Professor Martin Coppack

Professor Martin Coppack

School of Social Policy and Society
Professor of Practice in Financial Inclusion and Consumer Policy (CHASM)

Contact details

Email
m.j.coppack@bham.ac.uk
Address
Centre on Household Assets and Savings Management (CHASM)
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Martin’s expertise lies in bridging the divisions between commercial, regulatory, government and civil society organisations to create change for consumers. He’s held a range of positions, all with the common objective of placing low income and vulnerable consumers at the heart of policy-making within essential services. 

Whilst at the Financial Conduct Authority, he created its model for engaging with consumer groups as well as its consumer vulnerability programme, leading to nationwide changes for consumers. At the Big Lottery Fund he led the creation of its £31.7 million financial capability and inclusion programme.  

Most recently Martin’s work as Director of Fair By Design has centred on eliminating the poverty premium – the extra costs poorer people pay for essential services like insurance, credit, payments and energy. The poverty premium is now at the top of political and regulatory debates around fairness in essential services.

Martin is regularly consulted by regulators, government departments, select committees, MPs, political advisers, businesses, and civil society organisations both nationally and internationally.

Qualifications

  • MSc Consumer Studies, Syracuse University, 1998
  • Diploma in Special Education, College of Preceptors, 1996
  • Post Graduate Certificate of Education (Further Education), Keele University, 1995
  • BSc (Hons) Human Ecology, Bath Spa University, 1994

Teaching

Contributing to MA Global Public Policy

Research

Martin works with researchers to create powerful cases for change within social and regulatory policy for consumers of essential services. Areas include the poverty premium, financial inclusion, consumer representation and engagement, and inclusive design.

Other activities

  • Trustee and Board Member, Young Scot. 2019 – Present.
  • Member, Advisory Board, Money and Mental Health Policy Institute. 2016 – Present.
  • Commissioner, Financial Inclusion Commission. 2014 – 2023.
  • Member, Financial Consumer Agency of Canada’s Consumer Protection Advisory Committee. 2020 - 2022
  • Trustee and Board member, Nationwide Foundation. 2011 – 2018.
  • Commissioner, Scope Commission on Extra Costs for Disabled People. 2014 – 2015.
  • Trustee and Board member, Association of Charitable Foundations. 2008 – 2011.
  • Member, Hyde Housing Association Customer Assurance Committee. 2008 – 2011.
  • Elected Member, National Executive, Institute of Consumer Affairs. 2000 – 2004. 

 

Other advisory roles have included providing advice to:

  • Lithuanian Consumer Protection Board
  • Bank of Trinidad and Tobago
  • National Offender Management Service
  • Office of Fair Trading
  • Dept for International Development
  • Basic Skills Agency

Publications

Coppack, M (2023) New Consumer Duty: far from a silver bullet. Thomson Reuters Regulatory Intelligence. Online: https://regintel-content.thomsonreuters.com/document/I894B8B20CC9B11ED89E1D24D0476B947   

Collard, S. Coppack, M. Lowe, J. and Simon Sarkar. (2016) Access to Financial Services in the UK. London. Financial Conduct Authority. Online: https://www.fca.org.uk/publication/occasional-papers/occasional-paper-17.pdf 

Coppack, M. and Raza, Y. (June 2015) Vulnerable customers in financial services - a key test of conscience for the City. Adviser. 

Coppack, M. Jackson, F. and Tallack, J. (2014) Involving Consumers in the Development of Regulatory Policy. London. United Kingdom Regulators Network. Online: https://ukrn.org.uk/app/uploads/2018/06/20140728-InvolvingConsumersInRegPolicy.pdf 

Coppack, M. Raza, Y. Sarkar, S. and Scribbins, K. (2014) Consumer Vulnerability. London. Financial Conduct Authority. Online: https://www.fca.org.uk/publication/occasional-papers/occasional-paper-8.pdf

Brennan, C. and Coppack, M. (2008) A Strategic Approach to UK Consumer Education. Consumer Policy Review. 

Brennan, C. and Coppack, M. (2008) Consumer Empowerment: Global Context, UK Strategies and Vulnerable Consumers. International Journal of Consumer Studies. 

Brennan, C. and Coppack, M. (2006) The Case for Educated Consumers: the National Consumer Council's Consultation on Consumer Education. International Journal of Consumer Studies.