CICM Yorkshire Ridings AGM & Conference - Credit Management at the Centre of Policy & Risk

𝗖𝗜𝗖𝗠 𝗬𝗢𝗥𝗞𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗥𝗘 𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦 𝗔𝗚𝗠 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗧 𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗔𝗚𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗥𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗣𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗬 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗞

On 22 January 2026, the CICM Yorkshire Ridings Branch gathered at Leeds University Business School for its AGM and annual conference. Chaired with clarity and pace by Ian Torkington, the event brought together regulators, academics and credit professionals to examine one clear theme. Credit management now sits at the heart of economic resilience.

𝗙𝗔𝗜𝗥 𝗣𝗔𝗬𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗜𝗦 𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗖 𝗜𝗡𝗙𝗥𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗖𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘

Emma Jones CBE, Small Business Commissioner, opened the conference by re-framing payment culture as an economic priority. Fair payment underpins SME sustainability, supply chain confidence and long term growth.

Jacqueline Moore, Policy and Implementation Lead at the Office of the Small Business Commissioner, outlined the strengthened Fair Payment Code. Introduced in December 2024, the Code requires evidence based compliance and a two year reassessment cycle.

As of January 2026, 2345 Expressions of Interest, 610 Applications and 488 Awards had been recorded. Many organisations identified internal gaps during application. The shift from pledge to proof is now embedded, placing credit professionals at the centre of measurable payment standards.

𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗦𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗬 𝗜𝗡 𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡

Emma Davis, Registrar of Companies for Scotland at Companies House, provided an update on the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. Representing the most significant reform of company law in 180 years, the Act transforms Companies House into an active gatekeeper of reliable corporate data.

Mandatory identity verification, stronger enforcement powers and enhanced data sharing are already reshaping the corporate register. For credit professionals, improved data integrity strengthens risk assessment and confidence in UK corporate information.

𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗔 𝗩𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦 𝗝𝗨𝗗𝗚𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧

Professor Nick Wilson of Leeds University Business School concluded with insight from the Credit Management Research Centre. Drawing on more than 60 million company year observations, the research confirms what practitioners recognise instinctively.

Risk scores strongly predict default. Missing data is a red flag. Loan extensions correlate with distress. Stronger governance reduces insolvency probability.

Judgement and analytics are converging.

𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗛 𝗠𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗨𝗠

The AGM reflected strong engagement and renewed energy. Luke Sculthorp FCICM formally stepped up as Chair, with Ian Torkington continuing to provide valued leadership and continuity.

The direction is clear. Deliver subject relevant, policy informed and data driven content while attracting operational credit professionals into active participation.

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗥 𝗠𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗔𝗚𝗘

From fair payment reform to corporate transparency and population level risk modelling, the conference reinforced a powerful conclusion.       

Credit management is no longer confined to transactional control. It shapes liquidity, strengthens corporate integrity and supports regional growth

Yorkshire demonstrated a profession operating at a higher level, informed by regulation, strengthened by data and central to economic resilience.