Lending – the engine room of the real economy, examined
The new podcast from the Finance & Leasing Association
Lending is the engine room of the real economy. Yet some of the biggest questions facing the industry are rarely discussed openly.
Provocations is a new podcast series from the Finance & Leasing Association, bringing together senior leaders from across the sector to debate the issues that will shape the future of UK lending.
Six episodes. Six questions. No easy answers.
Each episode begins with a single provocation: a deliberately challenging proposition designed to test assumptions, expose tensions and explore what comes next. Industry leaders respond openly and on the record, drawing on experience from across the sector to examine the opportunities, risks and choices ahead.
Released fortnightly from September to December 2026, the series builds from first principles to future possibilities.
Is the model still fit for purpose? If not, what comes next? And if we were building it from scratch today, what would we build?
Hosted by acclaimed BBC broadcaster and interviewer Nihal Arthanayake, Provocations is for the people who run, regulate and influence the UK’s £163 billion finance and leasing sector.
Why listen?
Trust. Innovation. Access to finance. The energy transition. Artificial intelligence. Regulation.
The decisions taken on these issues will determine how the industry evolves, where capital flows and how effectively the sector serves households, businesses and the wider economy.
Provocations creates space for a different kind of conversation: thoughtful, candid and unconstrained by conference formats, panel discussions and corporate messaging.
For anyone working in, around or with the finance and leasing industry, these are conversations worth hearing.
Because the future of lending deserves more than easy answers.
If you want to submit a question for the podcast, feel free to send us an email at Provocations@fla.org.uk
To register for updates on upcoming episodes, please sign up with your email below.