Martin has a history of working with consumers to place their needs at the centre of decision making, especially around financial services and financial inclusion. He has achieved this by using research and advocacy to engage commercial, regulatory, government and civil society organisations to create change for consumers.
Martin has held a range of positions, all with the common objective of placing low income and vulnerable consumers at the heart of policy-making within essential services. Whilst at the Financial Conduct Authority, he created its model for engaging with consumer groups as well as its consumer vulnerability programme, leading to nationwide changes for consumers. At the Big Lottery Fund he led the creation of its £31.7 million financial capability and inclusion programme.
More recently, as Director of Fair By Design, Martin focused on eliminating the poverty premium – the extra costs poorer people pay for essential services like insurance, credit, payments and energy. The poverty premium is now at the top of political and regulatory debates around fairness in essential services, with Martin’s work leading to tangible changes in policy and practice to tackle the poverty premium and increase financial inclusion in the UK.
Martin’s work at CHASM is centred on applying CHASM research to create powerful cases for change within social and regulatory policy for consumers of essential services. His specific areas include the poverty premium, financial inclusion, consumer representation and engagement, and inclusive design.
Tackling the poverty premium
Martin launched his CHASM Professorship by delivering the 2024 CHASM Annual Lecture, in December. Attendees gained valuable insights into Martin’s experience in campaigning to eliminate the poverty premium. Drawing from his experience of leading Fair By Design, Martin discussed how this area aligns with the new government’s plans to address financial inclusion via a new Treasury-led financial inclusion strategy, as well as via a new cross-government strategy to tackle child poverty.
In his lecture Martin highlighted the important role played by research and evidence in delivering change. He also emphasised the importance of partnership working. In respect of communication, Martin demonstrated the key the essential role lived experience plays in tackling the poverty premium, including short video spotlights on insurance, energy, credit and payments.
The event attracted academics, the public and private sector, students and policy professionals. Martin engaged them in an interactive session that included discussion on the important lessons learned based on his experience, including some pointers on next steps for the UK government.
