# Spotcap Opens Applications for Fintech Fellowship to Address Skills Gap Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2018-04-18 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: Spotcap Fintech Fellowship: £8K Award For UK Postgraduates Meta Description: Spotcap's Fintech Fellowship offers £8k to UK postgrads in fintech courses, helping address industry's talent gap. Apply by 1 August 2018! URL: https://financedigest.com/spotcap-opens-applications-for-fintech-fellowship-to-address-skills-gaphtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/fd180418-1-2-1736842833012-compressed.jpg) _Industry considers attracting qualified talent as one of their top three challenges_ Online lender [Spotcap](https://www.financedigest.com/bawag-group-and-spotcap-announce-strategic-partnership-to-boost-small-business-lending-in-austria.html) today opened the [Fintech](https://www.financedigest.com/financial-technology-fintech-how-to-navigate-the-latest-trends-and-innovations.html) Fellowship to applicants. The programme offers an £8k award to a postgraduate student studying a fintech related course at a UK university. Applications will be open for four months and close on the 1  August 2018. The fellowship launched last year to raise awareness of the [fintech](https://www.financedigest.com/financial-technology-fintech-how-to-navigate-the-latest-trends-and-innovations.html) talent [gap and to encourage industry stakeholders to get involved in addressing](https://www.financedigest.com/addressing-the-credit-gap-to-unlock-economic-growth-in-africa.html "Addressing the credit gap to unlock economic growth in Africa") the skills shortage. Forty-two universities from across the UK supported the programme. Last year’s winner was Mohammed Hussan, who is using the award to support his MSc in Computer Science. “Seeing positive collaboration between groups of talented entrepreneurs and established financial institutions really inspired me to apply”, said Mohammed. “I believe it is a game-changer.” **Fintech and talent** The [fintech](https://www.financedigest.com/financial-technology-fintech-how-to-navigate-the-latest-trends-and-innovations.html) industry is the fastest [growing sector in the UK with higher than average growth expected; however, finding the right talent can be challenging](https://www.financedigest.com/growing-up-milk-market-globally-expected-to-drive-growth-through-2021-2031.html "Growing Up Milk Market Globally Expected to Drive Growth through 2021-2031"). 58 percent of respondents to the [UK FinTech Census 2017](http://www.ey.com/Publication/vwLUAssets/EY-UK-FinTech-Census-2017/$FILE/EY-UK-FinTech-Census-2017.pdf)—which was commissioned by HM Treasury—reported that they considered attracting suitable and qualified talent as one of their top three challenges, with access to coding and software skills being of particular concern. Niels Turfboer, Spotcap’s managing director, comments: “The possibility that access to skilled workers from [Europe will be reduced after the UK leaves](https://www.financedigest.com/power-squeeze-curbs-chinese-growth-leaves-europe-in-a-gas-bind.html "Power squeeze curbs Chinese growth, leaves Europe in a gas bind") the EU in March 2019, has put talent on everyone’s radar. The fintech sector, academia and the government are all trying to find ways to plug the growing [skills gap](https://www.financedigest.com/tackling-the-cloud-skills-gap-in-financial-services.html "Tackling the cloud skills gap in financial services"), but we can achieve more if everyone collaborates with each other.” **This year’s judging panel** [Spotcap](https://www.financedigest.com/bawag-group-and-spotcap-announce-strategic-partnership-to-boost-small-business-lending-in-austria.html) is delighted about this [year’s Fintech](https://www.financedigest.com/why-well-look-back-on-2022-as-a-defining-year-for-fintech.html "Why we’ll look back on 2022 as a defining year for fintech") Fellowship judging panel, which consists of the following key industry leaders and fintech experts: - MarilenaIoannidou, Director & Team Lead on [Fintech Investments](https://www.financedigest.com/investing-in-fintech-trends-how-to-get-started.html "Investing in Fintech Trends: How to Get Started"), British Business Investment - Stephen Ingledew, Chief Executive, FinTech Scotland - Elizabeth Lumley, global fintech commentator and advisor - Tanya Andreasyan, Managing Director and Editor, FintechFutures/Banking Technology - Niels Turfboer, Managing Director, Spotcap MarilenaIoannidou from British Business Investments, comments: “Initiatives such as the Fintech Fellowship are vital in supporting and inspiring talented graduates, helping to secure the [future of the sector](https://www.financedigest.com/air-separation-plant-market-to-register-5-cagr-driven-by-surging-demand-for-nitrogen-gas-within-food-beverage-sector-future-market-insights.html "Air Separation Plant Market to Register 5% CAGR Driven by Surging Demand for Nitrogen Gas within Food & Beverage Sector: Future Market Insights"). ” Elizabeth Lumley, a global fintech commentator and advisor, adds: “Fintech provides a great opportunity to [improve](https://www.financedigest.com/italy-slashes-2023-growth-forecast-but-sees-public-finances-improving.html "Italy slashes 2023 growth forecast but sees public finances improving") banking and financial services for society as a whole. I welcome initiatives like the [Spotcap](https://www.financedigest.com/bawag-group-and-spotcap-announce-strategic-partnership-to-boost-small-business-lending-in-austria.html) Fintech Fellowship which can offer an [opportunity for people to expand their knowledge and create](https://www.financedigest.com/tire-materials-market-to-create-an-incremental-opportunity-of-us-99-99-bn-by-the-end-of-2028-fmi.html "Tire Materials Market to create an incremental opportunity of US$ 99.99 Bn by the end of 2028 – FMI") innovation and advancement. Tanya Andreasyan from [FinTech Futures/Banking Technology](https://www.financedigest.com/financial-technology-fintech-how-to-navigate-the-latest-trends-and-innovations.html "Financial Technology (FinTech): How to Navigate the Latest Trends and Innovations") adds: “Everything is speeding up, technology is making such huge strides forward. We have to make sure the [industry keeps](https://www.financedigest.com/keeping-ahead-of-network-challenges-in-the-finance-industry.html "Keeping ahead of network challenges in the finance industry") up with the times and the pace of change, and it’s great that initiatives such as the Fintech Fellowship strive to address the issue! Without the right talent, we [won’t be able](https://www.financedigest.com/death-and-taxes-why-you-wont-be-able-to-escape-one-in-the-metaverse.html "Death and taxes—why you won’t be able to escape one in the metaverse") to progress – it’s simple as that.” For more details on the fellowship, visit the dedicated site: https://www.spotcap.co.uk/fintech-fellowship/ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---