Transforming finance: First Response Finance Shortlisted at UK IT Industry Awards

We're very excited to announce that First Response Finance has been shortlisted in the 'Financial Services Project of the Year' category at the UK IT Industry Awards for our work on the Athena Decision Engine project.

What this nomination means

The UK IT Industry Awards celebrates innovation, technical excellence, and transformative impact across the IT sector. For First Response Finance, this recognition reiterates our commitment to pushing boundaries in financial technology - not just by building something new, but by delivering something that supports smarter decision making to enhance user experiences.

What is the Athena Decision Engine?

Athena is a platform that helps us make more informed decisions, utilising the latest machine learning and cloud technologies to support our Underwriting department and Fraud team.

By using data-driven intelligence, Athena helps us:

• More accurately categorise credit risk, providing better-aligned pricing and a more suitable business process for our customers ✅
• Establish a decision-making backbone that we can utilise in other areas of the business 🤔
• Adapt quickly to changing market conditions and explore new areas of opportunity 🔍
• Take advantage of cloud technology to scale the solution up and down as demand dictates ☁️

In a recent interview with Computing, Mike, our Business Intelligence Team Leader here at First Response Finance, reflected on Athena's impact. He described Athena as a unique platform within our market, forming the foundation for future decision-making across the business. Mike also spoke about how the team's quick response to changes in credit scoring data highlighted the strength of the project - combining data science, technology, and operational expertise to solve challenges collaboratively and effectively.

He also shared insights on the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in financial services, encouraging the industry to embrace innovation and take bold steps forward - something the Athena project has already begun to do.

Recognising our team

This nomination is a reflection of the hard work and collaboration of teams across the business - from our IT department to Operational Risk, and Compliance. Their dedication has helped turn Athena from an idea into an award-nominated innovation.

"Being shortlisted at the UK IT Industry Awards is a great honour and a testament to the dedication, creativity, and resilience of our team. The Athena Decision Engine project represents not just a technical achievement, but a true collaboration, bringing together technical talent and experienced colleagues to deliver a platform that is already making a measurable difference to our business and our customers. I am incredibly proud of how the team embraced every challenge, supported one another, and delivered a solution that provides a great foundation for future innovation and success. 

"This recognition belongs to every member of the team, and I look forward to building on Athena's success as we work to deliver even greater value for our organisation and customers." 

- Darren, Chief Technology Officer at First Response Finance

Looking ahead

The awards ceremony takes place on 12th November 2025, when we'll find out if we're a winner.

Whether we win or not, being shortlisted in this category is a great achievement and motivates us to continue advancing Athena - extending its capabilities and strengthening its robustness.