Mapping transformation and innovation opportunities for Professional & Financial Services

Why this is important

Since 2018, Innovate UK and ESRC have invested £46.5 million in the sector through the Next Generation Services Programme (£20 million) and the current Next Generation Professional and Financial Services Programme (£26.5 million) demonstrating positive outcomes and impact. The first programme has already led to the creation and retention of over 360 jobs, with over 1,000 more predicted in the next five years. Project participants have raised over £100 million in private investment, and their technologies are already in use by leading organisations across the UK and overseas.

The team is now working on proposals for a next stage, building on the vision to unlock the full potential of the Professional and Financial Services (PFS) sector. By diving deep into the innovation opportunities and challenges, the aim is to craft strategies and support programmes that truly resonate with the needs of the sector.

Get involved! 

As part of this next stage, Innovate UK needs your help and is seeking to survey UK based professionals working in financial services, insurance, accountancy, and legal services, as well as AI and digital technology businesses, academic experts, funders and other supporting organisations that operate in the PFS sector.

The aim of this project is to map the transformation of PFS in the UK, its potential future economic and societal impact, and explore future opportunities for innovation with a particular focus on emerging clusters outside London.

Your unique perspective will not only inform the survey findings and report but also aid the development of future strategies and ensure that public support programmes are as effective and impactful as possible.

As a thank you for your time and effort in supporting us with this study: 

You will have the opportunity to receive an advance copy of the report prior to publication

• Your organisation can be listed in the report as a contributor
• You can provide your details at the end of the survey.

As part of the project, an online survey has been launched which will be used to gather insights and sentiment from stakeholders across the component parts of the PFS ecosystem. Stakeholders across the PFS sector are being invited to contribute their thoughts in our online survey, which takes around 20 minutes to complete. You can complete it in one session or select ‘Save and Continue Later’. The closing date for submission is Friday 4th October 2024.

Confidentiality 

Responses to this survey will be collected and analysed by Whitecap Consulting. Only aggregate answers will be published and shared with Innovate UK.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact innovateuk@whitecapconsulting.co.uk.

Find out more about the programme

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