BIST Professional and Business Services sector team
The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST) Professional and Business Services (PBS) team’s job is to help the UK PBS sector succeed. It does this by working with industry and across government to make the UK a great place for PBS firms to do business, engaging with a range of trade associations, professional bodies and individual PBS businesses.
Coverage of PBS activities
Professional services
Professional services includes a range of knowledge-intensive activities, providing specialised support to businesses, government and other organisations. These include:
- legal activities
- accounting, bookkeeping, audit and tax consultancy
- activities of head offices, management consultancy and corporate communications
- architecture, engineering and related technical consultancy
- scientific research and development, technical testing and analysis
- advertising and market research
- other professional, scientific and technical activities, including:
- specialised design and photographic activities
- translation and interpretation services
- environmental consulting and quantity surveying
Business services
Business services includes a range of support functions for other businesses, government and other organisations, including:
- rental and leasing of consumer goods, transport vehicles, industrial equipment and machinery, and intellectual property
- employment activities, including:
- human resources provision and management of human resources functions
- employment placement and temporary employment agencies
- office administration and other business support activities, including:
- combined office administrative services
- document preparation and other specialised office support
- call centres
- exhibition, fair and conference organisers
Professional and Business Services Council
The team is responsible for the industry-led Professional and Business Services Council (PBSC).
Visit the Professional and Business Services Council website.
Current membership
The council is made up of representatives from the PBS sector and is co-chaired by a BIST minister:
- ministerial co-chair: Minister Leong, Minister for Small Business and Enterprise
- business co-chair: Marco Amitrano, Senior Partner of PwC UK and Middle East
See the full membership list on the PBSC website.
AI champion
Shaheen Sayed, Chief Commercial Officer for Reinvention Services at Accenture, is the AI champion for the PBS sector.
The role includes:
- working closely with businesses and government to accelerate AI adoption
- helping firms harness technology to boost productivity and growth
- bringing external business insights to policymakers
- shaping regulatory frameworks
- driving collaboration
- removing barriers that hinder business success
The role delivers on a key recommendation from the AI opportunities action plan. The plan called for the creation of AI sector champions in critical industries.