PwC UK

This week we welcomed over 2,000 students to our Virtual Insight Programme. Over the course of three days, school-age students had the opportunity to gain an insight into life at PwC whilst enhancing their employability skills. Find out more about the programme and what they got up to: https://lnkd.in/ejZijBtt Grow here. Go further. #SoYouCan

Inclusion fuels innovation - but the funding gap is holding us back. In 2023, all-female founder teams received just 8.2% of UK equity deals, down from 8.9% in 2022. Backing female founders isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s a major economic opportunity. Equal rates of entrepreneurship could unlock £250 billion for the UK economy. That’s why we created She Means Business — a short series highlighting women building ventures and breaking barriers. 🎙️Hear from leaders like Joyce de Haas, co-founder of Double Dutch. Watch the series here https://bit.ly/3IWN1OJ

What does the Government’s Growth and Competitiveness Strategy mean for the UK’s financial services sector - and what will it take to turn ambition into action? Catch up on our latest 30-minute discussion unpacking the strategy’s implications for a critical part of the UK economy. Hosted by Tessa Norman, the conversation features expert insights from: Darren Kerringham, our leader for Financial Services, Miles Celic from TheCityUK and Conor MacManus, Financial Services Regulatory Insights. Watch it here: https://lnkd.in/e3rrC6-X

What role can employers play when it comes to solving the biggest economic challenge the UK is facing? 1 in 10 workers are actively thinking about leaving the workforce – with ill-health, both physical and mental, a major driver. The number rises when it comes to younger people aged 18 – 24, where 1 in 4 is at risk. We’ve been highlighting the challenge of economic inactivity, which the government estimated is costing £132 billion in lost output. Sir Charlie Mayfield OBE said the most effective solution is a prevention-first approach from employers.

 "It looks like the uptick in inflation in recent months is starting to eat into consumers’ spending power" - so what does this mean for the rest of the year? Read the insights on today's ONS retail figures from our Head of Retail Jacqueline Windsor.

Our consumer sentiment results are in. While net confidence has risen to its highest level this year (from -12 to -5), the real picture is a bit more complicated. Inflation and job security remain a concern for many and it's impacting where and how much we're spending. Essential categories like grocery, children and pets are still top priorities, followed by holidays, health, home and hobbies. Under-35s are notably more willing to spend on fashion, beauty and tech. So, what does this mean for retail and hospitality businesses? Explore the data using the interactive tool on our website: https://pwc.to/4kNJI9V #ConsumerSentiment

Agentic AI not only learns from data, but also assesses situations based on goals and context – effectively becoming a proactive problem-solver. Working with Google Cloud, we are seeing its transformative power reshape industries from healthcare to finance, making technology more responsive and personalised than ever before. Check out our latest insights: https://pwc.to/3TDy4TW and explore how Agentic AI could redefine the future. #AIInnovation #PwCAndGoogleCloud

This year marks one of the largest drops in the UK gender pay gap since reporting began. This is what happens when organisations embed equity in everyday decisions: transparent recruitment, consistent promotion practices and inclusive pay reviews. Our report has the full picture. Follow the link in comments. #FutureOfWork #Inclusion #PayGap

The Financial Conduct Authority released a series of new publications, examining key areas including premium finance, motor insurance, home and travel claims and General Insurance Pricing Practices (GIPP) evaluation. Samantha Jones, a director in our insurance practice, walks through the latest updates and how best to navigate these changes.

Introducing Assurance for AI: it's a suite of services we've designed to give boards and executives the clarity they need to deploy AI responsibly. As organisations embrace its potential to transform how they work and compete, confidence in these technologies becomes essential. By applying our assurance expertise to advanced AI systems, we help clients demonstrate that their AI is safe, explainable and aligned with ethical and regulatory standards. Explore how Assurance for AI can help build trust with stakeholders and unlock innovation - more details in the comments section.