The ongoing collaboration between Dr Francesco Tava, Associate Professor of Philosophy at UWE, and HSBC has reached a new phase in October 2025. Francesco has been invited to design and co-lead a series of high-impact workshops on Critical Thinking for HSBC’s legal teams in London, Birmingham, and Leeds. For this initiative, he partnered with professionals from the London-based law firm Addleshaw Goddard, combining philosophical insights with practical legal expertise to explore both the conceptual foundations and applications of critical thinking.
This series builds on Francesco’s 2024 podcast on Critical Thinking, commissioned by HSBC and distributed to their global legal teams. In the new workshops, compliance and legal professionals engaged in discussions on the key characteristics and potential of Critical Thinking, applying their newly acquired skills to real-world challenges—from the ethical and practical implications of AI to risks associated with financial instability and crisis management. Participants examined core themes such as early risk identification, informed and ethical decision-making, and cross-functional collaboration, with the goal of equipping them with immediately applicable skills for their day-to-day work.
“I think this initiative represents an amazing opportunity to showcase the inherently applied nature of philosophy,” says Francesco. “Discussing Socratic questioning and ethical reasoning with highly engaged professionals in a global industry is a unique experience for both teachers and learners. It bridges gaps that might otherwise seem insurmountable and demonstrates the creative power of Critical Thinking in both professional and personal life”.
Dr Kuldip Kaur, Senior Legal Counsel at HSBC and one of London workshop attendees, added: “The workshop on critical thinking was highly valuable and relevant to collaborative work. I appreciated the focus on identifying biases, evaluating evidence, and making more reasoned group decisions. The interactive discussions made the concepts practical and engaging, and I found Francesco’s facilitation encouraging and thought-provoking. I now feel more confident questioning assumptions and contributing constructively during team decision-making”.
The HSBC podcast and workshops are the first steps in a broader teaching and learning project led by Francesco and the UWE Philosophy team. Future collaborations are already being planned, with the aim of extending these workshops beyond the UK to HSBC’s global network, which spans more than 50 countries.
Closer to home, Francesco has also designed a new CPD (Continuous Professional Development) course at UWE: CT Lab: Critical Thinking from Theory to Practice, set to begin in February 2026. Subscriptions are now open. To learn more about the course, visit its webpage and watch Francesco’s introductory video.