Richard Cook, founder and CEO at Blackfinch Group, looks at how the Mansion House agenda could support growth by encouraging investment in innovation, productive assets and businesses across the UK.
Last night’s Mansion House speech was ultimately about one thing: growth. But beneath the policy announcements was a broader message that reaches beyond financial services. If the UK wants to build a stronger economy, it must become better at adapting to change.
Technology is reshaping industries, client expectations continue to evolve, and new opportunities are emerging every day. The Mansion House agenda recognises this by encouraging greater investment into productive assets, innovation and the businesses that will drive tomorrow’s economy.
As Chancellor Reeves stated, government should not be “shying away from technological change but stepping up and charting a path as our economy changes.” That is an important principle, not just for policymakers, but for everyone involved in investing, advising and building businesses.
At Blackfinch, this is an approach we have long supported.
Whether investing in innovative UK businesses, supporting infrastructure or helping advisers build more personalised investment solutions, our focus has been on adapting to changing market conditions and embracing the opportunities they create.
The speech also highlighted the importance of directing capital towards innovation and long-term economic growth. Thriving economies aren’t built through short-term thinking. They are built by supporting entrepreneurs, funding innovation and creating the confidence for businesses to invest, expand and succeed.
Importantly, those opportunities exist across the UK, not just in the City of London. As a business headquartered outside the capital, we’ve seen first-hand the depth of entrepreneurial talent and innovation across every corner of the country. Helping those businesses adapt, grow and scale is fundamental to creating a more balanced and resilient economy.
“Recently, Blackfinch Ventures invested in a Manchester-based Banking-as-a-Service platform that provides financial infrastructure to businesses, alongside an FCA-authorised Credit Reference Agency in Newcastle that uses real-time insights into customers’ financial health to support better credit outcomes.
“These investments reflect the same ambition set out in the Mansion House reforms: backing innovative businesses with the potential to strengthen the UK economy over the long term.”
Chief Investment Officer, Dan Appleby
Dan’s comments reinforce an important point. A thriving economy is one that embraces change. It invests in innovation, supports entrepreneurship and builds trusted partnerships that create lasting value over time.
We’ve always believed that helping businesses, advisers and investors adapt, evolve and thrive is the best way to build that future. The challenge now is to turn ambition into action and ensure today’s investment decisions help create tomorrow’s thriving economy.
