Britain to offer visa refunds to woo tech scale-ups June 9, 2026 The government will reimburse visa fees for high-growth firms hiring overseas talent as ministers step up efforts to turn Britain’s most promising scale-ups into global tech champions. Business secretary Peter Kyle is set to unveil a package of measures aimed at helping fast-growing companies “start, scale and stay” in the UK, including a new concierge-style [...]
Uber and Wayve open waitlist for London robotaxis June 9, 2026 Uber has opened an interest list for customers keen to try autonomous minicabs in the capital, as self-driving taxis near a commercial launch in the UK. The ride-hailing giant is partnering with British autonomous driving firm Wayve, whose technology has been tested on London’s streets since 2018. Customers can now opt in through the Uber [...]
‘Nobody’s getting a free pass’: Starmer warns Big Tech as social media ban looms June 9, 2026 Keir Starmer has warned tech firms they face government intervention if they fail to protect children online, as pressure mounts for tougher restrictions on social media access for under-16s. Opening London Tech Week on Monday, the prime minister used a speech focused on artificial intelligence, economic growth and Britain’s tech ambitions to deliver a stark [...]
‘We’ve got lots of things going for us America doesn’t’: Sadiq Khan on competing with Silicon Valley June 8, 2026 Sadiq Khan has claimed that shifting political dynamics in the US are actively driving tech talent and venture capital to the UK, arguing that London possesses structural and cultural advantages that “America doesn’t” as he seeks to position the capital against Silicon Valley. The Mayor of London announced a new £12m investment programme on Monday [...]
Starmer: Britain must ‘not stick its head in the sand’ on AI June 8, 2026 Sir Keir Starmer has said Britain must not “stick its head in the sand” on artificial intelligence, with the technology set to fundamentally reshape the UK economy. The Prime Minister used his speech at London Tech Week to unveil a major sovereign computing push, new AI skills programmes and a vision for keeping Britain’s fastest-growing [...]
Labour bets £1.1bn on Britain’s AI chip race June 8, 2026 Keir Starmer’s government has unveiled a £1.1bn package aimed at turning Britain into a global AI hardware powerhouse, with ministers backing domestic chipmakers and pouring capital into training the next generation of engineers. The new AI Hardware Plan, announced at London Tech Week by tech secretary Liz Kendall, includes £750m for a new national AI [...]
‘Walking stick daggers’ and ‘nunchucks’ return to London Tech Week banned list June 8, 2026 Before hearing the prime minister or mayor of London talk up Britain’s tech future, attendees of this year’s London Tech Week had an important task: make sure they had left their spear gun at home. The annual list of prohibited items returned to Olympia on Monday, featuring a 45-item catalogue of banned objects ranging from [...]
Britain’s first sovereign AI model secures blue-chip backing as Starmer unveils £400m plan June 8, 2026 Sir Keir Starmer’s push to build sovereign British AI capability has won backing from some of the country’s biggest companies, with BT, HSBC, Lloyds, Natwest and BAE Systems joining plans to develop Britain’s first sovereign frontier AI model. British AI startup Cosine unveiled a coalition of major banks, defence contractors and infrastructure firms who had [...]
Labour warned not to kill off hybrid jobs millions rely on June 7, 2026 Labour has been warned not to “regulate flexible jobs out of existence” after new polling found two-thirds of part-time workers chose their role specifically because it offered flexibility around childcare or studying. The intervention from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) comes as ministers press ahead with plans to overhaul zero-hours contracts and force employers to [...]
Peter Kyle vows state will take bigger stakes in Britain’s next tech giants June 6, 2026 The government is preparing to take larger stakes in Britain’s fastest-growing companies as Peter Kyle ramps up Labour’s efforts to turn the state into a more active backer of private enterprise. Ahead of London Tech Week, the business secretary said ministers would become more willing to deploy taxpayer money alongside private investors, arguing that government [...]
