TheCityUK, the industry-led body representing UK-based financial and related professional services, has appointed Tom Bray as its new National Chair for Wales. Tom will join a network of TheCityUK Regional and National Chairs across the UK to promote and advocate for the industry across the country.
As TheCityUK National Chair for Wales, Tom, who is Senior Office Partner (Cardiff) at global law firm Eversheds Sutherland, will be focused on developing opportunities for greater collaboration with other financial centres across the UK, leading industry engagement with policymakers across Wales and in Westminster, and pursuing stronger links with key local stakeholders.
Miles Celic, Chief Executive Officer, TheCityUK, said, “We are thrilled to have Tom on board as our new National Chair for Wales. His strong network in Cardiff and across Wales and experience within the industry will be hugely beneficial to our work to champion the industry and deepen partnerships with key stakeholders.
“Financial and related professional services are a major national asset, employing one in 13 people – two thirds of whom are based outside London, creating jobs and driving economic growth right across the country."
Tom Bray, TheCityUK Chair for Wales and Senior Office Partner (Cardiff) at Eversheds Sutherland, said, “I am excited to take up the role of TheCityUK National Chair for Wales and work with the team to promote and advocate for the industry across the nation. Wales has a strong financial and related professional services industry and has a growing reputation for providing high-quality professional services and support functions, with expertise in insurance technology support, taxation and legal services. I look forward to collaborating with other financial centres across the UK to drive growth and support local businesses.”
According to latest edition of TheCityUK’s 'Enabling growth across the UK’ report[1], Wales saw the fastest growth in financial and related professional services output in the UK between 2010-2020 outside London, with the industry's output increasing by 46% over the decade. Cardiff and Swansea account for over half of industry jobs in Wales. Wales-based financial and related professional services firms employed 64,000 people, accounting for 2.6% of total financial and related professional services employment in 2021[2].
TheCityUK’s network of National and Regional Chairs are based in some of the UK’s most prominent financial and related professional centres, including in Northern Ireland, West Midlands, South West, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, and the North East. These Chairs support the organisation’s programme to promote the strength of the industry and the high-value, high-productivity jobs it creates across the whole of the UK.
End