The Financial Conduct Authority has partnered with Plain Numbers.
An evidence-based approach to clearer communication - now used by the UK's financial regulator.
We're delighted to share that an initial cohort of colleagues from the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) Communications team have completed Plain Numbers training.
The UK's financial services regulator works with data every day. But as their own Communications team put it - numbers on their own don't always land. And when people can't understand what is being presented, the impact of communications is lost.
The training gave the FCA team practical tools to rethink how numerical information is presented. They're now reviewing their house style guidelines to align with Plain Numbers best practice, embedding these principles into how the FCA communicates risk, evidence and regulatory expectations as standard.
For the FCA, this directly supports their ambition to be a smarter, more data-driven regulator. Their five-year strategy commits to making better use of data and evidence — and as they've recognised, that's not just about collecting better data. It's about translating it into clear, actionable insight for the people who need to use it.
That's exactly the gap Plain Numbers is designed to close. Half the UK adult population have low numeracy, yet financial communications often assume high confidence with numbers. We're proud to be supporting the FCA in changing that.
"Being a smarter regulator isn't just about collecting better data – it's about translating that data into clear and actionable insight for the people that use it, internally and externally."
Hannah Doran, Digital & Design Manager, FCA
“We have engaged with a range of FCA policy teams since launching Plain Numbers back in 2021 and continue to do so. It is exciting to have the first cohort of FCA colleagues trained as Plain Numbers Practitioners – we are now looking forward to supporting them as they incorporate what they have learned into FCA communications.”
Mike Ellicock, Chief Executive, Plain Numbers