Accelerating Action: Enabling Female Leadership

Welcome back to our spotlight series celebrating colleagues who are inspiring change and Accelerating Action across the technology sector. This month’s edition focusses on female leadership and the enhancement of progression opportunities.

International Women’s Day 2025

For every 115 UK tech roles only one will be filled by a woman, thus revealing a significant underrepresentation in the sector and huge loss given the benefits for financial performance and innovation generated from gender diversity. This is further illustrated by the fact that although women make up nearly half of the overall workforce, only 24% of the UK tech force is female.

These barriers in tech result in major difficulties for promotion and career growth for women in the sphere. In fact, a 2022 report from McKinsey found that only 52 women are promoted to manager for every 100 men in the tech industry. This figure is surprising considering inclusive environments mean career advancement are significantly more likely for both men (15%) and women (61%).

BT Group and FinTech Scotland are committed to championing female progression and recognise that inclusion and diversity is critical to growth.

BT Group Celebrations

This year, BT Group are choosing to focus on the theme of “Remarkable Women” to highlight the inspirational and innovative work of many talented female colleges within BT and across various industries.

BT Group are passionate about ensuring women have the skills and tools to move into the tech sector and advance their careers. For instance, BT’s Passport scheme and ‘three together and two wherever’ encourages flexibility in the workforce by allowing those who need it, to work from home. This inclusive scheme acknowledges familial responsibilities, enhancing opportunities and increasing diversity in the workplace.

BT works to inspire and encourage women to enter the Telco sector, teaming with charities including CodeFirstGirls and Black Girls Tech Summit to empower women and help them stay ahead in a competitive industry. BT Group’s Returner initiative supports women to re-enter the workforce, recognising the unique hurdles career returners face. The program is designed to provide mentorship, training and hands-on experience to help individuals regain confidence and thrive in their careers (Flexa., 2024).

Fiona Vines, Chief Inclusion, Equity & Diversity officer at BT Group, is a key example of a woman who has reached a successful leadership position despite facing unexpected challenges and prejudice in a very male dominated industry. Fiona is a keen feminist and an inspiration, particularly to women who are looking to grow their career and have a family at the same time. Another notable example is Claire Gillies, CEO of Consumer, who is passionate about supporting women and advancing female leadership by being apart of the International Women’s Forum.

Fintech Scotland Celebrations

Exceptional leadership at FinTech Scotland was highlighted in the Innovate Finance Women In Fintech Powerlist in March 2025 with both its CEO, Nicola Anderson and its Research & Innovation Programme Manager, Lauren Cassell making it to the list.

Nicola appeared in the 45 Standout List recognising women who have made an incredible, lasting impact in fintech, going the extra mile to enable sustainable change.

Lauren was named amongst the Rising Stars for her amazing contribution to fintech innovation through her work at FinTech Scotland’s Financial Regulation Innovation Lab and for the FCA’s Innovation Lab.

Allison Kirkby, CEO, BT Group

Allison Kirkby is a pioneer in the world of business, breaking barriers and traditional perceptions. BT Groups’ first female CEO, started off as a Chartered Accountant Apprenticeship. Described as a “proven leader, with deep sector experience” she is already immersing herself in the business, transforming the organisation by cutting costs, restructuring areas and finding saleable assets. Her determination to find savings and optimise efficiency is visible through the 3% reduction of the workforce and negotiations to sell BT’s 50% stake in TNT Sports, formerly known as BT Sport. Allison’s hands on approach has already resulted in rising share prices and efforts to improve productivity has been successful with the more strictly monitored “three together, two wherever”.

“None of them look, talk or think like me… so I need to get in there!”

Allison is passionate about showcasing incredible female talent at BT Group and advises colleagues to “Be brave, be bold, be fearless” and “regularly put yourself out of your comfort zone”. This advice is highly beneficial to all women looking to succeed and inspires confidence in senior leadership as the company goes through a restructuring. Her career growth from a Chartered Management Accountant apprentice to now one of only 10 female CEOs among the FTSE 100 companies is a testament to her resilience and determination.

