Hi {{firstname|everyone}},
For years, UK firms have struggled with a simple but stubborn problem: finding the right talent at the right cost. The market is tight, recruitment cycles are slow, and salaries are rising faster than firms can expand.
Traditional outsourcing has always been a quick fix, but it comes with problems
With the India–UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) done, we may be on the doorstep of a major shift. And this one goes far beyond reduced tariffs. It's about giving firms real access to services, knowledge, and skilled talent.
For UK accounting firms, combining this shift with a GCC model could unlock smarter, scalable growth.
Easier Setup for UK Firms
Historically, UK accounting firms eyeing India have been slowed down by red tape, this involved registrations, cross-border tax complications, and professional recognition hurdles.
The FTA changes the landscape. With mutual recognition of professional qualifications on the table, UK firms can have their accountants and finance professionals operate in India with far less regulatory friction.
There’s also a win on mobility: the new Social Security Agreement removes dual contributions, which used to cost firms up to 12% of an employee’s salary in duplicate payments.
For a mid-sized firm rotating 20 professionals annually, that’s a direct saving of £100k+. Ultimately, these changes lower the friction for firms to set up GCCs confidently and compliantly in India.
Access to Talent at Scale
The UK accounting sector is being choked by shortages. The FRC reported a 35% drop in new audit trainees over the last decade, while salaries for qualified accountants in London have risen 18% year-on-year.
That’s unsustainable if you’re trying to scale.
The India–UK FTA opens smoother pathways to hire and integrate Indian talent directly into your firm’s GCC.
💡 India produces over 1 million accounting and finance graduates every year, and Big 4 firms already employ tens of thousands in India to support UK and global work.
With the regulatory pathway clearer, mid-sized firms can now tap into this same pool without being drowned by wage inflation back home.
Strategic Alternative to Offshoring
Traditional outsourcing keeps UK firms dependent on third-party vendors who dictate terms, quality, and continuity. GCCs flip this dynamic, bringing your team, systems, and culture to the center.
💡 India already has 1,700+ GCCs employing over 1.6 million people, with projections showing the sector will hit $100bn by 2030.
What’s telling is the shift in their role, no longer just back-office execution, but full-scale innovation, compliance, and advisory hubs. With the FTA improving clarity around cross-border data flows and professional services, UK firms can now run GCCs without second-guessing compliance risk.
How Samera can Help
At Samera, we’ve already helped dental groups build direct GCC operations in India, and the results have been transformative, achieving better quality, more control, and teams that scale as fast as the business needs.
With the FTA paving the way, we’re extending this expertise to accountancy firms in the UK.
If you’re serious about exploring what this could mean for your firm, we’re ready to guide you through every step.
Cheers,
Arun
Start learning AI in 2025
Keeping up with AI is hard – we get it!
That’s why over 1M professionals read Superhuman AI to stay ahead.
Get daily AI news, tools, and tutorials
Learn new AI skills you can use at work in 3 mins a day
Become 10X more productive