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Tag: 2025

  • NEWS STORY : UK Pledges £120 Million in Humanitarian Aid to Sudan Amid Escalating Crisis

    NEWS STORY : UK Pledges £120 Million in Humanitarian Aid to Sudan Amid Escalating Crisis

    STORY

    The United Kingdom has announced a new £120 million humanitarian aid package for Sudan, aiming to address the country’s deepening crisis as conflict and famine continue to devastate the region.  The funding, unveiled at an international donor conference in London co-hosted by the UK, France, Germany, the European Union, and the African Union, is part of a broader effort to mobilise support for Sudan, where over 30 million people are in urgent need of assistance.

    Foreign Secretary David Lammy emphasised the UK’s commitment to supporting Sudanese civilians, stating that the aid will provide lifesaving food, nutrition, and emergency support for survivors of sexual violence. The conflict, which began in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, has led to widespread displacement, with over 12 million people forced from their homes. The UK’s latest contribution brings its total humanitarian support for Sudan and neighbouring countries to over £226 million, reflecting a significant increase in aid amidst the worsening crisis. Despite the substantial aid commitments, challenges persist in delivering assistance to affected populations, with ongoing violence and access restrictions hindering relief efforts. ​The UK continues to call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and unrestricted humanitarian access to ensure that aid reaches those in need.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK announces new humanitarian funding for Sudan [April 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK announces new humanitarian funding for Sudan [April 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 April 2025.

    The UK has announced new support to Sudan ahead of the Sudan conference which will bring together international representatives.

    • the UK will commit further life-saving aid for over 650,000 people affected by the ongoing violence as Sudan faces the worst humanitarian crisis on record
    • a one-day conference will unite foreign ministers and leading humanitarian leaders at a conference in London to mark the 2-year anniversary of the brutal conflict in Sudan
    • international representatives will discuss how to achieve a peaceful end to the conflict and address the issues preventing aid reaching those most in need

    Today (15 April) the UK will co-host a conference in London alongside the African Union, EU, France and Germany to mark the 2-year anniversary of the conflict in Sudan with attendees including major donors and multilateral institutions.

    Bringing together foreign ministers from across the globe, the Foreign Secretary will step up international efforts to protect civilians and work towards an end to the conflict.

    During a one-day conference, he will announce new life-saving aid to support over 650,000 Sudanese people. Alongside international counterparts, he will also identify steps to improve humanitarian access and find a long-term political solution.

    Sudan is facing the worst humanitarian crisis on record, with over 30 million people in desperate need of aid, over 12 million people are displaced, and famine is spreading throughout Sudan. Over 12 million women and girls are also at risk of gender-based violence.

    The new £120 million funding announced today will deliver lifesaving food and nutrition supplies, including for vulnerable children and will provide emergency support to survivors of sexual violence.

    The Foreign Secretary, David Lammy said:

    Two years is far too long – the brutal war in Sudan has devastated the lives of millions – and yet much of the world continues to look away.  We need to act now to stop the crisis from becoming an all-out catastrophe, ensuring aid gets to those who need it the most.

    As I saw earlier this year on a visit to Chad’s border with Sudan, the warring parties have shown an appalling disregard for the civilian population of Sudan. This conference will bring together the international community to agree a pathway to end the suffering.

    Instability must not spread – it drives migration from Sudan and the wider region, and a safe and stable Sudan is vital for our national security. The UK will not let Sudan be forgotten.

    African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, HE Ambassador Bankole Adeoye said:

    Achieving peace in Sudan depends on valuing every voice and everyone playing a role in building a prosperous Sudan. The African Union is committed to assisting all the people of Sudan build a brighter democratic future by working to silence the guns.

    The ongoing conflict and instability risks spilling over into the wider region, driving Sudanese people away from their homes, with some taking dangerous onward journeys to the UK and Europe. Instability in Sudan also directly impacts the UK’s national security.

    The UK wants to help tackle instability in Sudan and reduce the level of irregular migration from the region to Europe and the UK as part of its Plan for Change.

    In January 2025, the Foreign Secretary visited the Chad-Sudan border at Adré to see first-hand the impact of the conflict on refugees.

    Background

    • countries and organisations attending the Sudan conference include the United Kingdom, the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU), France, Germany, Canada, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Norway, Qatar, South Sudan, Switzerland, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates, Uganda, United States of America, alongside high-level Representatives including the League of Arab States (LAS) and the United Nations (UN)
    • on 17 November 2024, the Foreign Secretary announced a £113 million aid package, which will support over a million people affected by violence in Sudan
    • the new £120 million funding announced today is for the 2025 to 2026 financial year and will deliver food including pulses, oils, salts and cereals
    • the UK welcomes the 13 February decision to keep the critical Chad-Sudan Adré border crossing open for 3 more months. But the Sudanese Armed Forces must keep it open permanently, and without restrictions
    • the parties to the conflict continue to obstruct the work of humanitarian agencies, through delaying visas for aid workers and limiting their movements throughout Sudan
    • funding announced today aims to reach over 600,000 people including:
      • 670,000 people reached with food assistance for 3 months
      • 205,000 people reached through a cash-based response
      • 600,000 people reached through nutrition and water and sanitation
  • PRESS RELEASE : UK sends multi-million pound military equipment loan to Ukraine [April 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK sends multi-million pound military equipment loan to Ukraine [April 2025]

    The press release issued by HM Treasury on 14 April 2025.

