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Innovation is at the heart of our financial, legal & professional sector.

We're one of the UK’s most productive financial services clusters outside of London​, at the heart of a Financial Centre of Excellence (UKTI, 2016). Drawing on our established financial services ecosystem, businesses based here are developing innovative financial services models, including major players like Lloyds, AXA, Royal Sun Alliance, NatWest and Hargreaves Lansdown, and we've been named as one of the top 10 FinTech clusters in the UK.

We're also a strong legal centre, providing a base for 26 of the top 100 law firms in the UK - 13 of which have a head office here. In addition, there is a growing cluster of over 30 LegalTechs, including tech companies working in the legal sector and LegalTech arms operating within the region’s law firms.

Our workforce has significant expertise, with over 33,500 people employed in the professional services sector, making up 11% of the total workforce​. The four high-ranking universities in both Bristol and Bath also provide a dependable, highly skilled talent pool to drive innovation and growth.

One of the top 10 FinTech clusters in the UK

33500 Employed in this sector
11 % 11% of the total workforce​
478 Home to 478 legal companies
Hargreaves Lansdown building

FinTech

Bristol & Bath was named as one of the UK’s top 10 FinTech clusters in the Kalifa Review and has been recognised as a global leader, as well as being home to the UK's most productive tech cluster. Two of our universities, the University of Bristol and University of the West of England (UWE) have launched MSc courses in FinTech – generating even more talent in the region.

Read more about our Fintech cluster

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LegalTech

Combined with the existing strength of our tech and professional services sectors, and our long history of innovation, Bristol & Bath are in a top position for digital transformation of legal services and access to justice through LegalTech. Home to 478 legal companies, there are a total of 750 technology and innovation roles across over 30 LegalTechs and law firms in the region. These firms employ 1.6 times the national average outside of London.

Read Bristol & Bath's LegalTech report

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Jeremy Gumbley, CIO/CSO, NMI
Jeremy Gumbley, CIO/CSO, NMI

"There are many benefits to NMI being located in Bristol – the vibrant and multicultural city, excellent transport links and an enviable location making attracting and retaining staff much easier. There’s also a rapidly growing Fintech sector in the region and some of the best universities on the doorstep giving access to a rich talent pool. We have a particularly strong relationship with the University of the West of England that not only prepares students for the needs of the job but also how to integrate into the working world."

Hargreaves Lansdown
Chris Hill, CEO at Hargreaves Lansdown

"The city has two fantastic universities providing a constant supply of talent, armed with the skills that modern businesses need to succeed and remain competitive. The launch of the University of Bristol and University of the West of England’s FinTech MSCs will attract more talent to the city."

Our key partners