On the first floor of the Imperial War Museum, William Orpen gazes out of his 1917 self-portrait, ‘Ready to Start’, into the Orpen Boardroom. On 16 July 2019, the First World War artist’s gaze fell upon a group of senior leaders gathered to discuss the delivery of public services in uncertain times.

The bright smile of destiny has shone upon the United Kingdom in quite dramatic circumstances. And as a result, the vote to leave the European Union in June opens up a massive opportunity for the financial services business in the City of London to reinvigorate itself.

‘May you live in interesting times,’ this expression could be representative of the UK following the outcome of the EU referendum. It was made famous by Robert Kennedy in a speech in 1966 when he elaborated on it by saying, “Like it or not, we live in interesting times. They are times of danger and uncertainty; but they are also more open to the creative energy of men than any other time in history.