FinTech Awards Wales – Exclusive Interview: BJSS

Matt Hyde, Director of FinTech Awards Wales meets:

Andrew Clarke,

Agile Delivery Manager and People Lead at BJSS

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As part of our new interview series, Matt Hyde, Director of Recruit 121 and FinTech Awards Wales, talks to professionals in Wales’ booming FinTech sector. This week Matt caught up with Andrew Clarke at BJSS.

Tell us about your main focus at BJSS

As People Lead for the Wales practice, I ensure our people are supported and have everything they need to develop and thrive in their careers. Obviously this has changed all the time as we’ve gone through different shutdowns and come out the other side! Much of my focus over the last two years has been reviewing how we can best support our people through this, particularly given our rapidly growing footprint in Wales.

Most recently we moved into a new office in Cardiff and I have been focused on our hybrid working policy and ensuring our staff have a place to work, share knowledge and socialize with their colleagues when they are not with clients or working from home .

What impact do you feel the FinTech Awards Wales are making in the FinTech sector in Wales?

The Wales Fintech Awards have a hugely positive impact on the Welsh Fintech ecosystem. The recognition and promotion of talent that the awards provide, along with some friendly competition, provides a fantastic opportunity for businesses to showcase what makes them so special.

Why have you chosen to support the awards and especially the award for the year’s best accelerator/incubator?

The awards have a great reputation in Wales and our involvement allows us to engage with fantastic Welsh organizations and talent. We support the Best Accelerator/Incubator Award because it aligns with our ethos of nurturing and developing talent. Here at BJSS, we know the value of providing an environment that promotes development and enables people to fulfill their potential.

How do you feel the Welsh economy has fared post-Covid and what predictions do you have for the next 12 months?

Like everywhere else, the past year has been a mixed one for the economy in Wales. What has become clear, more now than during the pandemic, is the importance of technology in supporting the growth of businesses and our economy here in Wales.

The next 12 months will focus squarely on the cost of living crisis and the impending recession. Companies, especially in finance, with a strong value proposition based on solid and innovative technology that helps customers to do well.

What is BJSS doing today to support FinTech in the future?

Fintechs come in all shapes and sizes, but they are all businesses with the same core goal: harnessing innovation. BJSS has partnered with the likes of Starling Bank, Tandem, Mettle and Simba Chain to drive innovation, solve the problems their clients face, while helping to shape new markets, services or technology opportunities. We support every step of our customers’ growth and development, helping them leverage digital and technology to become market leaders.

Finally, what is the best advice you have received and what advice would you give?

Never give up. That’s the best advice I’ve ever gotten, and it’s the best advice I can give!