FinTech North will return to Leeds – the city where it first launched - later this month to celebrate its 10-year anniversary.

The organisation will host an internationally attended conference bringing together industry leaders, founders, and key representatives from across the sector, including West Yorkshire’s Mayor, Tracy Brabin, the National Wealth Fund, Leeds Digital, the Bank of England, FCA, Mastercard, GoCardless, and fintech giant FIS.

The event will take place on June 24th at the Salem Chapel HQ of aql, the venue where the journey began.

The conference will explore how the industry has evolved over the past decade across Leeds and how this region has in turn led the world, the opportunities and regulatory landscape shaping the sector, as well as the expansion of FinTech into core areas such as mortgages, banking, lending, payments and regtech.

According to Whitecap Consulting’s recent regional report, West Yorkshire is now home to 94 FinTech firms. The wider Leeds City Region remains a key hub for the sector, with its FinTech ecosystem contributing £700m annually to the regional economy.

Joe Roche, General Manager of FinTech North, comments: “With around 400 FinTech firms across the North employing 20,000 people directly, and 70,000 employees working in FinTech-related roles, the region has contributed to approximately £2bn Gross Value Added (GVA) for the UK, becoming a powerhouse for innovation and opportunity.

“Leeds City Region has played a significant role in the growth of the FinTech ecosystem, with approximately 60 national and international firms choosing the region as a base for their UK operations."

10 years innovating in the FinTech market

A decade ago, Whitecap Consulting and specialist software provider White Label Crowdfunding, launched FinTech North as part of the inaugural Leeds Digital Festival programme. The first conference held in this setting paved the way for the creation of the UK’s first regional FinTech hub as a way of bringing together the industry community through multiple events across the Northern region.

“Over these 10 years, FinTech North has played a central in role in both advocating and actively helping to shape the ecosystem. As the country’s first regional FinTech hub, we have witnessed and contributed to the development of a thriving national community," adds Roche.

This year represents a special milestone for FinTech North, which, alongside Leeds Digital Festival — whose representative will be speaking at the conference — will celebrate a decade of fostering an environment where organisations and industry leaders can connect and discuss the most relevant issues shaping the market, network with other industry leaders, and showcase their products and services to a like-minded crowd.