Research Providing financial services to the world The UK is the world’s first choice supplier of financial services. Find out more about the UK’s financial services sector, and its role as a global leader in exporting financial services. Download the factsheet The world’s biggest exporter of financial services The UK remains the world’s largest net exporter of financial services in 2021, with a trade surplus greater than the next 10 leading net exporting European countries combined. Exporting over four times the worth of financial services than it imported, UK financial services accounted for almost 50% of the UK’s entire services trade surplus. A vibrant investment environment With thriving venture capital and private equity markets, the deepest and most liquid pools of capital in the world, and leading stock exchange main and growth markets, the UK offers the right form of funding for your firm, wherever you are in your growth. $650,000 is the median early stage/seed round funding per start-up in London compared with a global average of $494,000 #1 The UK is Europe’s largest hub for trading & clearing, equity markets, private equity & venture capital, asset management and banking 2,200+ companies listed on the London Stock Exchange from more than 100 countries £121bn raised on the world’s leading international growth market (AIM) over 25 years currently attracting businesses from 75 countries More venture capital investment in the UK Venture capital investment in the UK hit a record $15bn in 2020 – ahead of Germany ($6.9bn) and France ($6.1bn) combined A customer base of over 67 million potential consumers, make up the fifth largest economy in the world A customer base of over 67 million Partner Story Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Partner story China International Capital Corporation China International Capital Corporation Partner Story Asset Vault Asset Vault Partner story BJSS BJSS See more Case Studies Stay in touch Sign up to our mailing list to make sure you're the first to hear about news, reports, and events relating to financial and professional services from the City of London Corporation. Sign up now "When we were seeking investment there were a lot opportunities that we were exploring. Being in the City of London really helps as you have a lot of conversations with a lot of people and one conversation leads to another and gets you to where you need to be... Whatever it is, there is a huge number of well connected people in the City of London." Gethin Jones and Laurent Sabatié, Co-Founders Skyline Partners 1 Scale, range and expertise The UK's financial and professional services sector has unparalleled range: from banking to insurance; asset management to green finance; professional services to fintech. The knowledge, experience, performance and talent across each of the sector’s verticals in the UK is world class, making the UK uniquely positioned to provide financial and professional services to the world. Read more Accounting Asset Management Banking & Capital Markets Cybersecurity Fintech Infrastructure Financing Insurance Legal Management consultancy Private Equity & Venture Capital Sustainable finance Wealth Management Need more information? The City of London Corporation London & Partners Great Campaign TheCityUK Innovate Finance Association for Foreign Banks Association of British Insurers The Investment Association AFME UK Finance