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 a our new interview series, Matt Hyde, Director of Recruit121 and FinTech Awards Wales, talks to professionals in Wales’ thriving 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 all they need to develop and thrive in their careers. Obviously, this has changed constantly as we’ve gone through various lockdowns and emerged out the other side! A lot of my focus over the past two years has been reviewing how to best support our people through that, especially against the backdrop of our rapidly expanding Wales footprint.
Most recently, we moved into a new office in Cardiff, and I’ve been focused on our hybrid working policy and making sure our people have somewhere they can work, share knowledge, and socialise with their colleagues when they’re not with clients or working from home.
What impact do you feel 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 bring, along with some friendly competition, provides a fantastic opportunity for companies to showcase what makes them so special.
Why have you chosen to support the Awards and in particular the Best Accelerator / Incubator of the Year Award?
The Awards have a great reputation in Wales and our involvement lets us engage with fantastic Welsh organisations and talent. We’re supporting the Best Accelerator/Incubator award because it aligns closely with our ethos on nurturing and developing talent. Here at BJSS we know the value of providing an environment that promotes development and empowers people to fulfil 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 last year has been varied for the economy in Wales. What’s become apparent, more so now than even 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. Businesses, particularly in Finance, with a strong value proposition based on sound and innovative technology that helps customers will fare well.
What is BJSS doing today to support the FinTech in the future?
Fintechs comes in all shapes and sizes, but they’re all businesses with the same core objective: harnessing innovation. BJSS has partnered with the likes of Starling Bank, Tandem, Mettle and Simba Chain to drive innovation, solving the problems their customers face whilst helping to shape new market, service or technological opportunities. We support each stage of our clients’ growth and evolution, helping them leverage digital and technology to become market leaders.
Finally what’s the best advice you were given and what advice you would give?
Never give up. It’s the best advice I’ve been given and it’s the best advice I’d give!