“Always think of the ‘So what?’ or ‘What if?’ questions”

Nicola Anderson, CEO, FinTech Scotland 

Nicola Anderson, CEO of FinTech Scotland since January 2021, has been pivotal in establishing Scotland as a leading fintech hub.

Under her leadership, FinTech Scotland was recognised as a cluster of excellence at the European level, reflecting the region’s prominence in financial innovation.  Nicola’s commitment to driving collaboration is evident in initiatives like the Financial Regulation Innovation Lab (FRIL), launched in 2023. This industry-led program brings together regulators, financial institutions, and fintech firms to explore technological solutions for regulatory challenges and build a safer and more inclusive financial services sector.

Beyond her role at FinTech Scotland, Nicola serves as a non-executive director at Advice Direct Scotland and is a member of both the Scottish Taskforce for Green and Sustainable Financial Services and the Scottish Government’s Financial Services Growth and Development Board.  

Throughout her career, Nicola has been an influential advocate for making finance work well for customers, society, business, and markets. She has been directly engaged in digital and data transformation, regulation, and policy development, with an emphasis on innovation, collaboration, and customer-focused outcomes.

Nicola’s dedication to diversity and inclusion is also noteworthy. She has been instrumental in developing lasting relationships between FinTech Scotland and a broad range of consumer and citizen advocate groups, such as Money Advice Scotland, Advice Direct Scotland, Age Scotland, and Mental Health and Money Advice. This work led to the creation of the first fintech consumer panel in the UK, enabling cross-sector collaboration in building fintech propositions focused on citizen needs.  

In her own words, Nicola emphasizes the importance of collaboration for driving better consumer outcomes:

“Bringing together ambitious fintech firms and leading financial institutions not only enhances good consumer outcomes—it accelerates the development of inclusive digital financial services and supports the evolution of the future digital economy.”  

Below you will find sign up links where you can get involved in celebrating this year!

• House of Nine Sorority – 8^th March – 2nd Annual International Women’s Day Assembly & SIS Program Finale Registration, Sat, Mar 8, 2025 at 11:00 AM | Eventbrite
• Changing the face of Northern Ireland – 8^th March Members of the Irish Writers Union since 2019 | How Ulster makes its money
• The World Association for Sustainable Development (WASD) – 8^th March – International Women’s Day 2025 Tickets, Sat 8 Mar 2025 at 10:00 | Eventbrite
• EMPLUMAR – Own Your Wins – an Imposter’s Dilemma Game – 13^th March –International Women’s Day 2025 – Emplumar
• WIBF – Fertility in the workplace- 12^th March 12:30-1:30pm – Fertility in the workplace – WIBF
• MiGSO-PCUBED Project Management Consultancy – 12^th March – 3:30-6pm International Women’s Day Project Panel Discussion MIGSO-PCUBED Tickets, Wed 12 Mar 2025 at 15:30 | Eventbrite
• Bright Network ~ Making HERstory – 12^th March Bright Network Making HERstory | Bright Network
• Transformative potential of gender equity in negotiation and leadership – 16^th March – 3-4pmNegotiating equality: unlocking the power of diverse teams : WorldCC
• National Council of Women GB – Women and Poverty – March 20^th 12-2pm-Women and Poverty Tickets, Thu, Mar 20, 2025 at 12:00 PM | Eventbrite
• ETHERA Empower Tech Women – 18^th March 4-4:45pm – March – Introduction to ETHERA: Mentoring for Women in Tech Tickets, Tue 18 Mar 2025 at 16:00 | Eventbrite
• Rewriting the Code ~ Unite & Ignite Women in Tech Summit – March 25-27^th Unite & Ignite Summit | Rewriting the Code
• One Tech World 2025 – Conference for Women in Tech – 28^th March – 9:30-5 wearetechwomen.com

The business case for re-skilling: unlocking opportunities for women in tech

Welcome to our second chapter in the spotlight series celebrating colleagues who are inspiring change and accelerating action across the technology sector!

