Initiative Launches to Accelerate Disability Inclusion in Fintech

Project Nemo, a pioneering disability inclusion initiative launches today, urging the fintech industry to better serve the UK’s largest minority and accelerate disability inclusion efforts.

More than 1 in 5 people live with a disability in the UK, representing an estimated £274 billion a year in spending power1. In spite of the fact that 24% of the British working age population has a disclosed disability, there is also anecdotal evidence indicating low levels of disability employment in UK fintech2.

Project Nemo is a 12-month initiative, providing a wake up call and step change in disability inclusion across the fintech industry. It is focused on long-term systemic change in three ways:

1. Educating: Improving awareness of the barriers and opportunities for fintech to be more inclusive to those with disabilities and lived experiences.

2. Empowering: Connecting fintech business leaders, allies, advocates and those with lived experience to a toolkit of resources and expertise that will enable them to build inclusive workplaces, products and services.

3. Showcasing: Sharing and celebrating progress.

A cornerstone of the initiative is Project Nemo’s Fintech Festival of Inclusion, an events programme to empower fintech business leaders to adopt incremental changes as part of their longer-term inclusion journey. Each workshop event will bring together disability expertise, champions and success stories with the fintech community, to help fintech leaders implement change. The outputs of each workshop will contribute to a practical guide with case studies, culminating with a complete e-book and podcast series for the fintech community.

The launch of Project Nemo is officially announced today by disability inclusion champion and fintech industry leader, Joanne Dewar. Jo is taking to the stage at Innovate Finance Global Summit with best-selling fintech author and commentator, Chris Skinner, calling on fintech organisations to join the initiative.

Jo Dewar, Project Nemo lead, says: “What started as isolated conversations a year ago have rapidly gathered momentum and, in just a few short months we are launching at IFGS. I have long held the mantle on equity and inclusion in fintech and yet I have never received such unequivocal support and personal resonance around one issue – disability inclusion. It is a massive missed opportunity for fintech.

“Fintech thinks of itself as the future of financial services, and we have made great strides in streamlining, broadening reach and lowering costs. But if we ever want to truly achieve mainstream adoption beyond the digital natives, we need to ensure that our workplaces, all of our products and services fully consider accessibility.”

Project Nemo will kickstart conversations, convene allies and connect experts. The initiative’s goal is to create a lasting legacy of continual progress towards a more inclusive fintech industry and services.

Several organisations have already put their weight behind the initiative, including Innovate Finance. Janine Hirt, CEO, Innovate Finance, says: “As the industry body for UK FinTech, Innovate Finance is delighted to support Project Nemo. We believe that fostering greater diversity across our industry is critical to ensuring our world-leading UK FinTech sector can continue to move from strength-to-strength. Project Nemo is an industry-first in terms of championing disability inclusion in our sector.”

Another backer is corporate law firm, Fox Williams. Mary Elliott, Managing Partner, Fox Williams, says: “As a firm deeply embedded in the fintech landscape, we recognise the transformative power of inclusive initiatives like Project Nemo. Our partnership underscores our commitment to fostering diversity and accessibility within the sector. By championing initiatives that prioritise inclusion and accessibility, we aim not only to advance innovation but also to create a more equitable and vibrant ecosystem for all stakeholders. Project Nemo embodies this ethos and we’re incredibly proud to be a part of this journey.”

· Find out more: www.projectnemo.co.uk

At launch, the initiative is supported by the following organisations and allies:

· Fintech Fringe: A community dedicated to supporting fintechs scale and grow

· Fintech North: The focal point for fintech in the North of England

· Fintech Week London: Week-long events series for fintech and financial services

· Fox Williams: Global corporate law firm specialised in financial services and technology

· Greenings Global Talent Advisors: Fintech & payments executive search and leadership

· Harrington Starr: Global financial tech recruitment

· Innovate Finance: independent industry body representing UK Fintech

· Missive: Fintech Comms & DE&I Consulting specialist

· Money20/20: global sales, content and networking platform and event series

· Payments Association: the largest community in payments for the UK, Europe and Asia

· Payments Innovation Forum: The not-for-profit voice of innovation in payments

· Purple Tuesday: a global social movement for improving the customer experience for disabled people and their families

· Rise, created by Barclays: a global fintech ecosystem made up of cutting-edge start-ups and scale-ups, working together to create the future of financial services

· The Cards and Payments Awards: for the UK and Irish card and payments industry

· EWPN – European Women Payments Network

· Wurkhouse: Branding, digital and design agency