BEYOND THE CAPITAL

Beyond the Capital is the UK’s first podcast dedicated to showcasing professional services technology (ProfTech) outside of London, with each episode exploring how ProfTech industries and professionals can thrive beyond the capital.

Hosted by Hilary Smyth-Allen, Professional Services champion and Executive Lead for SuperTech, this free to listen to podcast features experts in the fields of FinTech, LawTech and all other ‘Techs’ in the professional services sector. We speak to thought leaders from around the world to hear their views, gain insights on future trends, and look at how the landscape of professional services has changed since the pandemic.

Whether you’re part of a FinTech start-up, an established law firm, a policy-maker or a techy entrepreneur dabbling in real estate; this series is designed for anyone interested in the future of professional services and the role of technology.

Want to be involved in the regional conversation? Get in touch today: hello@supertechwm.com

Dolly Chakraborty Dolly Chakraborty

Bridging The Advice Gap And The Impact Of Consumer Duty

This episode delves into the impact of Consumer Duty on financial advice. The regulation was introduced to improve customers’ experience of financial products and advice, but how is it impacting the advice gap?  To find out, Hilary Smyth-Allen speaks to Ben Hampton, CEO of Wealth Wizards, and Professor John Finch of Glasgow University. John is the Principal Investigator in the Financial Regulation Innovation Lab project.

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How Consumer Duty Is Changing Credit Unions

In this episode, the focus is on the challenges facing credit unions following the introduction of Consumer Duty. Hilary Smyth-Allen speaks to Helen Toft, a Non-Executive Director at Advance Credit Union in Birmingham, and Elizabeth Campbell, the General Manager at Castlemilk Credit Union in Glasgow.

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The Challenges And Opportunities Of Consumer Duty

In this episode, presenter Hilary Smyth-Allen speaks to Lorraine Breese-Price, the Chief Customer Officer of Dudley Building Society. They discuss the challenges and opportunities that Consumer Duty poses for building societies.

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Navigating AI In The Legal Sector

In this episode, Hilary Smyth-Allen explores the challenges and opportunities of AI adoption in the legal sector. She spoke to Emma Jackson, Head of Legal Technology & Data at Mills & Reeve; Vipul Ladwa, founder of legal tech company Casey; and Aisling O’Connell, Head of Innovation Policy at the Solicitors Regulations Authority.

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How AI Is Revolutionising Real Estate

In this episode, we’re finding out about AI and real estate. Hilary Smyth-Allen speaks to Shakirah Akinwale, Centre Director of University College London’s Centre for Sustainability and RealTech Innovation, who is also a Smart Buildings Technology Consultant. She also speaks to Tom Shrive, the CPO Adiuvo and Chair of the RED Foundation AI committee.

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The Future Of Fintech

In this episode, Hilary Smyth-Allen finds out about the evolving landscape of the UK's fintech sector following the recent election of a Labour government. With special guest Adam Jackson, Chief Strategy Officer at Innovate Finance.

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Changing Gears On Car Finance

In this series of Beyond The Capital from SuperTech, we're exploring the power of partnerships. Birmingham-based Fastcheck was set up by Amar Rana who was frustrated by the complicated nature of obtaining car finance. Listen and find out more.

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Using AI Technology To Enable Customer Conversations About Debt

In this series of Beyond The Capital, we’re exploring the power of partnerships. Shame is a huge barrier to tackling problem debt. But the first thing anyone in debt is required to do is complete an income and expenditure form. To help those complete this form who can’t face speaking to a real person, a Midlands-based business has come up with a solution: an AI assistant to help with affordability assessments. 

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Enabling Accessible Finance

In this series, we’re exploring the power of partnerships. A fintech that’s focused on credit unions and community banks says its whole business model is formed on partnerships. Incuto's ethos is tech for good. It helps enable people to access financial services that don’t always have traditional routes available to them. 

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Collaborating To Improve Holiday Home Ownership

In this series of Beyond The Capital, we’re exploring the power of partnerships. The number of Brits owning properties in Spain continues to rise according to recent data. But the process of holiday home ownership is complicated. One Birmingham-based business is working to address this. Bueno is a one-stop platform for property owners.

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It Takes An Ecosystem To Build A Startup

For this episode, we hear from a Birmingham-based start-up that’s leveraged different types of partnerships to help it grow. Lexverify is an AI-powered risk management assistant that helps identify legal and compliance risks in emails and other electronic communications.

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The All-In-One Car App Reaching A Bigger Audience

A West Midlands-based business aims to make owning a car much easier. In this episode of Beyond The Capital from SuperTech, Hilary speaks to Paul Jewell, the founder and CEO of CarCloud Community - an app that manages insurance, car finance, and key dates in one place.

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Innovation Through Regional Partnerships

In this series of Beyond the Capital from SuperTech, we're exploring the power of partnerships. How can an international bank tap into local tech talent and innovation in the West Midlands? Hilary is joined in this episode by Richard Newland, Chief Customer Officer, BNP Paribas Personal Finance.

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The Unfair Advantage's Ash Ali

In the final episode of the series, we speak to Ash Ali, entrepreneur and author of the book, The Unfair Advantage. Ash was the first marketing director of Just Eat and has helped launch numerous businesses, including his most recent venture, Uhubs.

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Lockdown Cyber Security's William Taaffe

In this episode, we speak to William Taaffe, Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of Lockdown Cyber Security. He discusses starting the company during the pandemic, targeting finance directors, how an early interest in computers and technology led to a career in cybersecurity and how many businesses still don’t fully appreciate the risks of cybercrime.

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Vanti's Mike Brooman

In this episode, SuperTech speaks to Mike Brooman, CEO of Vanti, a Birmingham-based smart buildings and technology company. He discusses topics including the importance of ESB, how Covid & homeworking has changed the agenda for office space & what an office experience should now look like.

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Code Funhouse's Tessy Mosindi

In the episode, we hear from Tessy Mosindi, founder and CEO of Code Funhouse. She talks to SuperTech about how her work as a teacher has helped her set up Code Funhouse - a platform that teaches kids coding.

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