This blog will reflect on the recent roundtable hosted by FinTech Scotland in partnership with the City of London Corporation Women Pivoting to Digital Taskforce, chaired by Vicky Gorman, Chief Operating Officer at FinTech Scotland and Deborah O’Neill, Head of Digital Europe and Partner, Oliver Wyman. The Taskforce brings together business, government, third sector, and industry groups to bring more attention to and action around supporting women from non-technical backgrounds to pivot to digital roles. The aim is to address the underrepresentation of women working in digital careers by providing women with vital skills to future-proof the digital workforce. 

The values and objectives of the taskforce are something that FinTech Scotland very much align to and we jumped at the chance to co-host this discussion in Scotland and engage our colleagues across the cluster. . The dialogue highlighted the importance of reskilling, clear pathways into digital careers, and the power of collaboration in addressing the digital skills gap. This is a very important topic that we’re looking forward to addressing alongside our strategic partners.

The Business Case for Re-skilling

The discussion began with a summary of the current landscape, with one example highlighting the financial benefits of internal reskilling. Employers can save over £49,000 by upskilling existing employees rather than hiring externally. The benefits of up-skilling were detailed further by one participant who shared their experience transitioning from a tech background into the financial services sector, describing their seven-month learning curve to get used to financial jargon and industry knowledge, a timeframe which could have been significantly reduced if organisations had re-skilled internal talent familiar with the business context. 

Breaking Barriers: Women and the Digital Skills Pipeline

A key theme that emerged was the difficulty women face in accessing clear pathways into digital roles. The Taskforce’s research revealed that even for those already interested in tech, the lack of guidance remains a barrier. However, a deeper issue was highlighted: many women don’t even consider digital careers due to misleading job descriptions and preconceived notions about what a tech role entails. There is an urgent need for businesses to reframe job postings and provide accessible entry points into the industry.

The Fintech Landscape and the Skills Gap

The discussion then turned to fintech, highlighting that the FinTech Scotland Cluster recorded an 8% year-on-year employment growth in 2024 bringing the total number of people working in fintech to over 11,300. Despite this growth, talent acquisition and skills development remain significant challenges, with research revealing that only 21% of Scottish businesses feel equipped with the right digital skills for the future.

We also heard from Kylie Scott, Lloyds Banking Group, on her inspiring journey successfully pivoting into a digital role. It was fantastic to hear about the support she was provided throughout this journey by her colleagues across Lloyds Banking Group, demonstrating the critical role of a support network and organisational backing in facilitating career shifts. 

Collaboration: The Key to Sustainable Change

The latter part of the discussion explored employer-led reskilling initiatives, hiring from non-traditional routes, and the role of government-business collaboration. A recurring theme was the need for collective action. The group consensus was the digital skills challenge cannot be solved by individual organisations working in silos – highlighting the cluster model of collaboration across organisations, education providers, and policymakers is essential to drive meaningful progress. 

Next steps

The City of London are calling all women who have ever thought about, or work in, a digital or tech career to action by responding to their Women Pivoting to Digital survey. Survey results will underpin the Taskforce outputs, providing on the ground insights and understanding around why women may or may not be interested in career-changing to tech role (in any sector!) and the barriers to making this change. We encourage you to respond to this survey, and share with your network as we focus on strengthening representation across Scotland. 

There was a resounding agreement across the discussion on the importance of continuing to promote and celebrate role models across technology roles and in financial services. We are delighted to be driving forward this action through this monthly campaign and will be continuing to spotlight colleagues across the cluster who are Accelerating Action and contributing to progress on this important agenda.

Finally, there are already valuable initiatives across the cluster driving progress on this important issue. Our goal is to expand on the success of our Women in Tech Campaign by highlighting organisational strategies that support career transitions into digital roles. By doing so, we aim to encourage wider adoption of these impactful practices throughout the cluster.

