Rather than drawing comparisons, the roundtable emphasised the shared ambition of both cities to foster deeper collaboration. The Lord Mayor and representatives from the City of London highlighted the UK’s commitment to building long-term partnerships with Nordic financial actors, positioning London not only as a global financial centre but as a strategic ally for growth-oriented firms in Sweden. 

A key message from the Lord Mayor was the importance of the Mansion House Accord, a voluntary initiative that brings together leading UK pension providers to unlock long-term capital for innovative and high-growth businesses. The Accord represents a collective commitment to allocate at least 5% of defined contribution (DC) pension assets into unlisted equities by 2030, with the aim of boosting both savers’ long-term outcomes and the UK’s economic resilience. 

To date, the initiative has been signed by major pension schemes representing over £400 billion in assets under management, including NatWest Cushon, which has committed to aligning its investment strategy with the Accord’s objectives. By mobilising institutional capital into productive sectors such as fintech, green technology, and infrastructure, the Accord seeks to create a more dynamic investment landscape that benefits both investors and the broader economy. 

The Lord Mayor encouraged Swedish stakeholders to explore how this model could inspire similar efforts in the Nordics—or serve as a bridge for cross-border capital flows and joint innovation between the UK and Sweden. Read more: Pension Industry Unites on Mansion House Accord to Boost Savers' Outcomes and UK Growth. 

The roundtable reinforced that collaboration between Stockholm and London is a two-way street with opportunities for mutual learning, capital exchange, and joint leadership in shaping the future of financial services in Europe and beyond.

Participants emphasised the importance of a regulatory environment that balances stability with adaptability. Sweden’s financial sector benefits from a high degree of trust and transparency, but there is growing recognition of the need for more agile regulatory tools to support emerging financial models. 

The discussion highlighted interest in sandbox environments and cross-border licensing frameworks that can help fintechs test and scale new solutions.  

The Lord Mayor shared insights into the UK’s regulatory innovation, including the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) sandbox and the Global Financial Innovation Network (GFIN), which have enabled firms to experiment with new technologies in a controlled setting. Such tools were seen as valuable references for Swedish stakeholders seeking to foster a more innovation-friendly regulatory landscape.

The roundtable acknowledged a growing demand for more flexible and tailored financing solutions, particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). While traditional banks continue to play a central role in Sweden’s financial system, participants noted that alternative credit models are gaining traction. There was a shared understanding that increasing awareness and accessibility of these alternatives through education, partnerships, and digital channels will be key to meeting the evolving needs of borrowers and supporting business growth.

Sweden’s fintech ecosystem is recognised for its innovation, digital maturity, and entrepreneurial spirit. However, participants discussed the need for greater access to long-term capital and scalable funding structures to support the next phase of growth. 

In this context, the Lord Mayor introduced the Mansion House Accord, a UK initiative that brings together major pension funds to unlock growth capital for innovative businesses. The Accord aims to improve outcomes for savers while supporting the broader economy by voluntarily directing institutional investment into productive sectors. This initiative was presented as a model for how public-private collaboration can mobilise capital at scale—an approach that could inspire similar efforts in the Nordic region or serve as a bridge for cross-border investment. 

Sweden’s digital infrastructure, particularly the widespread use of BankID, was highlighted as a major strength in enabling efficient onboarding and Know Your Customer (KYC) processes. Participants noted that credit data in Sweden is generally accessible, with a high degree of transparency and availability. Thanks to well-functioning API integrations, data can be transferred smoothly between platforms, which supports efficient underwriting and risk assessment. 

While there is always room for further development, Sweden was seen as comparatively advanced in this area. The UK’s Open Banking framework was referenced as a complementary model, illustrating how regulatory support for data sharing can further drive innovation and competition in financial services. 

A recurring theme was the importance of partnerships between fintech’s and established financial institutions. Participants discussed how collaboration whether through co-lending, referral models, or API integrations can help accelerate innovation and expand access to financial services. There was a strong interest in fostering a more open and trust-based culture of collaboration within the financial ecosystem. This includes not only partnerships between banks and fintechs, but also between regulators, investors, and technology providers.

The Lord Mayor emphasised London’s role not only as a global financial centre but as a collaborative platform for international growth. A key part of the discussion focused on how to improve access to capital for a broader range of financial actors including smaller alternative lenders. 

One of the structural challenges highlighted was the difficulty for private debt investors to engage in lending markets where deal volumes are small and fragmented. Without scalable securitisation structures, it becomes inefficient for institutional capital to reach these segments. This limits the ability of smaller, innovative lenders to access the funding they need to grow. The discussion circled around the importance of developing a more accessible securitisation market—one that enables pooling of smaller credit portfolios and facilitates investment from long-term capital providers. Encouraging frameworks that support standardisation, transparency, and investor confidence was seen as essential to unlocking this potential. 

The roundtable concluded with a strong sense of shared ambition. Participants from both Sweden and the UK expressed a clear interest in building lasting partnerships—grounded in mutual respect, innovation, and a commitment to sustainable growth. 

As The Lord Mayor remarked in his closing reflections, “This is a two-way street” by continuing to connect ecosystems, align policy efforts, and share expertise, Stockholm and London can jointly lead the way in shaping a more inclusive, innovative, and resilient financial future. 

To hear more about the topics discussed, please reach out to: 

• Martin Arnborg – Managing Director Nordics, NatWest Markets N.V. 
• Olmo Montesanti – Managing Director, Co-Head of Private Financing Sales Europe, NatWest Markets 
• Oscar Eriksson – Coverage, Nordics NatWest Markets N.V.