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.
Support for organisations
NETWORK
AI for Services
AI for Services is a UK-wide network of innovative professionals and leading academics. Sign up to access funding, relevant content, and collaboration opportunities, or book a welcome call with our experts.
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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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Investment Report and Directory
From pilot to scale: investment in professional and business services technology
Explore our new report of the investment landscape for technology and innovation across legal, accounting and management consultancy. Identify potential investment partners that are actively backing technology and innovation in our dedicated investors directory.
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Impact
Latest case studies
Find out about some of the projects that this programme supports and what outcomes are being achieved through the new technologies, products and services that are transforming the professional and financial services sector.
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Our Experts
Resources
Scaling Professional and Business Services in the UK
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Key Findings from the Investor Forum for Professional and Financial Services
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Guide to Responsible Innovation for Professional and Financial Services Firms
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Guide to AI literacy for Professional and Financial Services Firms
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Guide to Digital Adoption for Professional and Financial Services Firms
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AI for Services 2025 report
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Next Generation Services Brochure 2025
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Future Finance, Advice Guidance Boundary Review Paper
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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
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AI for Services Report 2020
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Useful resources
Newsletter
The AI for Services Network is part of the Next Generation Professional and Financial Services programme delivered by both Innovate UK and Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and funded by Innovate UK. Through opportunities, regular events, and practical resources, we support our 1500 members in the transformation of the UK’s professional and financial services sector through the development and adoption of digital technologies. Stay up to date with industry and academic leaders, high growth entrepreneurs, investors, and professionals in your sector by subscribing to our monthly newsletter.