600 companies
  • fintech sector was the leading sector for investment in 2017, with firms attracting a record US$1.81 billion (GBP 1.34 billion) in venture capital funding
  • was led by London’s start-up economy which accounts for over 90% of money raised by UK fintech firms

Sources:

Media enquiries

Annie Galea

Head of Communications, UK Department for International Trade

British Consulate General, Sydney

annie.galea@mobile.trade.gov.uk

+61 (0)407 190 867

Published 18 October 2018