About the event
Date: 30 October 2026
Supporting economic growth is part of the Financial Policy Committee’s (FPC) secondary objective, alongside its primary objective of maintaining financial stability. Within this remit, the FPC’s focus for 2026 is to identify actions across the financial system that would support the supply of long-term capital to productive investment, particularly for high-growth firms (HGFs).
These firms are central to innovation and productivity yet often face persistent frictions in accessing both equity and debt finance, especially at scale-up and later stages. This workshop aims to bring together academics, policymakers and industry participants to examine how the UK financial system can better support HGFs, and to identify where targeted policy interventions or market developments could help strengthen the provision of long-term finance while preserving financial stability.
Topics of interest
- Barriers to financing high-growth firms, in particular frictions in the supply of long-term capital across equity and debt markets
- Demand-side constraints, such as borrower discouragement, debt aversion, and information frictions
- Public-private partnerships and the role of development institutions in mobilizing long-term capital
- Financial innovation, including FinTech and AI, and their role in reducing frictions in credit allocation
- International evidence on policies to support high-growth firms and close financing gaps
Submissions
Full papers should be submitted to growthconference2026@bankofengland.co.uk in PDF format. The submission deadline is 22 August 2026. Authors of accepted papers will be notified by 7 September 2026.
Please indicate in your submission whether you would be willing to act as a discussant and clearly specify the presenting author.
The organisers welcome submissions from researchers at all career stages, including those from under-represented groups.
Travel and accommodation
The workshop will be held in person at the Bank of England, London. There is no registration fee. Presenters are expected to cover their own travel and accommodation expenses.