    The UK makes second £752 million payment to Ukraine through the Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration Loans for Ukraine scheme.

    A £752 million payment has today (14 April) been sent to Ukraine through the Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration Loans for Ukraine scheme. The funding will support Ukraine to procure vital military equipment, including urgently needed air defence. This comes as Russia continues its air assault on Ukraine, striking the city of Sumy.

    The loan, which will be paid for through the profits of sanctioned Russian sovereign assets in the EU, forms part of a wider £2.26 billion loan agreed between the Chancellor and Minister Marchenko on 1 March.

    The payment highlights the UK’s steadfast support to Ukraine whilst building on the Chancellor’s Spring Statement pledge to go further and faster to protect our national security and maximise the economic growth potential of the UK defence sector. The equipment support and maintenance elements will be mainly spent in the UK, boosting the UK economy and skilled jobs.

    Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer said:

    The world is changing before our eyes, reshaped by global instability, including Russian aggression in Ukraine.

    A strong Ukraine is vital to UK national security and this second tranche of funding will help put them in the strongest possible position, and contribute towards our collective security.

    Defence Secretary, John Healey MP said:

    2025 is the critical year for Ukraine and this is the critical moment. This is the moment for our defence industries to step up, and they are; a moment for our militaries to step up, and they are; a moment for our Governments to step up, and we are.

    This new tranche of funds is part of our £4.5 billion of military support this year – more than ever before – and will be used to buy urgently needed air defence, artillery, and parts to help repair vehicles and equipment to get them back into the fight.

    We are stepping up support for Ukraine to deter Russian aggression and bolster Britain’s national security as the foundation of our Plan for Change.

    Today’s payment forms the second part of the UK’s £2.26 billion loan, which has been spaced into three separate tranches to give Ukraine more flexibility and allow them to swiftly adapt to the ever-changing battlefield. The first payment was made on 6 March, with the final payment to follow in 2026.

    The multi-billion payment forms part of the UK’s contribution to the Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration Loans for Ukraine scheme, which is a G7 commitment to collectively support Ukraine through a total of $50 billion.

    It follows a £450 million surge in military support that was announced by the UK last week, which includes £350 million from this year’s record £4.5 billion military support funding for Ukraine. Further funding is being provided by Norway, via the UK-led International Fund for Ukraine.

    In addition to providing financial support, the Ministry of Defence will also support Ukraine to procure the equipment needed to fight Russia’s invasion. This will include a new ‘close fight’ military aid package – with funding for radar systems, anti-tank mines and hundreds of thousands of drones – worth more than £250 million, using funding from the UK and Norway.

    The government’s Plan for Change will see UK defence spending increased to 2.5% of GDP by 2027. The UK’s world-leading defence sector is vital to the economy, supporting 430,000 high-skilled, high-paid jobs across the UK and strengthening our security. 68% of defence spending is outside of London and the South East, benefitting every nation and region of the UK.

  • PRESS RELEASE : International Summit on the Future of Energy Security Partners [April 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : International Summit on the Future of Energy Security Partners [April 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 14 April 2025.

    Government welcomes Official Partners of International Summit on the Future of Energy Security.

    • The Official Partners sponsoring the International Energy Agency and UK Government’s energy security summit are Iberdrola/ScottishPower, National Grid, SSE and Urenco
    • Ministers and industry leaders from around the world will gather in London in April to discuss the future of energy security
    • Summit will be hosted by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and International Energy Agency Executive Director Dr Fatih Birol

    The government has today (Monday 14 April) announced the four Official Partners sponsoring the upcoming summit marking a new era for energy security.

    Energy ministers and key energy sector decision makers from around the world will convene at the UK Government and International Energy Agency’s Summit on the Future of Energy Security, co-hosted by the Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and IEA Executive Director Dr Fatih Birol, at Lancaster House, London, on 24-25 April.

    Sponsorship from Iberdrola/ScottishPower, National Grid, SSE and Urenco will help deliver the summit at a lower cost to UK taxpayers and demonstrates their ongoing commitment to delivering clean energy and energy security in the UK and around the world.

    In recent years, energy security has risen up the global agenda as countries act to respond to today’s challenges and protect themselves from future energy shocks. The summit is an opportunity to cooperate on rising to the challenges the world faces on energy security and seizing the opportunities to act. It comes as the UK sets a global example by accelerating to a new era of clean electricity by 2030.