February profile spotlight

Why Graduates Should Consider a Career in Fintech

The fintech industry is growing rapidly and has been recognised as a key driver of the UK’s economic growth. With strong investment and continued innovation, now is a great time for graduates to explore career opportunities in this sector.

The Growth of Fintech in the UK

The UK is a leading fintech hub, home to around 2,500 firms and employing over 76,500 people. By 2030, employment in the sector is expected to reach 105,500. Despite a global dip in fintech investment in 2024, the UK still attracted over £3 billion, demonstrating the industry’s resilience.

UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves has highlighted fintech as a major contributor to the economy. The government’s focus on this sector means more opportunities for innovation, investment, and job creation.

The Skills Gap in Fintech

Although fintech is expanding, it faces a significant skills shortage. To remain competitive globally, the industry needs to attract more skilled professionals. However, a recent survey by fintech company Quotezone.co.uk found that 76% of students have never considered a career in fintech. The main reasons include:

• Lack of knowledge about the sector (36%)
• Pressure to follow a traditional career path (26%)
• Limited access to relevant work experience (9%)

Encouraging New Talent

To bridge this gap, initiatives like the Fintech Scholarship from Quotezone.co.uk aim to raise awareness and encourage students to learn about fintech. This scholarship invites students to share their thoughts on improving recruitment in the sector, with the winner receiving a £1,000 bursary and industry work experience.

Why Graduates Should Consider Fintech

A career in fintech offers competitive salaries, strong career development, and the chance to work in an innovative environment. Fintech professionals play a role in shaping the future of banking, payments, investment, and insurance through technology.

Fintech is an attractive option for graduates looking to enter a dynamic and rewarding industry  thanks to growing government support and increasing job opportunities.

Bridging the AI Skills Gap: How Businesses Can Overcome the AI Talent Crisis

The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into UK organisations presents both significant opportunities and challenges. A recent report by Gigged.AI, informed by research with 300 senior UK tech leaders looks at the current landscape of AI adoption and the growing need for a skills.

The AI Skills Gap: An Avoidable Crisis

By 2025, it’s anticipated that nearly half (48%) of the workforce will be utilising generative AI, potentially saving employees an average of four hours per week. However, to fully capitalise on this technology, businesses must find the right balance between hiring new talent and upskilling or reskilling existing employees. 

Transitioning to skills-based hiring involves moving beyond traditional qualifications to prioritise specific competencies. Despite its growing popularity, only 37% of organisations have fully integrated this approach into their people strategy, indicating a gap between intent and implementation.  

Leveraging Internal Mobility to Address Skills Shortages

Many businesses are turning inward to maximise existing resources. Over the past year, one-third (33%) of open positions were filled by internal candidates, and 39% of organisations frequently utilise employee skills to bridge gaps. This strategy not only addresses immediate needs but also enhances employee retention and satisfaction.  

The demand for specialist contractors in AI, cybersecurity, and data science is on the rise. Notably, 57% of senior tech leaders report that contingent talent has been instrumental in upskilling internal teams. However, challenges such as increased national insurance contributions and IR35 regulations may hinder the recruitment of such talent.  

Building a Skills-Powered Future

Two-thirds (69%) of businesses are expressing concern about the tech talent shortage in 2025. Organisations that encourage internal mobility and maintain access to contingent talent will be better positioned to navigate the evolving AI landscape.  

For a comprehensive analysis and actionable insights, download the full report from Gigged.AI.

Unlocking the Potential of AI in Finance: Insights from Hays’ Latest Research

The financial services sector is going through important changes driven by the increasing adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI). According to the latest research from Hays, this shift is reshaping the way financial institutions operate, offering opportunities for innovation and growth. The report also highlights a critical gap: the need for advanced training and skills to fully harness AI’s potential.

AI’s Transformative Role in Financial Services

AI is no longer a concept of the future—it’s here, driving real-world solutions. Financial institutions are increasingly using AI to analyse vast amounts of data, offering personalised services to customers while optimising back-office processes. Machine learning, a subset of AI, plays a pivotal role in predicting customer behaviour, identifying trends, and automating tasks that were previously time-intensive.

