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
Download
Next Generation Services Brochure 2025
Download
Trajectories of Legal Work in the Context of Machine Learning
Download
Future Finance, Technology Insights Series: Challenges and Opportunities for Credit Unions
Download
Future Finance, Technology Insights Series: Financial Advice and Wealth Management
Download
AI for Services Report 2022
Download
Next Generation Services Mission Canada 2022
Download
Next Generation Services Brochure 2022
Download
Next Generation Services Evaluation
Download
AI Readiness Toolkit
Download
AI for Services Report 2020
Download
Our Experts
Related Events and Recordings
Tue
24
Jun
2025
Tue
11
Mar
2025
UK National Showcase: Next Generation Professional & Financial Services
09.00 - 17.30 | London
Watch now
Thu
30
Jan
2025
Wed
30
Mar
2022
Related Opportunities
European Space Agency: Space For Insurance Technology
Opens: 30/04/2025 Closes: 06/06/2025
Offers funding of up to €75k per project to European teams interested in developing services integrating technology solutions to the insurance sector.
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Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP): 2025 – 2026 Round 2
Opens: 14/04/2025 Closes: 11/06/2025
UK registered academic institutions, RTOs or Catapults, working with businesses or not for profits, can apply for a share of up to £9m.
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Horizon Europe 2025 work programme Cluster 4: Digital, Industry and Space
Opens: 03/05/2025 Closes: 02/10/2025
Topics available under Horizon Europe’s Cluster 4 programme for 2025/26, with up to €75m available for the largest single projects
More Information
Related Case Studies
Related News
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.
Read more
12/03/2025
Discover opportunities for future innovation in UK Professional and Financial Services with the AI For Services Report 2025
As lawyers, accountants, insurers and finance professionals navigate the complexities of a digital-first world, the drive to stay ahead of emerging trends is intensifying.
Read more
29/01/2025
Introducing the awarded projects of the Next Generation Professional and Financial Services Programme
Read more
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