London's financial services industry is gearing up for a battle over top talent, with over 80% of institutions expecting hiring to increase this year, according to a new survey. As expected, the issue of pay is high on the agenda for firms looking to bring in and retain the best staff.

According to a survey by recruitment consultancy Morgan McKinley, 82.9% of respondents believe that hiring across London's financial services industry will increase, while a further 16.2% said that they think hiring levels will stay the same.