90% of Fintech Leaders Set to Boost UK Investment Despite AI and Regulatory Warnings

UK fintech leaders are signaling a massive commitment to domestic growth, with 90% of executives planning to increase investment and hiring over the next three years. However, this confidence is tempered by urgent warnings that the UK risks losing its competitive edge to rival hubs without rapid improvements in AI infrastructure and regulatory agility.

What was announced

The Fintech 100 Leadership Survey, commissioned by advisory firm Chatsworth and conducted by Censuswide, reveals a striking dichotomy between the industry's willingness to spend and its anxiety over national infrastructure. While 90% of leaders expect to increase UK-based investment and hiring, only 6% believe the country is not at risk of falling behind international rivals. Among mid-sized firms employing 250-500 people, the appetite for growth is even higher, with 96% planning to expand their UK footprint and 63% stating they are "very likely" to do so.

The research identifies specific bottlenecks threatening the UK's status as a global leader. AI and digital infrastructure were cited by 46% of respondents as the primary areas where the UK risks losing ground, followed by regulatory clarity and speed at 43%. When asked to name the single government action that would most benefit the sector, 26% prioritized investment in AI and digital infrastructure. This sentiment is particularly strong among Chief Technology Officers, 40% of whom view AI infrastructure as the top priority. Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officers are more focused on the regulatory environment, with 23% calling for improved clarity and speed to maintain competitiveness.

These findings arrive as London hosts over 1,500 participants for Fintech Week London. Despite the warnings, the UK remains a dominant force, attracting $3.6 billion in fintech investment in 2025—ranking second globally behind the US. The ecosystem currently supports over 3,000 companies and an estimated 76,000 jobs, with fintech firms providing approximately 60% of all lending to UK small and medium-sized enterprises.

"There is a remarkably clear message from the 100 fintech leaders we've surveyed. They want to invest in Britain. That's enormously positive, but they don't believe Britain's position at the top table is guaranteed."

Nick Murray-Leslie, Principal at Chatsworth.

The companies involved

Chatsworth is a specialist fintech communications and advisory firm that provides strategic counsel to companies across the financial technology landscape. The survey was executed by Censuswide, an international market research consultancy. Censuswide has been a frequent source of data for the industry, with its research appearing in eight previous reports by this publication, including recent studies on how 85% of Finance Leaders Shift to Cashback Finance Software.

The report also draws on data from Dealroom and Innovate Finance. Dealroom is a global provider of data and intelligence on startups and tech ecosystems, which currently ranks London as the world’s top fintech ecosystem with a combined enterprise value of $714 billion. Innovate Finance serves as the independent industry body for UK fintech. With 41 mentions in our previous coverage, Innovate Finance is a central pillar of the domestic market, representing the sector to policymakers and international investors while tracking the billions of dollars in venture capital that flow into the British market annually.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has extensively tracked the initiatives aimed at maintaining London's status as a premier financial hub. This includes the launch of The World’s First Fintech Board Programme, designed to professionalize governance within the sector. Our coverage of Innovate Finance has highlighted their efforts to map the industry, such as the strategic partnership to map the UK’s RegTech industry. Additionally, we have reported on the organization's focus on diversity and leadership through the Third Annual Pride in FinTech Powerlist 2025, illustrating the breadth of the UK's fintech ecosystem beyond just capital investment figures.

What this means

The UK fintech sector is entering a phase of "anxious commitment." While the desire to hire and invest locally remains high, the industry is clearly signaling that the era of relying on historical prestige is over. The divergence in priorities between CEOs and CTOs suggests that the government faces a two-front challenge: it must modernize physical and digital infrastructure to support AI while simultaneously accelerating the pace of the FCA and other regulators. If the UK cannot match the regulatory speed of emerging hubs or provide the compute power necessary for the next generation of AI-driven finance, the current investment intentions may eventually migrate to more agile jurisdictions.