Finance Community
Business financing, card scheme and interchange fees, taxation, consumer credit
Navigating the transformation with shifting consumer behaviour, rising payment costs, and new payment types, which heighten competition and regulatory complexities.
Our industry is in transformation; consumer behaviour is shifting towards a digital economy, and the cost of handling payments and providing credit is escalating, meaning profits are under increasing threat. New payment types are being developed, increasing competition in the market and potential benefits for retailers, but also bringing new regulations and complexities.
Through the Finance Community, BRC members can understand these dynamics and maintain pressure on Government to reduce the cost of doing business.
Objectives
Securing increased competition and lower fees for merchants in the payments market.
Developing a minimal-risk model for merchants when processing offline payments.
Developing initiatives to tackle the rising prevalence of first-party fraud and erroneous chargebacks.
Working Groups
Within the Finance Community are the following Working Groups:
Payments Group
We look at payments issues and concerns, with a focus on card fees, access to cash, and open banking.
Consumer Credit Group
We look at any issues arising within the consumer credit world, including buy-now pay-later.
Members
The following key roles and the teams that report into them:
Finance Directors
Payment Architects
Treasury/Payments/Compliance Managers
Senior Commercial Finance Managers
Insights/CX/UX specialists
Associate Members
Latest Content
Associate InsightRetailers are turning to market transactional insight to develop a competitive edge
17 Jan 2025- Member AccessArticle
Regulatory Watchouts for 2025
02 Jan 2025 - Member AccessArticle
Price cap proposal a win for retailers and customers
13 Dec 2024 - Member AccessArticle
Charity Retail Forum: Slides available
06 Dec 2024 - Member AccessArticle
BRC PAYMENTS SURVEY 2024
05 Dec 2024 
BlogCompliance Survey for Retailers providing Financial Services
03 Dec 2024- Member AccessBriefing
Government replaces Prompt Payment Code with Fair Payment Code
03 Dec 2024 - Member AccessArticle
Meeting with the Chancellor
02 Dec 2024 - Member AccessArticle
BRC Response to HMT consultation on the regulation of BNPL
26 Nov 2024 - Member AccessArticle
Government publishes its National Payments Vision
20 Nov 2024
Upcoming Events
Bringing together retailers, policy makers, and influencers.
EventLearning ProgrammeBRC Summer School 2025
10 June 2025Ashridge House, Berkhamsted
EventWebinarLeading in the Industry: Seeing a Bigger Picture with the Learning Team
12 March 2025Online
EventLearning ProgrammeBRC Retail Masters 2025
10 March 2025The Form Rooms, Covent Garden
EventUnravelling the hidden costs: effective management of customer returns
25 February 202512:00Livestorm
EventMasterclassLearning ProgrammeSustainability Masterclass: Developing and delivering your strategy
12 February 2025The Form Rooms
EventLeading People: A People-Centric Approach with the Learning Team
12 February 2025Online
What our members say
The BRC allows a fiercely competitive sector to come together on some of the most important issues of the day. When it focuses on the long term topics that require well considered political and legal change it is at its most effective.
The BRC is invaluable in bringing retailers together to discuss crucial topics and then lobby the retailer message to government on our behalf. The BRC’s media presence and focus on promoting the interests of retailers allows us to align on issues impacting the sector.
A very effective business network that provides insight and coordinates industry opinion.
The BRC continues to do an excellent job of supporting the retail sector and its individual members on a wide variety of issues.
Adds a lot to our business, great sounding board, very well connected and able to influence.
A positive and considered voice for our industry, useful learning/ business-focused communities that help our team in their roles, and data insights that help us benchmark our performance.
Community Manager
Chris Owen
Policy Adviser - Finance
Chris manages the BRC’s Finance Community and has recently joined the organisation after working in public policy roles for a range of companies and organisations, including TikTok, Which? and Ofcom. He has extensive knowledge of current digital policy matters and online advertising regulations and has extensive experience in engaging with government and regulators, advocating for better consumer outcomes in markets and in shaping legislation.
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