UK firms eye AI spending in 2026, but skills gap threatens rollout A third of British businesses plan to invest in AI in 2026, yet new data suggests the bigger challenge may be readying staff for the technology, rather than rolling it out at speed. Research from Lloyds Bank’s recent business barometer revealed that 33 per cent of firms intend to invest in AI tools next year, [...]
Imperial College and Thomson Reuters bring AI lab to London Tech London is staking its claim as a world-leading hub for AI research with the announcement of a new Frontier AI Lab, a partnership between Imperial College London and Thomson Reuters. The lab promises to bring cutting-edge AI development, until now largely the preserve of a handful of tech giants, to the heart of Britain’s capital. [...]
Reeves hands small businesses sour cocktail in Autumn Budget Business Small and mudiec-sized businesses (SMEs) now face a sour cocktail of higher taxes, rising costs, and tighter margins following Rachel Reeves’ second Budget as Chancellor. Dividend taxes are up, income tax and National Insurance thresholds remain frozen until 2030-31, and salary-sacrifice pension reliefs are being curtailed. For many small business owners, the Budget will feel [...]
Reeves urged to back AI in Autumn Budget to drive growth November 25, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves is under pressure to deliver a decisive push for AI in tomorrow’s highly anticipated Autumn Budget, with industry leaders calling for billions in investment, thousands of jobs, and a clear roadmap for UK growth. The government has already attracted more than £78bn of private investment in AI, with a further £24.25bn committed [...]
Reeves’ Budget tax rumours threaten UK tech November 18, 2025 The UK’s tech sector is facing a critical moment ahead of the Autumn Budget. Rumoured caps on salary sacrifice pensions, alongside potential property and wealth taxes, threaten to hit the very talent and investment needed to drive growth in the sector. At the same time, the country faces a widening tech skills gap, leaving businesses [...]
Cyber roles demand soars as UK firms scramble to plug skills gap November 13, 2025 Demand for cybersecurity training across UK businesses has surged following a wave of cyberattacks on major firms and public bodies, as employers scramble to strengthen defences ahead of new government rules. The rise in attacks, including one that crippled Jaguar Land Rover’s operations earlier this year, has coincided with a sharp rise in firms seeking [...]
MPs urge Whitehall to prioritise AI training as digital gap widens October 22, 2025 The government must urgently upskill civil servants to make effective use of AI, MPs have warned. In a new report published on Wednesday, Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said that gaps in digital advancements among government departments are leading to service backlogs, inefficiencies, and poorer outcomes for citizens. Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, PAC chair, argued: [...]
London claims number two spot in global ranking of AI hubs July 11, 2025 London has claimed the number two spot in a new global ranking of tech talent hubs, second only to San Francisco, as the capital continues to ride the wave of AI innovation. However, behind the headlines, the race for digital skills is intensifying, and the UK still faces significant challenges if it wants to maintain [...]
Google joins UK’s AI skills push July 9, 2025 The UK government has signed a sweeping partnership with Google Cloud to modernise public services, replace outdated tech systems, and upskill 100,000 civil servants in digital and AI tools by 2030 – a move ministers say could save billions and rescue Whitehall from decades of ‘ball and chain’ IT contracts. Announced at the Google Summit [...]
Salesforce: Labour’s AI plan won’t work without skills push June 11, 2025 The UK could fall short of its economic growth ambitions unless it accelerates investment in workforce skills to match the rapid expansion of AI technologies, Salesforce has warned. This statement comes following the UK government and leading tech firms unveil major plans to enhance the country’s AI capabilities. At the opening of London Tech Week [...]