With Indy Johal of Advance Credit Union

In a brand new series of Beyond the Capital from SuperTech, we're exploring the power of partnerships. In the first episode, Hilary Smyth-Allen speaks to Indy Johal, COO and interim CEO of Advance Credit Union, to discuss how credit unions work and their role in building a more inclusive financial services sector. They also talk about the level of need for financial inclusion in Birmingham and the West Midlands, and the importance of partnerships in delivering on that need. Indy shares his vision for the future of Advance Credit Union and the credit union industry as a whole. They discuss: <ul><li>Credit unions are member-led organisations that provide lower interest rates and cater to vulnerable members of society.</li><li>There is a high demand for financial inclusion in the region.</li><li>Partnerships with community leaders, MPs, and event organisers are crucial for raising awareness and reaching out to members of the community.</li><li>Technology plays a key role in improving the services and reach of credit unions.</li><li>The credit union industry as a whole needs more recognition and support to be seen as a viable alternative to traditional banks.</li></ul> To find out more about Advance Credit Union <a href="https://www.advancecu.org.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">click here.</a>

The crucial role of credit unions in the financial sector

Beyond The Capital is back with a new series!

Beyond The Capital is back with a new series! This time, Hilary Smyth-Allen explores the power of partnerships and their crucial role in helping businesses flourish. She speaks to both big and small organisations about some of their most important partnerships. Beyond The Capital is the podcast series from SuperTech about the professional services tech scene outside London. It's presented by proftech champion Hilary Smyth-Allen. SuperTech is based in Birmingham, West Midlands, and it is the UK’s only professional services tech supercluster. You can find out more about SuperTech and its work in the region <a href="https://www.supertechwm.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>. Follow Beyond The Capital on your favourite podcast app so you don't miss an episode.

The Power Of Parternerships

In this episode, Hilary speaks to Ash Ali, entrepreneur and author of the book, <a href="https://www.theunfairacademy.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Unfair Advantage</a>. Ash was the first marketing director of Just Eat and has helped launch numerous businesses, including his most recent venture, <a href="https://www.uhubs.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Uhubs</a>. The Unfair Advantage explores how to capitalise on your differences and use them to your advantage.&nbsp; Ash talks about growing up in Birmingham, imposter syndrome, presentism, dealing with failure (and the mindset that helped overcome this) and how results speak for themselves.

The Unfair Advantage's Ash Ali

In this episode, Hilary speaks to William Taaffe, Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of <a href="https://www.lockdowncybersecurity.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lockdown Cyber Security</a>. They discuss: Starting the company during the pandemic, targeting finance directors, how an early interest in computers and technology led to a career in cybersecurity and how many businesses still don’t fully appreciate the risks of cybercrime.&nbsp;

Lockdown Cyber Security's William Taaffe

In this episode, Hilary speaks to Mike Brooman, CEO of <a href="https://vanti.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Vanti</a>, a Birmingham-based smart buildings and technology company. They discuss the importance of ESB and becoming B Corp certified, the challenge of integrating multiple systems in smart buildings, how Covid-19 and homeworking changed the agenda for office space, how an office should be a cross between a bar and a library and Vanti’s future growth plans.

Vanti's Mike Brooman

Revolutionising the way digital skills are taught

In the episode, we hear from someone who’s looking to revolutionise the way digital skills are taught in schools. Tessy Mosindi, founder and CEO of <a href="https://codefunhouse.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Code Funhouse</a>, talks to Hilary about how her work as a teacher has helped her set up her business. Code Funhouse is a platform that teaches kids coding.&nbsp; In this conversation, Tessy describes some of the challenges she has encountered as a tech entrepreneur including; the lack of a network, the funding gap for women and building confidence.

Code Funhouse's Tessy Mosindi

In this episode, we hear from Surayyah Ahmad Sani, the co-founder of <a href="http://getethco.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ethco</a>. Surayyah’s career has spanned two countries on two different continents. She founded Ethco to help consumers access their ethnic groceries and to help small shop owners sell online. Surayyah talks about relocating to the UK from Nigeria, the challenges of being a female entrepreneur with children, how the risks can be greater for a woman if their business fails, the pressure not to talk about family/children as a female entrepreneur, and the funding gap for women, particularly black women.

Ethco's Surayyah Ahmad Sani

In this episode, Mac Alonge, founder and CEO of The Equal Group tells Hilary what inspired him to start the business. <a href="https://www.theequalgroup.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Equal Group</a> is an equality, diversity and inclusion consultancy. They talk about: Mac’s 10-year career in the energy and utilities industry working in data and regulation, the transition from being an employee to a founder, work-life balance and flexible working.&nbsp;

The Equal Group's Mac Alonge

<a href="https://www.futurematch.tech/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">FutureMatch</a> - a talent-hiring platform - was registered in February 2020, a few weeks before the country went into lockdown. In this episode of Beyond The Capital, Hilary speaks to FutureMatch's CEO and founder, Kufa Matiya about launching the company during the pandemic. He also talks about: <ul><li>Training as a chef</li><li>Lessons learnt from his previous start-up</li><li>The disconnect between schools and careers</li><li>How machine learning is used by the platform</li><li>His squiggly career</li><li>What 2023 holds&nbsp;for FutureMatch</li></ul>

FutureMatch's Kufa Matiya

Exploring professional services technology outside of London, brought to you by SuperTech

This series of Beyond The Capital from SuperTech is all about overcoming challenges. Hilary speaks to business leaders and entrepreneurs about the ups and downs of their career journeys, and how they've built thriving businesses in the regions. Hosted by regional Professional Services champion Hilary Smyth-Allen. Want to be part of the regional conversation? Get in touch: hello@supertechwm.com.&nbsp;