The burgeoning growth of digitalisation during the coronavirus crisis led to UK businesses making substantial investments in technology due to working from home rules. According to data from the Office for National Statistics, this trend is ongoing, with investment in new technologies up 7% from Q4 2019 to Q2 2021. This soaring rise in digital growth represents true potential for a whole new generation of digitally savvy grads joining the world of fintech. Indeed, by April last year, the pandemic led to 1.6 billion students being out of schools and universities across the world. These pupils are the first generation to undergo such a tech-heavy education, leading to the creation of future grads with top quality digital skills, particularly suited to a career in fintech.

Fintech scholarship programme

The programme run by Seopa for higher education students has been specifically designed to boost diversity within Britain’s fintech sector, and aims to get students to explore the potential of a fintech career and “get excited about everything it has to offer,” according to Seopa. “Students may even find a specialism that might appeal to them from a career perspective,” they added. Winning students receive a £1,000 bursary towards their education, fees, learning materials and living costs, with final applications to be submitted before 31st December.

What they’re saying

Commenting on the scholarship, Greg Wilson, the fintech entrepreneur from Quotezone.co.uk, said: “Talented graduates are the lifeblood of the fintech sector and in our experience, teams that are more diverse tend to perform better and create more sustainable growth for the business. The financial sector is being reinvented and we need aspiring students to think outside the box and drive innovation forward. The list of contributions made to fintech by those with non-traditional backgrounds is extensive and the main driver behind the disruptive nature of fintech which has been so pivotal in embracing change.

Marja Lahelma-Barnsley, Programme Leader for MSc Financial Technology at Manchester Metropolitan University added: “Fintech is reshaping the ways that financial needs are met. Man Met’s FinTech qualifications are built with a recognition that innovation needs new ideas even more than it needs new tech.  Positive change is driven by enabling professionals with a range of opinions and experiences to drive the sector.”