KEY THEMES+ ¦ DEMSA Summary

What you need to know this week MaPS SFS governance: implementation remains on track for the first Monday in April 2026, signalling operational change for how Standard Financial Statement inputs may be applied across advice and collections.Government debt strategy: cross-sector work continues into 2026, with implications for public-sector recovery approaches and private-sector collaboration.Bank of England decision: Bank Rate reduced to 3.75% on 18/12/2025 following a 5–4 MPC vote, affecting affordability dynamics, arrears risk, and collections segmentation.Labour market softening: unemployment rose… Read more

DEMSA Column: Contactless / MaPS funded debt advice / Open Banking

In today’s bulletin: General update Consumer driven change - contactless limit increased? MaPS funded debt advice impact report 2024/25   FCA/PSR update on open banking in 2025 FS25/6 - Update to the FCA Mortgage Rule Review Personal insolvency stats – November 2025 StepChange November 2025 statistics Collaborations Events General update I attended the MaPS SFS governance group last week and we are on schedule for the latest SFS figures to be implemented by the first Monday in April 2026. We… Read more

Podcast ¦ Market Pulse: Pros & Pioneers: From Gang Kids to Global CEOs Dr Alison Schmidt

Podcast : Unconventional Search for original: Link Key Take Aways Unconventional leadership requires authenticity, curiosity, and a willingness to challenge societal norms. Building a fulfilling career involves making bold decisions and embracing one’s unique qualities. Diversity of experience, such as roles in retail, hospitality, and social work, contributes to broader leadership capabilities. Empathy and understanding are critical assets in leading diverse teams and managing organisational change. Personal experiences with neurodiversity, such as learning disabilities, can foster greater empathy and effectiveness… Read more

Podcast ¦ Punk CX: Douglas Adams’ Babelfish concept just got much closer – Interview with Sharath Keshava Narayana of Sanas

Podcast : Punk CX Podcast Search for original: Link Key Take Aways Advances in real-time speech-to-speech translation are rapidly approaching science fiction-level capabilities, with potential implications across financial services for global client communication. The invention of breaking down speech into phonetic sounds, rather than intermediate forms like text, enables more natural, emotional, and synchronous translation across languages. Traditional translation methodologies—speech to text, intermediate translation, and synthetic output—introduced significant latency and unnaturalness, hindering real-time conversational flow. Direct speech-to-speech translation with minimal… Read more

Podcast ¦ Uncensored CMO: The secret to Duolingo’s social success with Zaria Parvez – Semrush Spotlight

Podcast : Uncensored CMO Search for original: Link Key Take Aways Authenticity and creative freedom are critical ingredients in viral content creation; allowing organic expression can lead to unexpected success. Building a personal brand alongside professional work enhances career opportunities, visibility, and influence. Embracing risk-taking, including accepting negative sentiment, is essential for innovative social campaigns that break through the noise. The evolution of social marketing space shows a shift from trend chasing to prioritising creative resonance and originality. The strategic… Read more

Insights ¦ Lowell FVI 8 – Report v2.1 LS V2_small

Published by: Lowell Search for original: Link Key Take Aways The UK Financial Vulnerability Index (FVI) increased to 45.5, marking the highest level in 2.5 years and signalling a significant worsening of financial resilience nationwide. The largest 12-month rise since Q1 2021 underscores deteriorating economic conditions, driven by stagnant growth and recent contractions in late 2024. Economic pressures such as rising debt, declining disposable income, and regional inequalities are key drivers increasing financial vulnerability. Middle-income groups and previously resilient regions… Read more