thoughts & threads

The Technology Code of Practice (TCoP) is the UK Government’s framework for building and managing technology responsibly. It outlines 13 points of good practice covering openness, sustainability, interoperability, and security.

The criteria are:

1. Define user needs
2. Make things accessible and inclusive
3. Be open and use open source
4. Make use of open standards
5. Use cloud first
6. Make things secure
7. Make privacy integral
8. Share, reuse, and collaborate
9. Integrate and adapt technology
10. Make better use of data
11. Define your purchasing strategy
12. Make your technology sustainable
13. Meet the Service Standard

For financial services, these points reinforce the need to design technology that is resilient and future proof. For example, open standards and APIs are critical for compliance with Open Banking and other regulatory requirements. A cloud first approach supports scalability, but firms must balance this with regulatory expectations around operational resilience and data sovereignty.

Sustainability is becoming a core expectation, particularly with climate reporting and ESG requirements. By embedding sustainability into technology design, firms can reduce costs and environmental impact while meeting investor and regulatory demands.

The TCoP provides financial services leaders with a clear checklist to evaluate technology projects. Aligning with these criteria not only reduces risk but also demonstrates responsible and transparent practices to regulators and customers.

Summary:
TCoP sets 13 principles for responsible technology design and management. In financial services, it supports open standards, resilience, sustainability, and compliance with regulatory frameworks such as Open Banking and ESG.