About the programme
Innovate UK and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) are investing £26.5 million in the Next Generation Professional and Financial Services programme. This programme helps professional service sectors, including accounting and law, and the financial service sectors, including insurance, lending, advisory and payment services, develop and use digital technologies.
This programme aims to transform UK professional and financial services by responsibly developing and deploying digital technologies to deliver world-leading services through five strands of activity:
- Adoption – Support for adoption in demand side firms through two new dedicated Innovation Adoption Accelerators.
- R&D support – Collaborative R&D innovation support programme for lawtech, accountech, fintech and insurtech.
- Data access – Data access in cross sectoral areas of professional and financial services.
- Networking – Connecting, disseminating learning and building community through the AI for Services network.
- International – Support to develop international collaboration opportunities.
IMPACT
Funded projects
The programme has supported a wide range of projects that have developed new technologies, products and services to transform the professional and financial services sector.
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Support for organisations
NETWORK
AI for Services
AI for Services is a UK-wide network of innovative professionals and leading academics. Join the network to access funding, relevant content, and networking and collaboration opportunities.
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ACCELERATOR
Technology in Professional Services
Helps mid-tier and smaller accounting and law firms to adopt digital technology, through funding, training, technical and organisational advice, and structured adoption processes.
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ACCELERATOR
Future Finance
Aims to accelerate innovation adoption in SME and mid-tier financial services firms to help boost their productivity and competitiveness, opening the potential to develop new propositions and create new markets.
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Useful resources
AI for Services 2025 report
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Next Generation Services Brochure 2025
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Trajectories of Legal Work in the Context of Machine Learning
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Future Finance, Technology Insights Series: Challenges and Opportunities for Credit Unions
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Future Finance, Technology Insights Series: Financial Advice and Wealth Management
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AI for Services Report 2022
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Next Generation Services Mission Canada 2022
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Next Generation Services Brochure 2022
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Next Generation Services Evaluation
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AI Readiness Toolkit
Download
AI for Services Report 2020
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27/03/2025
New synergies and fresh insights explored at the UK National Showcase for Professional and Financial Services
Innovate UK and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) hosted the UK National Showcase: Next Generation Professional & Financial Services on Tuesday, 11 March 2025 in London, Westminster to discover some of the UK’s most exciting digital innovations for the sector.
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12/03/2025
Discover opportunities for future innovation in UK Professional and Financial Services with the AI For Services Report 2025
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