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Building tech talent outside London
This award feels particularly meaningful because itrecognises something we believe in deeply: you don't need to be in London tobuild world-class technology.
DataWollet is a remote-first business, but our tech team, led by Luke, is based in the North East. Luke holds a PhD in Supercomputing from Newcastle University and has advised government on AI (Cabinet Office, SAGE, Met Office). We also have two new hires who will soon be joining us; Dr Aare Puussaar (AI Automations Specialist) and Jack Sharpe (Senior Software Developer, ex-police officer) each bringing deep expertise in building AI for complex, regulated environments.
The North East has exceptional technical talent. Universities are producing world-class researchers and engineers. The cost of living makes it possible to offer competitive salaries that go further. And the quality of life means people actually want to stay.
Winning the war on talent
Tech companies are obsessed with "winning the war on talent" by competing for the same pool of people in the same expensive postcodes. We're taking a different approach: unlock great jobs where great people already are.
Remote-first doesn't mean remote-only. It means building a business model that attracts top talent regardless of location, values output over presenteeism, and creates opportunities in regions that have been overlooked for too long.
It also means we can build a capital-efficient business. Lower overheads, access to talent outside overheated markets, and a team that's motivated by mission—not just equity and ping-pong tables.
Why this award matters
This recognition validates our approach to building a technology business: solve real problems, build for regulation not just demos, and create opportunities beyond London.
Jen's 25+ years spanning technology, operations, and large-scale transformation—including as a former British Army Captain and Chief of Staff for a $1.4Bn IPO—combined with Luke's technical expertise have shaped how we've built DataWollet. But it's the broader team, distributed across the UK, that makes it work.
We're grateful to the judges, Allica Bank, and everyone who supported our nomination.
What's next
We're going live with multiple core mortgage platform providers this year and continuing to prove that the future of fintech doesn't have to be solely built in London.
Follow us on LinkedIn for the latest updates and product releases.
