At first glance a grant may be viewed simply as money being given to those who deserve and need it. Yet grants are always so much more than this.

The finance industry – in the shape of day to day banking - has led in digital transformation and innovation with apps and instant transactions.

When Selfridges first opened its doors in 1909, it drew crowds by turning shopping into an adventure, using theatre and innovation. Bleriot’s monoplane was displayed there fresh from its maiden Channel crossing and John Logie Baird chose the store to first demonstrate television to the public.

As retail – and the role of tech within it – fast evolves, skill sets, training needs and career paths need to adapt at the same pace. In what skills must we invest to grow the retailers of tomorrow and make retail a career that attracts the very best?

One of the things that caught my eye in the Institute of Customer Services UK’s (UKSCI) most recent report on customer satisfaction was the suggestion that a growing number of customers are prepared to pay more for improved service.

I recently took part in a session at the UK Finance Annual Mortgage Conference on technology in the mortgage space. In the first of two blogs, I’m going to explore how technology plays a big role in customers’ experience and their journeys by answering questions that came up during the session.

In the second of two blogs following on from a discussion on technology in the mortgage space at the UK Finance Annual Mortgage Conference, I’m exploring the challenges the industry is facing with adopting tech and how it could make better progress by answering more questions that came up during the session.

Rapid technological changes, automation and artificial intelligence are offering us opportunities to not only improve our quality of life but also our purpose.

The metaverse could be a revolutionary development for media, telecoms and technology organisations who are looking for the retail and customer experience platform of the future.

Automating the KYC process, detecting fraud, and adapting for the frictionless customer experience of the future.