The Stage | Rhiannon Price, Group Policy Development, Barclays

Why It Matters

The reforms promise to unlock fresh equity and debt financing for UK firms while enhancing pension security for ordinary investors, boosting both corporate growth and household wealth.

Key Takeaways

• Barclays analyzes data to advise UK capital market reforms.
• Since 2020, focus shifted from prospectus reform to market activation.
• New policies aim to attract both companies and retail investors.
• Retail participation expected to boost equity and debt capital raising.
• Reforms intend to improve pension outcomes for everyday Britons.

Summary

Barclays’ Group Policy Development team, represented by Rhiannon Price, is outlining the bank’s role in shaping UK capital‑market reform. The discussion centers on how the team translates internal data into policy advice for the government, aiming to modernise the listings environment and broaden access to capital.

Since joining the effort in 2020, Price notes the shift from abstract prospectus reform to concrete measures that make the market “ready for new capital raising” in both equity and debt. The focus now is on creating a regulatory framework that encourages more companies to list and draws a wider pool of investors.

Price highlights a forthcoming “big policy change” that will energise retail participation, saying it will help people like her mother in Cardiff see how pension investments support UK businesses. She stresses that the reforms are designed to make the stock market understandable and relevant to everyday financial futures.

If successful, the reforms could deepen market liquidity, diversify the investor base and improve retirement outcomes, strengthening the UK’s competitive position in global capital markets.

Original Description

In this episode of The Stage, Rhiannon Price, Director, Group Policy Development Head of Capital Markets, Barclays, reflects on the journey from a “blank sheet of paper” on listings and prospectus reform, to a UK market that’s now ready for the next phase of capital raising.

She explains why the focus isn’t only on attracting more companies to market, but on widening participation, bringing retail investors into the system, and helping people better understand how capital markets shape pensions, livelihoods, and financial futures across the UK.

About 'The Stage'

The Stage, a new video series that celebrates the people behind the markets. Produced by the London Stock Exchange, each episode will feature an industry thought leader sharing insights, milestones, and stories that shaped their business journey. Whether you're a CEO, founder, or financial industry voice, The Stage is your platform to connect with a global audience of investors, issuers, and market participants.

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