The Digital Imperative: Reflections from the Roundtable Series
Date updated: 11/03/2025
The Digital Imperative: Reflections from the roundtable series
The Digital Imperative examines FPS and tech convergence, focusing on AI skills gaps, regulation, and industry engagement to keep London competitive.
Date submitted: 11/03/25The Digital Imperative: Reflections from the Roundtable Series
The Digital Imperative roundtable series, hosted by the City of London Corporation from September 2023 to January 2024, examined the increasing integration of the financial and professional services (FPS) sector with large tech firms (LTFs). Bringing together stakeholders from over 30 organisations, the discussions highlighted key challenges and opportunities in maintaining London’s position as a leading global hub for financial services and technology.
Key Takeaways
- Regulatory clarity and coordination require clearer definitions and a combined entity- and activity-based regulatory approach to facilitate effective oversight and encourage innovation.
- Skills & Diversity—Addressing the AI and tech skills gap is essential for both the FPS and tech sectors. This involves reskilling, diversity, and inclusive learning pathways.
- Tech Expertise in Regulation – Regulators must strengthen their technical capabilities, particularly in AI, to provide effective supervision while maintaining a tech-neutral stance.
- Engagement & Innovation – Improving industry-regulator engagement, particularly for SMEs, through digital platforms and structured feedback mechanisms can help shape smarter policies.
By taking a proactive approach to regulation, investing in digital skills, and strengthening stakeholder engagement, the UK can harness the benefits of FPS and tech convergence and ensure its competitiveness in a rapidly evolving global landscape.