2mins: The startup tackling Britain’s financial literacy crisis

2mins, an education technology start-up founded by Emily Boxall and her father Chris, is using short games to make learning about money more engaging. Its founders hope the app can help address low financial knowledge in the UK and give schools a practical way to teach financial topics as they become part of the curriculum.

A 2024 Santander study found 47 per cent of UK adults answered at least five of seven financial knowledge questions correctly, compared with 62 per cent across OECD countries; only 1 per cent of primary teachers thought their pupils had adequate financial skills. Since launching in January, 2mins has attracted more than 2,000 users and is being piloted in nine UK schools. The team is also developing a teacher-focused version and discussing a corporate app to explain workplace benefits such as pensions and share schemes.