Moreover, the use of AI in areas such as fraud prevention and regulatory compliance is becoming a game-changer. By detecting anomalies in real-time, financial institutions can protect their customers and build trust. As the technology matures, its applications are expanding into climate finance, open banking, and beyond.

The Growing Skills Gap

While the potential of AI is undeniable, Hays’ research identifies a pressing challenge: a shortage of skills within the sector. For organisations to fully embrace AI and leverage its capabilities, there must be a concerted effort to upskill existing teams and attract new talent.

The findings emphasise the need for a workforce that understands both the technical and ethical dimensions of AI. This includes data scientists, AI engineers, and professionals equipped to interpret complex outputs. Equally important are skills related to AI governance, ensuring the technology is used responsibly and inclusively.

Collaboration is key

The solution lies in collaboration. Businesses, academia, and policymakers must work together to bridge the skills gap. Initiatives such as targeted training programmes, partnerships with educational institutions, and support for lifelong learning are essential.

Scotland, a recognised leader in financial innovation, is well-positioned to take the lead. With a thriving cluster of fintech firms, universities excelling in AI research, and a supportive regulatory environment, the country is already a hub for fintech advancement.

My Experience with FinTech Scotland – A United Nations-like Journey

For the past eight weeks, I’ve  had the privilege of working with a team so diverse it could have passed for a United Nations delegation, all while learning what it means to build a more financially inclusive future. FinTech Scotland gave me the opportunity to not only observe but actively contribute to their mission. It allowed me to transfer skills from previous work experiences, providing flexibility, creativity, and insight into how these abilities can be adapted to the fast-evolving world of finance.

The best way to describe my internship at FinTech Scotland is by sharing what I’ve learned, what the organisation does, and how my contributions helped make a difference. 

What is Fintech?

Before joining FinTech Scotland, I’d never heard the term ‘fintech’ and after attending my interview with the Marketing Director and COO of Fintech Scotland, I still didn’t quite understand.  Two weeks into the internship, curiosity finally got the better of me, so I did what every good intern does who needs to act as if they know what they are talking about. I googled it and the top result presented “Financial Technology.” Well, that cleared things up. It’s a bit like hearing the phrase, “quantum mechanics is just advanced physics”—it tells you something, but not quite enough. The penny dropped for me when I attended an event TSB Bank hosted with FinTech Scotland, where 13 businesses showcased their fintech ideas. I learned that fintech isn’t some alien idea — it is part of everyday life in the apps we use for banking, the digital wallets we rely on and even by the person trying to flog you Bitcoin at a party. 

In short, fintech is the integration of finance and technology, covering everything from banking apps to cryptocurrency. It’s a broad umbrella, and it turns out I’ve been standing under it for years without knowing!

My understanding FinTech Scotland Do?

Now, FinTech Scotland has a comprehensive 76-page Research & Innovation Roadmap that outlines their goals for driving innovation and change within Scotland’s financial sector. One key highlight that resonated with me was their commitment to making a real difference in people’s lives by addressing financial inclusion and tackling health-related challenges. Their role goes beyond supporting fintech entrepreneurs and businesses—they are a catalyst for job creation, data accessibility, and shaping thought leadership in the industry.

Understanding the depth of their mission aligns with my passion of contributing to lasting economic growth within the community through financial inclusion. Seeing how this work can positively impact people’s daily lives has given me a strong sense of purpose and drive to support FinTech Scotland’s goals in any way I can. 

How do I feel I have contributed?

In my internship I managed the company’s social media channels involving content creation, post scheduling as well as ensuring the messaging was concise and inline with FinTech Scotland’s tone. I also learned how to look through social media metrics, review campaigns and adjust them based on the performance data. I handled incoming emails and requests, responding to partners and stakeholders questions. Working in this role, I quickly learned the value of effective communication and strong organisational skills as I juggled multiple tasks to a high standard.

