The Financial Technologist | Top 1% Workplace Awards 2026

Issue 20 of The Financial Technologist is here. Discover the winners of the Top 1% Workplace Awards 2026 and hear from industry leaders on AI, talent, leadership and the changing world of Financial Technology and Financial Services.

The Financial Technologist Issue 20 – Humans With AI

The Top 1% Workplace Awards 2026 winners have been revealed.

In the latest edition of The Financial Technologist, we're celebrating the organisations, teams and individuals making a difference to workplaces across Financial Technology and Financial Services.

From businesses investing in their people to leaders challenging how things have always been done, this year's awards recognise the employers helping to move our industry forward.

Selected by an independent panel of industry judges, the winners and Highly Commended organisations are featured in Issue 20, alongside articles and perspectives from industry professionals on one of the biggest conversations in financial services today: the relationship between people and AI.

Published by Harrington Starr, the magazine brings together the people, businesses and ideas influencing the industry we work in every day.

Humans With AI: What Comes Next?

AI is changing how financial services businesses operate, how technology is built and how people work.

But as more tasks become automated, what happens to the skills, judgement and experience that businesses rely on?

That's the thinking behind Humans With AI, the theme of Issue 20.

Across the magazine, contributors explore the opportunities AI is creating, the challenges businesses are facing and why people remain central to the conversation.

From Data & AI and Software Engineering to recruitment, leadership and workplace culture, the articles offer different perspectives on how our industry is adapting.

Inside Issue 20 of The Financial Technologist

We've brought together contributors from across Financial Technology and Financial Services to share their experiences, challenge assumptions and offer practical perspectives on what's changing.

Articles include "AI Can Do the Work. Who's Doing the Thinking?", "From Pilot to Production: Why the ROI Is in the Pairing" and "The Moats AI Can't Build", exploring where AI is making an impact and where human expertise still matters.

Talent and recruitment are another important part of the conversation, with features including "Recruiting ‘Real’ Talent in an Evolving Technology", "Empathy Needs Honesty: Why Both Sides of the Hiring Table Need to Drop the Performance" and "AI Makes Graduate Hiring More Valuable, Not Less".

You'll also find perspectives on cybersecurity, financial inclusion, technology leadership and the changing expectations of employers and professionals across the industry.

Celebrating the Top 1% Workplace Awards 2026 Winners

A major part of this edition is dedicated to the Top 1% Workplace Awards 2026.

The awards recognise organisations and individuals going above and beyond to create great places to work across Financial Technology and Financial Services.

From Quantitative Finance and Trading Technology to Payments, Digital Assets, Cybersecurity and AI, this year's winners represent a wide range of businesses and specialisms.

With categories covering leadership, workplace culture, talent investment, inclusion, team excellence and innovation, the awards recognise the many different ways organisations are making a positive impact on their people and the wider industry.

Discover who won, who was Highly Commended and what impressed our independent judging panel.

Download The Financial Technologist Issue 20

Whether you're hiring, building a team, developing your career or simply interested in where the industry is heading, we hope this edition offers something worth taking away.

Complete the form above to download your free copy of The Financial Technologist Issue 20 – Humans With AI.