The Sectors

Attracting

Investment

Financial services accounts for £596bn of FDI. Equal to around 30.1% of all UK FDI, this is the sector with the largest FDI position.

Between 2020 and 2021, the total stock of inbound FDI for financial services increased by £43bn, with the US responsible for 39% of this increase. Foreign-owned banks with offices in the UK make up the large proportion of the FDI in this sector.

Figure 2: FDI International investment positions in the United Kingdom analysed by sector, 2021

Financial Services

£bn

⇧ 7%*

Professional, scientific and technical services

£bn

⇧ 1%

Other services

£bn

⇧ 20%

Retail and wholesale trade, repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles

£bn

↔ 0%

Information and communication

£bn

⇩ -11%

Administrative and support service activities

£bn

⇧ 79%

Food products, beverages and tobacco products

£bn

⇧ 12%

Transportation and storage

£bn

⇩ -3%

Electricity, gas, water and waste

£bn

⇩ -2%

Metal and machinery products

£bn

⇩ -16%

*All percentages compared against 2020 values

Key sector insights

Foreign investment into UK Real Estate

Adrian Barlow

National Head of Real Estate

Read on

The consumer sector: US and UK relationship thrives

Charlotte Rees-John

Head of Consumer Goods and Services Sector

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The financial sector: UK remains global leader

Daniel Bastide

Partner, Corporate & Finance

Read on

How FDI is funding projects

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