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Plus...Blog: Five reasons you should care about the new Regulatory Framework for Financial Services
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Civil society responds to biggest shake-up of finance in a generation

Thirty-seven civil society organisations published a joint statement in response to the government’s proposed Future Regulatory Framework for financial services. The review prompted several fundamental questions - not least, what are the rules that shape this critical sector for, and who holds power over them? We offer six recommendations to strengthen the reforms to ensure that regulation maximises the contribution finance makes to the UK’s economic, social, and environmental goals, and that they are democratically accountable.
 
Get involved with the debate on social media: #FinanceForOurFuture @thefinancelab. Watch the Lab’s Head of Policy and Advocacy discuss what’s at stake on Sky News here. Find out more about the Lab’s work in leading the Transforming Finance Network here.
 

Blog: Five reasons you should care about the Future Regulatory Framework For Financial Services
Find out how the Future Regulatory Framework for financial services is relevant to your daily life in a new blog from Marloes Nicholls, the Lab’s Head of Policy and Advocacy. She explains its implications for tackling climate change and financial exclusion, strengthening our democracy, and more.
 
Read the blog here. 
Changing finance: monthly round-up 
Our CEO Jesse Griffiths compiles fresh news and thinking on changing finance for the better in his latest monthly round-up. February’s edition includes articles on why it's time for purpose-driven finance instead of more exclusion and inequality, climate breakdown and financial crime.
 
Read it here, or sign up to receive future round-ups direct to your inbox.
Programme update: growing purpose-driven finance
Building on our January 2021 workshop, January saw professionals from across the purpose-driven finance (PDF) ecosystem - representing CDFIs, credit unions, mutual banks, and ethical banks - come together to develop ideas which will further grow the PDF sector. 

Facilitated by Lab programme leads Sam Rex-Edwards and Kay Polley, the discussions affirmed the need for collaboration to build a powerful movement capable of creating real systemic change. 

It is vital that the voices of those impacted by financial exclusion be at the forefront of leading this change. In the next phase of our work we will aim to work closely with organisations that prioritise this. Find out more about this work here, and email hello@financeinnovationlab.org to get involved.
Lab board updates
We are very pleased to confirm that our interim Chair, Kit Beazley, has now been appointed as the Lab’s ongoing Chair. Kit has been a Lab trustee since 2019, and before that spent over 10 years at Triodos Bank, one of the world’s leading sustainable banks and an organisation closely aligned with his personal values of fairness, inclusion and transparency. Kit now focuses his time on a portfolio of roles centred on working to make the financial system fairer, more inclusive and more sustainable. Thanks, Kit, for all you do for the Lab!
The Lab out and about
Listen to Lab Head of Policy and Advocacy Marloes Nicholls' full interview about the government’s Future Regulatory Framework Review on the Sky News podcast (from 16:46 mins).
 
Lab Associate David Fagleman and Senior Fellow Faith Reynolds recently joined Dave Birch for a webinar to discuss how the industry and regulators can ensure that open finance delivers better financial health. The event featured recommendations made in the Lab’s ‘Open Finance and Vulnerability’ and ‘Purpose Driven-Banking’ reports. Watch the webinar here.
Community noticeboard
The latest opportunities, vacancies and updates from the Lab community:
 
Jobs and opportunities
  • The Lab is looking for a freelance researcher to support our work. Find out more and apply here. Closes 7 March.
  • University College London's Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose is on the hunt for an Associate Professor in Economic Policy to join its growing team - details here.
  • Rethinking Economics is looking for a new Treasurer, a new Chair and general trustees. International applicants welcome. See here for details. Applications close 7 March.
  • Do you have an idea for an ethical digital business? Are you interested in setting it up as a cooperative? The Unfound Accelerator is seeking applications for its 10-week free business support programme. Find out more and apply here.
Events
  • If you work in the third sector and would like to understand more about the policy and regulatory landscape for finance, consider attending the Lab’s Transforming Finance Network and Transforming Data Network meetings on 23 and 30 March. Register here.
  • Join New Economics Foundation’s event ‘Reshaping Finance: A Road Map for Net Zero’. Register here.
Reading, news and updates 
Community members can submit updates for the next community noticeboard by emailing community@financeinnovationlab.org. Find out more about our community here

ABOUT THE LAB

The Finance Innovation Lab builds power to transform the financial system for people and planet. Find out more about our work at www.financeinnovationlab.org.

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