Financial and Professional Services

West Yorkshire is home to the Northern Square Mile, the second largest centre of banking, accounting and legal services in the UK. It has a long history of financial excellence and expertise in the sector.

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The diversity of the regional economy meant that local businesses had significant needs for financial and professional services.

This longstanding pedigree remains to this day, and financial and professional services are a core part of West Yorkshire’s resilience and growth.

The Northern Square Mile. During the Industrial Revolution, Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield and Leeds each had their own stock exchanges to trade on rail and mill securities.

A thriving finance and FinTech centre

West Yorkshire is the UK’s second centre for banking. Its financial services sector is worth over £5.3 billion and employs more than 44,000 people. Key institutions like the Financial Conduct Authority, the British Business Bank and the Bank of England use Leeds as their regional base for the north of the UK.

As a leader in banking and lending, we are the only place outside of London with all three credit reference agencies. We are also home to FinTech North, which has been recognised as one of the top four FinTech hubs in the UK in the Kalifa Review.

Our businesses have specialisms in banking, green finance, lending, payments, RegTech and WealthTech. We are home to major fintech organisations like Iwoca, LHV Bank, PEXA and Recognise Bank. We’re also the location of choice for leading research centres like UK Green Finance and Investment and Financial Technology and Innovation.

£6,8b

Finance sector

300,000

People employed in business, professional and financial services

Core public financial institutions

1,000

Accountancy firms in the region

£6,8b

Finance sector

300,000

People employed in business, professional and financial services

Core public financial institutions

1,000

Accountancy firms in the region

A leading accountancy and legal network

West Yorkshire’s accountancy and legal services sector is the second largest outside of London, worth £2 billion a year.

Over 1,000 accountancy firms, including each of the Big Four, have major operations in our region. Together they employ over 13,000 people.

More than 1,100 legal firms are based here, including DLA Piper, Squire Patton Boggs and Addleshaw Goddard. They have a combined workforce of more than 16,000.

Local law firms have the same full-service offer as London-based firms, at considerably lower fees. They have particular strengths in middle- and back-office operations and support services.

Top FinTech hubs in UK

1,100

Law firms in the region

45,000

People working in financial services