Leader in UK Public Affairs: Abigail Whittaker, Chief of Staff, Funding Circle “Public affairs is built on the strength and nuance of personal relationships (or a well-timed coffee)”

Mace | 9th October 2026 | In-House Public Affairs, Westminster Index
Abigail_Whittaker

Funding Circle’s Abigail Whittaker explains how policy can unlock finance for small businesses, why timing matters in advocacy and why AI will make strong relationships more valuable, not less.

“When you're in-house, you're living the mission every day,” says Abigail Whittaker. As Chief of Staff at Funding Circle, that mission is clear: ensuring that policy decisions in Westminster translate into real access to finance for small businesses across the UK. Working at a fintech lender focused on small business finance means seeing policy play out in real time. “I get to see the direct link between a policy change in Westminster and a small business owner in the regions getting the access to finance they need to run or grow their business,” she says. That connection, she adds, is what makes in-house public affairs particularly compelling. “I really value the sense of long-term ownership.” That immediacy also shapes how she approaches the job. In a fast-moving environment where both technology and policy evolve quickly, timing matters. One piece of advice she returns to often is simple: “Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.” In practice, she says, “waiting for perfectio...

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