Unlocking AI skills in financial and professional services

The ‘Unlocking AI Skills in Financial and Professional Services: Synthetic Data Marketplaces’ report presents a bold, practical proposal to address the UK’s AI skills gap in financial and professional services.

Developed in collaboration with over 40 firms and policy experts, the report recommends the creation of a synthetic data lake hosted in the FCA’s Digital Sandbox to power hands-on AI training for apprenticeships, business schools, and employer-led programmes. This approach unlocks access to realistic, privacy-preserving datasets, helping thousands of mid-career professionals gain real-world AI experience without the regulatory and cost barriers of using live data.

Backed by key government priorities, from the AI Opportunities Action Plan to the National AI Strategy, this report outlines a scalable solution for growing domestic capability in AI, particularly in highly regulated sectors.

Read the report and discover how this model could shape the future of AI learning, policy and innovation.