UK Fintech contracts: B2B payments firms boom
The days of easy contractor assignments at high-street consumer neobanks are cooling down. Major digital banks are finally slowing their rapid recruitment drives. However, overall UK fintech contracts and vacancies are forecast to rise by close to 14% this year
Where are the contractor budgets?
Where is the new contract money going? The answers lie in the backend. Specifically, business-to-business payments infrastructure providers are completely outperforming consumer-facing apps.
New market data from Morgan McKinley says business platforms are expanding aggressively. The report stated Radius is forecast to increase hiring by more than 42%, while SumUp Payments is projected to rise close to 28%.
Crypto-linked firms are also expanding rapidly, with Payward, operator of Kraken, forecast to increase vacancies by nearly 91% as firms prepare for the FCA’s evolving cryptoasset framework. In contrast, Starling Bank and Monzo are both projected to reduce hiring activity in 2026.
Mark Astbury, Director of Project & Change Recruitment at Morgan McKinley, said the UK fintech sector is entering a more disciplined and structurally selective phase of growth.
McKinley explained what he sees happening, “This is not a slowdown in momentum, but a reorientation of where growth is occurring. Growth is increasingly concentrated in IT infrastructure and engineering roles, as firms prioritise resilience, scalability and cloud-native architecture over pure product expansion.”
He continued,
Most significantly, the centre of gravity within fintech is shifting. Payment infrastructure providers and SME-focused platforms are now outpacing consumer neobanks, many of which are beginning to moderate hiring after years of rapid expansion.
Fintech hiring growth: B2B payments v. consumer neobanks
This structural change offers a massive opportunity for independent professionals seeking UK fintech contracts. These scaling B2B platforms need immediate help to handle cross-border transactions and merchant tools. Therefore, they have the capital to fund heavy project workloads and premium day rates.
If you want to secure high day rates, you must adjust your target client list. Look past the household consumer banking apps. Instead, focus your pitches on backend payment rails and SME platforms. That is where the project budget sits.
Furthermore, cross-border specialist Ebury is also ramping up recruitment by over 32%. This proves the market shift is broad.
Top tip:
Contractors who focus on B2B infrastructure early will secure the best assignments this year.
Top companies: All professional vacancies in Fintech in the UK, 2024-2026*
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026* (Est) | YoY% 26*/25 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radius | 457 | 871 | 1239 | 42.3% |
| Wise | 336 | 623 | 714 | 14.6% |
| SumUp Payments | 161 | 500 | 639 | 27.8% |
| Ebury | 293 | 470 | 621 | 32.1% |
| Teya | 764 | 422 | 441 | 4.5% |
Report recap:
- UK fintech vacancies are forecast to rise by close to 14% in 2026, following 28% growth in 2025
- London is expected to account for 71% of all fintech hiring as concentration intensifies
- IT support roles have fallen from 17% to 9% in two years due to automation
- IT infrastructure vacancies are projected to climb nearly 31%, outpacing broader IT growth
- Anti-money laundering (AML) and credit-focused hiring strengthen, while several neobanks scale back recruitment amid a shift towards payments-led business models
