The UK is still the most attractive country in Europe for international investment into financial services, according to research from EY.
Last year, Britain secured 49 projects, which was 14% more than France but half of the 99 recorded in 2019.
Foreign investment dropped 23% across Europe, due to COVID-19 hitting business confidence and travel.
As the world emerges from the pandemic, sentiment suggests the UK may remain the leading country among its neighbours due to investment-friendly COVID-19 recovery plans.
“The UK has consistently been the number one location for international financial services investment since EY started tracking foreign direct investment levels and market attractiveness over twenty years ago,” Anna Anthony, UK financial services managing partner and EY, was reported as saying by City A.M.
“While its lead may have narrowed in 2020, most likely only short-term in response to pandemic-related business disruption and Brexit, investor sentiment suggests that the UK is looking to a strong future, and will continue to outperform the rest of Europe in attracting post-Covid-19 financial services investment.”