Long-term competitiveness

Ensuring the long-term competitiveness of the UK as world-leading international financial centre has remained a core pillar of our work.

Our long-term competitiveness work

We work to ensure the UK remains an attractive place to invest and do business, which is essential to the industry’s long-term competitiveness.

"TheCityUK is on the ball when it comes to industry strategies and has focused objectives."

TheCityUK member

With the support of our Long-Term Competitiveness Group, we influence the policy environment and evolution of regulatory frameworks to drive UK competitiveness by:

  • Delivering policy positions in relation to long-term competitiveness issues.
  • Influencing the future shape of the UK’s regulatory, legal and tax regimes and the approach of its regulatory and supervisory authorities, including the evolution of the frameworks affecting business as it adapts to technological, environmental and social change.
  • Promoting the importance of the UK jurisdictions, English common law and the UK position in dispute resolution as a foundation of the UK’s attractiveness for business.
  • Highlighting the needs for new talent, skills and diversity in the industry and supporting the relevant work of the Financial Services Skills Commission.
  • Driving related professional services as a key underpinning of the industry’s success.
  • Working with partners across the industry to address issues such as operational resilience, AI and data, which have implications for the entire ecosystem.

Our latest long-term competitiveness work:

The Channel Islands’ contribution to UK growth and investment

This joint paper with Jersey Finance and Guernsey Finance highlights the complementary strengths each island brings to the British family of financial centres, spanning funds, private wealth, corporate services, insurance and cross-border investment.

No time to lose: Reasserting UK leadership in financial and related professional services

This landmark report is based on one of the largest industry listening exercises in recent years, drawing on engagement with over 300 senior leaders across industry, government, regulators and academia. It highlights that increasing global competition, technological change and economic challenges mean urgent action is needed to preserve the UK's position and support future growth.

Key facts about the UK as an international financial centre 2025

Our latest 'Key facts about the UK as an international financial centre' report highlights the strength and global impact of the UK’s financial and related professional services industry. Despite a changing global landscape, the UK remains a leading international financial centre with continued leadership in areas such as cross-border banking, insurance and FinTech investment.

Our latest long-term competitiveness news:

Blog

Asset management: our new research, and a look ahead

Industry calls for bolder, faster, more decisive reform to secure UK leadership in global finance over next decade

UK retains world-leading financial services trade surplus and global hub status

Press release

AI in financial services: emerging global norms

Events:

TheCityUK and Financial Services Skills Commission Future Skills Conference 2026

Join us in May for the Future Skills Conference 2025, in partnership with Financial Services Skills Commission

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TheCityUK Annual Conference

Watch all of the sessions from our previous Annual Conference, which brought together senior leaders from across the financial and related professional services industry with political and regulatory stakeholders to discuss how to maintain the industry’s competitiveness and its pivotal role in driving economic growth across the UK economy.

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