In this episode, guest host Dan Perks is joined by Karina Hutchins, Principal Lead for Regulatory Mortgage Reform at UK Finance, and Alex England, a Director in PwC’s Non-Financial Risk practice, to explore how the UK mortgage market is evolving, the changing regulatory landscape and the role of data, technology and AI.Against a backdrop of affordability pressures and changing borrower needs, our guests discuss the FCA’s latest proposals on responsible lending and the opportunity to widen access to sustainable home ownership while maintaining strong consumer protections. They explore greater flexibility for first-time buyers, self-employed and later-life borrowers, the potential role of interest-only lending, and how lenders can balance growth, risk and Consumer Duty while delivering and evidencing good customer outcomes.
In this episode, host Tessa Norman is joined by Leigh Bates, PwC’s Global Risk AI Leader, and Lilia Christofi, PwC’s EMEA Financial Services Data, AI and Tech Leader, to explore how financial services firms and regulators should respond as AI adoption accelerates and systems become more autonomous. Against the backdrop of the FCA-commissioned Mills Review and the Financial Services AI Adoption Plan (an independent report published by HM Treasury), our guests unpack the shift from experimentation towards AI at scale. They discuss what greater autonomy could mean for firms and consumers, where existing regulatory frameworks may come under pressure, and how firms need to evolve governance and assurance as AI moves from supporting decisions to taking actions. Finally, our guests share practical priorities for boards, and discuss the people, technology, data and operating-model foundations that firms need to be able to turn AI pilots into trusted, scalable deployment. If you'd like to find out more, contact our speakers at leigh.bates@pwc.com and lilia.v.christofi@pwc.com. You can also explore the full findings of PwC's AI Performance Study: https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/1/issues/tech-data-ai/ai-roi.html
In this episode, host Tessa Norman is joined by Sajan Shah, PwC Director specialising in private credit, and Conor MacManus, PwC Managing Director, to explore the rapid growth of private credit and what it means for firms across financial services. Our guests unpack how the private credit market is evolving, the drivers behind its growth, and the opportunities it presents. The discussion also explores why regulators are paying closer attention to the sector, with a focus on credit quality, transparency, data and interconnectedness between asset managers, banks and insurers.We also consider the likely impact of regulatory initiatives such as the Bank of England’s system-wide exploratory scenario. Finally, we explore the practical steps firms can take to strengthen governance, improve data and reporting, manage valuation and liquidity risks, and prepare for the next phase of private credit’s development.To find out more, please contact our speakers at sajan.a.shah@pwc.com and conor.macmanus@pwc.com. You can also read the full PwC Global Private Credit Survey findings at: https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/industries/private-equity/private-credit-survey.html
In this episode, host Tessa Norman is joined by Laura Talvitie, PwC Digital Assets Regulatory Lead, and James Moseley, PwC Banking Partner and Digital Assets UK Lead, to explore the next phase of tokenisation across financial services.Our guests unpack the UK’s evolving regulatory landscape, growing market momentum, and the shift from experimentation to live use cases. The discussion explores how tokenisation is developing across banking, asset and wealth management, insurance and crypto-native firms, and what this could mean for market infrastructure, competition and consumer outcomes.We also consider the strategic choices facing firms, the risks and barriers to adoption, and the steps firms should be taking now to identify and prioritise viable use cases and build operating model readiness. Finally, we explore how firms can position themselves for a more tokenised future financial ecosystem.To find out more, please contact any of our speakers at tessa.norman@pwc.com, laura.talvitie@pwc.com or james.w.moseley@pwc.com. You can also access our risk and regulation insights on our website at: https://www.pwc.co.uk/industries/financial-services/understanding-regulatory-developments.html
In this episode, we explore the UK’s final Sustainability Reporting Standards (UK SRS) and what they mean for listed companies and the wider financial services sector. Guest host and PwC Director Andrew Strange is joined by ISSB Board Member Richard Barker and PwC’s Gemma Jones (Sustainability Director, Insurance and Asset & Wealth Management) to discuss what the UK SRS mean in practice, how they build on ISSB foundations, and what the FCA’s recent consultation could signal for listed companies. The conversation highlights why this is more than a compliance exercise, and the opportunity for organisations to reset their approach, focusing on materiality, stronger links to financial reporting, and more decision-useful insights for investors. To find out more, please contact gemma.jones@pwc.com. You can also access our At a glance briefing on the final UK SRS at: https://www.pwc.co.uk/industries/financial-services/understanding-regulatory-developments/uk-government-endorses-uk-sustainability-reporting-standards.html