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13 August – Yaspa, a hyper-growth UK fintech specializing in iGaming payments and identity, has announced the opening of a new technology hub in Leeds as part of its global expansion strategy.
The award-winning company plans to hire an initial squad of 10 senior software engineers in the coming weeks to support its entry into new markets, particularly in the United States. Based at Platform by Bruntwood in Leeds city center, the team will focus on backend Java development, with an ambition to grow to 20 engineers by the end of 2025.
Leading the new Leeds office is David Turner, recently appointed Head of Engineering. Turner brings over seven years of experience from William Hill, where he was instrumental in introducing automated sports trading and later became Head of Retail Development. He also served as Chief Technical Officer at Glean, building a cross-functional delivery team in Leeds from five to 40 members.
Yaspa leverages open banking technology and AI through its proprietary real-time payments solution, Intelligent Payments, enabling regulated businesses—particularly in the online gambling sector—to meet compliance requirements, promote responsible gambling, and optimize customer payment experiences.
The new office launch follows Yaspa’s recent $12 million investment round led by Discerning Capital. The company currently serves partners in the UK and Europe and has incorporated a US entity in Atlanta, Georgia, with plans to establish an office there.
Founded in 2017 by CEO James Neville, formerly CTO at Worldpay, Yaspa has grown from 15 to 70 employees in the past 18 months. The decision to open in Leeds was influenced by the city’s strong pool of software engineering talent and its status as a hub for major gambling companies, including Flutter Entertainment’s Sky Betting & Gaming, Paddy Power and Betfair, and Evoke’s William Hill brands.
Chris Watkins, Yaspa’s Chief People Officer, said:
“We see Leeds as the ideal location to open our second UK office, with access to a strong pool of software engineering talent. It also has a strong reputation for talent with experience in iGaming, thanks to the companies that are also located there.
“Our office is at a premium address, just a few metres from Leeds train station. It’s a serviced office, with stunning views across Leeds centre from our sixth-floor office, coupled with amazing services to ensure Yaspa employees have the best experience possible when working onsite.
“We’re growing quickly but we’ll walk before we can run. The immediate goal is to get a squad of mid to senior level engineers on board. They will focus on building the US product for us. As soon as that squad is at full capacity, we’ll hire for a second squad, taking us up to 20 within the year.
“Although we’re open to remote working, we’ve noticed a hybrid working model offers the best collaboration for success and employee growth. At Yaspa, we’re really big on culture, collaboration and transparency, so we want people regularly working together in-person.”
Yaspa’s Head of Engineering David Turner said:
“When I heard about the opportunity to join Yaspa, it felt like the perfect role for me. I am passionate about creating a safe, supportive environment where engineers can do their best work and this role allows me to do exactly that – building a talented team in Leeds while delivering the technology to support Yaspa’s next stage of growth.
“What excites me most is that Yaspa has already done the hard part. It has found its value proposition, proved it works and is now scaling. My focus will be on growing the engineering team rapidly, with the aim of having two strong squads in place by the end of the year, initially dedicated to the US proposition, while making the most of the chance to apply best practice from the start.
“Yaspa has the momentum, the vision and the team culture to make a real impact, and I am looking forward to helping take that even further.”
