This annual publication outlines some of the primary focus areas in 2023 for UK-regulated financial services firms.

The topics covered in this year’s publication reflect how the fundamental consideration of the direction of travel of UK financial services regulation has progressed. Monitoring the progress of the Financial Services and Markets Bill and regulatory divergence between the UK and the EU will continue as a key theme for 2023. However, other familiar topics will play an important part in the regulators’ agendas, such as conduct and culture, consumer protection and the new Consumer Duty, diversity and inclusion, and financial crime. Further, relatively new topics such as climate change and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues are increasingly significant for financial services firms, along with new developments in the areas of ephemeral messaging and plans for the regulation of critical third parties.