Five high-growth firms join Scale-up Unit for regulatory support
The Financial Conduct Authority has added five fast-growing fintech firms to its Scale-up Unit on August 10, 2026. ClearScore, Modulr, Teya, Urban Jungle and Zilch will receive tailored regulatory support to assist their expansion.
Targeted guidance for expanding fintechs
ClearScore, Modulr, Teya, Urban Jungle and Zilch are the first firms regulated exclusively by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to enter the Scale-up Unit.
Operating across payments, consumer finance, credit information and insurtech, these companies will receive customized regulatory support as they launch new products, respond to policy changes and manage rapid business growth.
Jessica Rusu, Chief Data Information and Innovation Officer at the FCA, noted: "We want the UK to remain one of the best places in the world to start, grow and scale a financial services business.
That's why we're supporting ambitious firms as they scale, helping them navigate regulation and innovate with confidence."
Governance frameworks drive sustainable scaling
The initiative builds on a pilot program involving 15 high-growth businesses across asset management, wealth management and payments conducted between July 2025 and March 2026.
Findings published on August 10, 2026, demonstrate that early investment in governance, risk management and controls allows rapidly expanding firms to manage operational risks effectively.
The Scale-up Unit operates alongside existing programs, including Innovation Pathways and Early and High Growth Oversight, which together have supported over 1,000 innovative firms since launch.
Proactive oversight without red tape
Tailored regulatory support offers a pragmatic route to prevent compliance bottlenecks in fast-growing fintechs.
Yet concierge guidance for select cohorts risks creating regulatory advantages over unassisted competitors.
The FCA must convert these pilot insights into broader market rules rather than perpetual hand-holding.