The UK has once again topped Europe as the leading destination for foreign direct investment in financial and professional services, in a boost for ministers seeking to underline Britain’s continued global appeal post-Brexit and amid wider economic uncertainty.
New figures published by the City of London Corporation show the UK attracted £1.7bn in financial and professional services FDI in 2025, ahead of Spain on £1.3bn and France on £1.1bn.
The data suggests Britain’s financial sector continues to punch above its weight internationally, drawing 226 investment projects from 164 overseas firms across 34 countries, and generating more than 12,200 jobs nationwide.
While London remains the dominant magnet for international capital, the report highlights a notable spread of activity across the UK, with 53 per cent of jobs created by foreign investment located outside the capital.
Cities including Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff and Glasgow all featured among the country’s leading destinations for financial and professional services investment, reflecting what the City of London Corporation describes as a “broad-based national success story”.
The United States remained the largest single source of investment, accounting for 53 per cent of total value, followed by India at 9 per cent and Switzerland at 4 per cent. The European Union collectively contributed 18 per cent.
Globally, the UK ranked third by number of financial and professional services investment projects, behind only the United States and the United Arab Emirates, and sixth by total investment value.
Over the past five years, London has attracted more financial and professional services projects than any other global financial centre, cementing its position as Europe’s pre-eminent hub for international finance.
The UK’s appeal is further underpinned by its growing status as a technology and fintech powerhouse, with more than 3,500 fintech firms and around 1.4 million tech jobs supported by what industry leaders describe as deep capital markets and a globally influential regulatory environment.
It is also Europe’s largest asset management centre, with £12.1tn in assets under management, reinforcing its role as a base for firms seeking international scale.
However, analysts caution that continued success will depend on maintaining regulatory competitiveness, stable tax policy and access to skilled labour, particularly as rival financial centres intensify efforts to attract mobile global capital.
Policy Chairman at the City of London Corporation, Chris Hayward, said: “Despite ever increasing global volatility the UK continues to lead Europe as the top destination for investment in financial and professional services. The UK is a magnet to financial institutions as well as global institutional investors. As a global financial centre, London provides: access to global markets; deep, liquid pools of capital for growth; a thriving tech and innovation ecosystem and a highly skilled and international talent pool.
“FDI is essential to driving growth and skilled jobs across the UK. Competition for investment is intensifying. and it’s critical that the UK continues to be attractive to financial and professional services investors. That is why we launched the Office for Investment: Financial Services – in partnership with Government.
“It will serve as a strategic one-stop shop for international financial services investors, offering joined-up, tailored support from market entry to expansion. By making it easier than ever for financial services firms to choose the UK, we’re powering economic growth and driving the prosperity across every corner of the UK.”
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