Barclays Strategic Transformation Director gives guest lectures
Steven Roberts (left) is pictured at the evening lecture with the University's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Bob Cryan.
Wed, 22 Apr 2015 14:49:00 BST
Steven Roberts, now a visiting professor at the University, is regarded as one of the UK’s most innovative bankers
ONE of the UK’s most innovative bankers – a pioneer of digital technology – was welcomed to the University of Huddersfield to give his inaugural professorial lecture as a visiting professor.
For the past 25 years, Steven Roberts (pictured) has worked for Barclays bank. It marked its 325th anniversary in 2015, but Professor Roberts has helped ensure that the bank has met the very modern challenges of what he terms the Digital Revolution.
Professor Roberts is Barclays’ Strategic Transformations Director and during his visit to Huddersfield he gave two lectures, one to current students and a second lecture to an invited audience.
In his lectures, he described the innovations that have helped Barclays to thrive in the digital age. Professor Roberts is responsible for the award-winning Digital Eagles initiative, which has resulted in over 8,000 members of staff in Barclays branches providing free technology help and advice. This has now extended internationally, with a further 9,000 Digital Eagles across Africa and Europe.
Professor Roberts and his team were also responsible for the implementation of free wi-fi across all 1,500 branches in the UK and other innovations have included talking ATMs, mobile phone cheque imaging technology, instant account opening and instant lending for business customers.
Developing ideas
Steven Roberts is also on the board of iDEA, an initiative launched by HRH The Duke of York, the University’s Patron, and Nominet Trust that supports 14-25 year olds in developing their ideas into successful digital business ventures.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield, Professor Bob Cryan, is also a board member and the University is an iDEA Centre of Excellence. The link led to Steven Roberts being appointed by the University as Visiting Professor in Technology, Behaviours and Information Strategy.
The University’s Head of Informatics, Dr Rupert Ward, was delighted with the appointment of Professor Roberts, describing him as “a real innovator”.
“His expertise in technology and information strategy can help to develop students and staff and point the way to further collaborations between the University and the business sector,” said Dr Ward.
“Steven’s lecture was a truly inspiring story of the challenges and opportunities an organisation can face in today’s rapidly changing world. Barclays’ focus on people and culture has led to innovations which have a profound impact, not just on the bank itself but on society at large.”
