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ROAR Video Interviews

Early Support – Better Outcomes with Local Government

Tracy Stone, Director of Welfare Together, is focused on public sector debt, welfare support and early intervention in local authority collections. This episode we explore why households are falling into arrears, how council tax and utility debts differ from consumer credit, and why middle-income customers are increasingly affected by cost-of-living pressures. The discussion highlights the need for earlier engagement, income maximisation, benefit checks, single-customer views, better financial education and a more preventative approach to collections. It also considers the role… Read more

Getting Ahead with AI Adoption

Zandra Moore and Charlie Bartle explore how organisations, particularly in financial services, are moving from AI curiosity to implementation. The discussion focuses on where firms currently stand, why many executives feel pressure to act, and why the real constraint is often not technology but education, prioritisation and change management. They argue that the strongest early returns come from practical internal use cases, especially those that improve operational workflows, unlock institutional knowledge and support compliance. They also discuss the evolution from… Read more

Why Payment Innovation Fails

Mike Hutchison discusses the evolution of UK payments, centred on the enduring strength of direct debit and the practical implications of newer payment models such as open banking, pay by bank and variable recurring payments. He examines why direct debit has remained so successful, highlighting its strong consumer understanding, low-cost economics, dependable performance and disciplined brand execution. The discussion also explores where newer payment methods add value, particularly for customers who want more control or have irregular income patterns. Find… Read more

The Truth About Affordability

Lee Healey, CEO and founder of IncomeMax, dicusses on affordability, vulnerability, income maximisation and the future of customer support in financial services. It explores how the cost of living, low income, health issues and changing social conditions are affecting households, and considers what financial institutions and government should do in response. A major theme is the balance between human support and digital innovation, including the use of AI to scale customer service while preserving empathy, judgement and inclusion. Overall, institutions… Read more

Tread Carefully: Regulatory Uncertainty – Retrospective Risk

Jason Wassell from the CCTA podcast discusses the outlook for the UK alternative consumer credit sector through the perspective of the Consumer Credit Trade Association. It focuses on the pressures facing specialist lenders, including affordability stress, motor finance redress, complaints reform, buy now, pay later regulation, Consumer Credit Act reform, and the broader need for greater regulatory certainty. A recurring theme is how smaller lenders can continue to serve underserved customers while managing layered regulatory obligations, operational complexity and emerging… Read more

Beyond AI Hype: What Digital Transformation Really Means

This discussion with Mark Pearce explores the evolving role of AI in digital transformation, particularly within financial services and related sectors. It focuses on the transition from early-stage enthusiasm to more disciplined implementation, highlighting the need for clear business cases, cost awareness, and prioritisation of use cases. The discussion underscores that while AI offers significant opportunities to improve efficiency, automate processes, and personalise customer experiences, it does not eliminate fundamental challenges such as change management, bias, and governance. A key… Read more