Posted: 6 Jul 2022 Resource Type: Research Report Download Back Exports from UK professional services amounted to £39.1bn in 2020 and generated £25.5bn of trade surplus. This marked an increase of £3bn from 2019 – up from £22.5bn – despite the backdrop of a challenging year. Professional services continues to be a key contributor to the UK economy, exporting over 3 times the worth of professional services than it imported, and accounting for nearly one-fifth of the entire UK services trade surplus. Combined with financial services, UK financial and professional services generated a joint surplus of £89.2bn in 2020 – just over two-thirds of the entire UK services surplus. At the end of 2020, foreign direct investment (FDI) stock held in UK professional services was valued at £65.1bn – a 49% increase since 2017. Through sharing and developing our professional services expertise, the UK can continue to build and strengthen trade and investment links across the world. £25.5bn trade surplus in 2020 The UK’s success as an international financial and professional services centre depends on remaining open to trade and investment from around the world. Share: Share to LinkedIn LinkedIn Share to X Share to Facebook Facebook Share to WeChat WeChat Share to WhatsApp WhatsApp Share to Email Email Download Related content News Sterling 20 Oct 2025 - 20 of Britain’s largest pension providers and insurers have launched Sterling 20, a new partnership to invest billions into UK infrastructure, innovation and renewable energy. Sterling 20 Research Report Finance for growth: a shared U.S./UK prosperity agenda Oct 2025 - Leading US and UK financial and professional services firms, via the British American Financial Alliance (BAFA) coalition, are urging both governments progress on the Transatlantic Taskforce for Markets of the Future. Finance for growth: a shared U.S./UK prosperity agenda Research Report The UK’s offer for asset managers and owners Oct 2025 - The UK is a global leader in asset management, with over £12tn in AUM and offers extensive scale with international reach, deep expertise, and diverse investment opportunities. The UK’s offer for asset managers and owners Research Report City statistics briefing Oct 2025 - The City Statistics briefing looks at the City of London's role as a global business hub for financial and related professional services. City statistics briefing