One of the most important projects I have been doing is supporting FinTech Scotland with their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) activities. As part of the collaboration with the team, on how we could extend community engagement for the organisation around DEI and sustainability. This was an eye opener for me on the need for inclusivity in fintech. An example of this work was conducting an interview with a leading entrepreneur, Tynah Matembe from Money Matix, on how she herself advocated for financial inclusion through youth education. This interview not only allowed me to work on my communication skills but also contribute in the direction of FinTech Scotland’s mission of promoting fintech initiatives that have a social benefit.

From 8 Weeks to 11: The Journey Continues

What started as an eight-week internship has now been extended to eleven weeks, allowing me to continue contributing and gaining valuable experience. This opportunity allowed me to attend the 7th annual FinTech Scotland Festival event, further building on the knowledge and skills I’ve developed, and continuing to support FinTech Scotland’s ambitious goals for the future. 

Ranecia Johnson, is a Marketing graduate from the University of Stirling, with professional experience spanning both the nonprofit and corporate sectors. Her passion lies in creating meaningful community impact, where she is dedicated to fostering inclusive and diverse environments. Ranecia’s unique skill set allows her to blend creativity and strategy, ensuring that her work not only drives business results but also contributes to social good. With a keen interest in financial inclusion and equity, she is committed to leveraging her marketing expertise to make a lasting difference in the communities she serves.

My 8 week Internship at FinTech Scotland

Between August-September 2024, I had the incredible opportunity to intern at FinTech Scotland. Coming into the internship with limited knowledge of fintech, I was eager yet nervous about diving into an unfamiliar industry. However, my time at FinTech Scotland provided me with not only a deep dive into the world of financial technology but also significant personal and professional development. From day one, I was welcomed warmly by the team, who were genuinely interested in my learning and supported me as I navigated my role. It was clear that FinTech Scotland’s success lies in the strength of its community and the supportive culture that fosters growth. The team’s encouragement and readiness to share knowledge made it easy for me to step into my role and tackle my responsibilities with confidence.

My role involved several key responsibilities which were both challenging and engaging. I conducted proactive data research and analysis, ensuring that the information about the Fintech Scotland community was always up-to-date and accurate. This was crucial, as Fintech Scotland is at the centre of a dynamic and fast-growing ecosystem, and having precise data is essential to effectively track growth and change within the cluster. This work gave me a solid understanding of the importance of data accuracy and its direct impact on decision-making and strategic planning.

Another significant aspect of my internship was producing Management Information reports. These reports captured the current state of the fintech cluster, highlighting growth, key changes and the impact of major initiatives. This helped me enhance my skills in data analysis and reporting, but more importantly it taught me how to synthesize complex information into actionable insights that could be easily communicated to stakeholders.

I was also given ownership of internal processes including maintaining databases and mapping the company Google Drive in preparation for its reogranisation. Under the guidance of the COO, I supported the team on the delivery of initiatives from the FinTech Research & Innovation Roadmap, which outlines FinTech Scotland’s strategic plan for developing and supporting the sector. This included managing data research, stakeholder communication and engagement, and improving internal processes. Contributing to these strategic initiatives was incredibly rewarding, as I felt my work directly supported the growth of the fintech ecosystem in Scotland and improved the operational efficiency of the organisation.

Reflecting on my time at FinTech Scotland, I can confidently say that the internship was a period of substantial learning and growth. Despite my initial lack of fintech knowledge, I was continuously supported and given valuable opportunities to succeed, including attending industry events with the team which expanded my professional network and enhanced my confidence in networking. This experience honed my analytical and communication skills, deepened my understanding of managing a community-driven organisation, and highlighted the power of collaboration in the fintech sector. I am grateful to have been a part of such an incredible team of people and I now feel more prepared for the professional world and equipped to adapt to new challenges. The skills and knowledge I gained have undoubtedly shaped my career aspirations, and I am excited to see where they will take me next.

Alicja Balanda is a final year University of Edinburgh studying business with enterprise and innovation.