FinTech North arrives in Newcastle to explore the future of fintech
FinTech North returns to Newcastle with its annual conference on the 14th of July to celebrate the growth of the North East’s fintech sector, while exploring the strengths and opportunities that the region offers to support the industry’s development in core areas of payments, banking, data & AI.
Taking place at Wylam Brewery, the event will be hosted in partnership with Mastercard, DXC Technology, and the North East Mayoral Combined Authority.
Key themes for the day include fintech innovation, social mobility, community impact and inclusion, as well as predictions and opportunities for the fintech industry in the next decade.
Among the day’s speakers are regional big hitters including the Newcastle United Foundation, and two of the biggest North East fintech success stories, Atom Bankand Sage.
According to Whitecap Consulting’s latest report, the North East region is home to almost 50 fintech companies, employing more than 3,900 people across the region, and contributing to £225bn GVA. Furthermore, Barclays Eagle Labs research highlights the area as a fast-growing region for new business development, recording a 24.4% increase.
This development has been driven by a highly collaborative ecosystem, that brings together expertise across multiple disciplines. Businesses, universities, innovation hubs, and public-sector partners are all working together to support sector innovation and respond rapidly to emerging challenges — representing a major advantage of the region.
The North East has become a region where well-known brands such as Virgin Money have decided to expand their presence across its cities, due to a secure infrastructure and cost-efficient data centres that make the region an attractive and strategic hub.
Joe Roche, General Manager of FinTech North, said: “In recent years, the fintech industry in the North East has experienced a rapid evolution boosted by progressive innovation, lower operating costs and a culture of collaboration. That’s what makes this region stand out: businesses, universities, and public partners are all working together to share their expertise and spark new ideas to tackle the market’s challenges.
“The North East is a key catalyst vehicle to promote the development of fintechs, as it offers a collaborative ecosystem where business networks support their growth through innovation, as well as knowledge-and-skill-sharing across the finance and technology sector.”
Last year’s conference attracted around 140 attendees to Newcastle to discuss the evolution of the ecosystem, with C-suite executives and founders making up 36% of the audience.
In 2026, the event is set up to convene established firms, policymakers, academic leaders, industries representatives and startups founders to talk about new ideas, potential future growth within the industry, and partnerships.
Tickets are available to buy here.
