Office for Investment: Financial Services

The UK’s offer for fintech firms

The UK is shaping the future of financial services through its vibrant fintech sector. The combination of world-class talent, an innovative approach to regulation, deep pools of capital, and access to the world’s most global financial marketplace make it the ideal environment for fintech to flourish.

The Office for Investment: Financial Services provides international fintech firms with a single front door for regulatory and wider business support.

A dynamic cluster of fintech firms within a thriving tech ecosystem

As the largest tech hub in Europe, the UK serves as an ideal entry point for firms looking to expand. From payments to regtech and insurtech, the UK is a world-leading fintech hub, and is home to renowned fintech companies like Monzo, Revolut, and Starling Bank. Firms located in London benefit from knowledge spillover, networking opportunities with peers and potential partners, and access to talent with fintech specific skills. And with more people in the UK banking, investing and managing their savings online or via apps, firms can count on strong demand for fintech solutions.

A world-class technology and finance talent pool

Firms based here can take advantage of an exceptionally strong and diverse talent pool with a unique combination of technology and financial and professional services (FPS) expertise. The UK is a world-leading, global financial centre, meaning fintech firms can recruit from a large pool of experienced FPS and tech professionals. The UK’s world-renowned universities also provide a steady stream of graduates in finance and technology. A deep, multi-disciplinary talent pool also enables firms to more easily grow and scale.

Access to global capital and investment opportunities

With a high concentration of investment banks, venture capital and private equity funds, and institutional investors, the UK offers a wealth of opportunities to fintech founders to access funding to grow and scale their businesses and gives investors access to investible opportunities. For fintech founders, being located in the UK puts them in close proximity to major investors and an active funding ecosystem. The London Stock Exchange (LSE) and the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) also make London an attractive destination for firms with long-term capital raising strategies.

A forward-looking approach to policy and regulation

The UK offers an innovation-friendly regulator and policy environment – its progressive and collaborative approach to regulation removes the barriers to testing and launching innovative financial and professional services products and is set up to help firms to succeed. The government is working with regulators to accelerate AI in priority sectors and has launched pro-innovation initiatives like an AI regulatory sandbox. There are also plans to bring stablecoins into the UK payments framework.

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Office for Investment: Financial Services

office for investment: financial services

The UK’s offer for asset management

The OfI:FS is a collaboration between the Office for Investment, the City of London Corporation, the Financial Conduct Authority, and the Prudential Regulation Authority, and aims to better serve and deliver improved outcomes for investors.

The logos of the Office for Investment: Financial Services, HM Treasury, City of London Corporation, Financial Conduct Authority, and Bank of England: Prudential Regulation Authority

Office for Investment: Financial Services