Invest in Dorset: Financial Services

Dorset is a leading centre of excellence for the financial services sector in the UK, employing over 14,000 people and contributing £1.7 billion to the economy. Dorset is not shy of providing world excellence talent, with several global businesses basing their head offices in the region.

Some key benefits of working within Dorset include developed unique products that have given competitive advantage, discovered new talent, and given a great quality of life within the region. Organisations based within Dorset also have the opportunity to collaborate with leading Universities and Colleges which provide a range of courses and apprenticeships related to the financial sector.

There is a wealth of experience amongst the existing businesses, employing over 240,000 people in the South Coast region. With its close proximity to London, yet lower office overheads it helps to deliver excellent financial services globally.

Some of the many financial organisations in the Dorset region include:

• FinTech West; part of the FinTech National Network hosted by innovate finance. A non-profit organisation with core objectives to: connect and inform FinTech community in the South West, promoting the Southwest as a Fintech centre of excellence, adding value to help generate regional economic benefit.
• LV; Liverpool Victoria; a leading personal line insurer that offers an extensive range of products such as car, home, pet, travel, landlord and breakdown home emergency insurance to around 7 million customers.
• Morning Data; a leading supplier of world-class software and service solutions for the global insurance industry. Morning data is the only software provider in the insurance industry, where all staff are trained to Cert CII (Chartered Insurance Institute).
• BNY Mellon; services include alternative investment services, include alternative investment services, capital markets EMEA, collateral management and segregation, corporate trusts, depository receipts, foreign exchange, investment, and management.
• PKF Francis Clark; their 130-strong team deliver audits, specialised tax, VAT and customs, corporate finance, business advisory, financial planning and payroll services to clients in sectors including manufacturing, marine, agriculture, leisure and tourism, professional sports, property and construction.
• JP Morgan Chase & Co; a global financial services firm, established 36 years ago. Bournemouth’s office is a centre for some of the firm’s core business, technology and operational processing with worldwide reach employing more than 4,500 people.
• Mazars; an internationally integrated partnership, operating in over 90 countries and territories around the world. Employing over 42,000 professionals, dedicated to delivery the best and pragmatic advice for their local clients through their talented team, linking up with international clients with expertise advice from around the global Mazars partnership.
• HazelTree; provides treasury and liquidity management technology for the alternative asset management industry.

The extensive range of courses available in Dorset, have provided the perfect location to ensure new talent is given the best knowledge to help them excel in the financial services during and after their studies.

Bournemouth University’s Business School embedded in the local community working alongside large organisations across Dorset. Their courses cover topics such as accounting, finance, economics and more. They also have an active cyber security portfolio, with the staff working on security within the financial services which help to navigate security issues across the industry.

Bournemouth and Poole; the college offer courses such as Business and Finance at ATT, which is the Association of Accounting Technology which is sponsored by major professional accountancy bodies in the UK. Offering levels 3 and 4, ensuring students receive the best knowledge to help them with their future careers in the financial industry.

Weymouth College offer students a fast-paced and vibrant career starter across a range of industries in the financial sector. There programmes cover areas such as marketing, finance, IT, operations, human resources, and administration. Offering courses and apprenticeships from Level 1-5, and AAT at levels 2-4.

Invest in Dorset is a team of economic development professionals across Dorset dedicated to helping companies and investors identify investment or expansion opportunities in Dorset, ensuring they get all the support they need to be successful here.

To find out more about the Financial Services, and the companies involved. Download our Investment guide to Dorset’s Financial Services Sector.