    The Official Partners

    Iberdrola/ScottishPower

    Iberdrola is the largest utility in Europe, with a market capitalization of £85 billion, and serves 100 million people worldwide thanks to a diversified portfolio of businesses across the electricity value chain in the UK, the US, Spain, France, Germany, Brazil and Australia. In the UK, Iberdrola is investing £24 billion up to 2028 through ScottishPower, mainly in transmission and distribution networks and offshore wind. Overall, the Group is dedicating around 70% of its investments to power networks to accelerate electrification as a way to increase energy security and competitiveness, create new industries and jobs, and improve sustainability. Around two thirds of Iberdrola’s global investments are allocated to the UK and to the US

    Iberdrola Executive Chairman Ignacio Galán said:

    Energy security is the first step towards overall security. Digitalization, big data, AI and the industries of the future rely on a secure power supply, driving demand growth not seen for decades, and network infrastructures are the backbone of a resilient power system.  Driven by the UK Government’s clear and stable energy policies, Iberdrola is investing £24 billion to 2028 in the UK in transmission, distribution and offshore wind to guarantee energy security, growth and competitiveness. We welcome the IEA and UK Government bringing together key policy makers and energy companies to analyse how best to enhance energy security globally.

    National Grid

    National Grid is investing £60 billion in energy networks over the next five years in the UK and the northeastern United States. This represents nearly double the investment of the previous five years. Its commitment will unlock significant economic growth, create thousands of new jobs, reduce energy bills in the long term, increase energy security, and support an increasingly decarbonised, electrified economy.

    National Grid Chief Executive Officer John Pettigrew said:

    National Grid is investing £60 billion in energy networks to 2029, boosting energy security, driving economic growth, and supporting 60,000 more jobs across the UK and US. Innovation and investment will be essential to unlocking the benefits of the energy transformation for customers and communities; it is essential that events like this exist to enable the sector to collaborate and drive progress forwards.

    SSE

    SSE is a UK-listed and headquartered company investing £20 billion over five years to 2027 in renewable energy, electricity networks, and flexible power generation. Harnessing some of Europe’s best renewable resources with projects like Dogger Bank – the world’s largest offshore wind farm – SSE generates homegrown clean energy, protecting billpayers from overdependence on imported fossil fuels. It also builds and operate vital transmission and distribution grids to connect and transport more secure power to homes and businesses. At the same time, through its fleet of flexible generation and storage assets across hydro, batteries and efficient gas-fired power stations, it provides the balance required to ensure an increasingly renewable energy system is not only cleaner but more secure.

    SSE Chief Executive Officer Alistair Phillips-Davies said:

    It has never been clearer that energy security equates to national security – and achieving it requires countries to focus both on developing their own homegrown energy sources and on international cooperation to ensure increased flexibility and resilience. This principle is at the heart of the UK Government’s Clean Power Mission, and we are proud to be playing our part in delivering mission-critical investments across renewables, networks, and system flexibility. But there is more we can and must do, and we are therefore thrilled to be partnering with the UK Government and the IEA to advance this crucial agenda.

    Urenco

    Urenco is a global uranium enrichment company, fuelling nuclear power plants to ensure a secure, reliable, and low carbon supply of energy. With four facilities in different countries within the Western world, it is providing customers with choice of where to receive their supply from and are rapidly ramping up capacity to meet increased demand.

    Urenco Chief Executive Officer Boris Schucht said:

    There are now well-established drivers for an enhanced role of nuclear power: the need to meet climate change goals; and the need for countries to have a secure and independent energy supply. As a long-standing and integral part of the global nuclear industry, Urenco sees it as our responsibility to make a valuable contribution to meeting world-wide energy needs, complementing other low carbon sources through a 24/7 supply which is cost effective over the lifetime of a reactor. We will continue to collaborate with partners across the energy sector and beyond to help ensure the reliable, clean energy system our world needs are achieved.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK Government statement on denial of UK MP to enter Hong Kong [April 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK Government statement on denial of UK MP to enter Hong Kong [April 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 April 2025.

    The UK Government has issued a response after a UK MP was refused entry to Hong Kong.

    A Government spokesperson said:

    During his visit to mainland China and Hong Kong Minister for Trade Policy and Economic Security the Rt Hon Douglas Alexander relayed our immediate and deep concern regarding MP Wera Hobhouse denial of entry into Hong Kong. Minister Alexander raised our concerns and demanded an explanation with senior Chinese and Hong Kong interlocutors including Hong Kong’s Chief Secretary for Administration, to understand why the Hong Kong authorities refused access to a British MP.

    It is deeply concerning that a UK MP was refused permission to enter Hong Kong last week. Unjustified restrictions on the freedom of movement for UK citizens into Hong Kong only serves to further undermine Hong Kong’s international reputation and the important people-people connections between the UK and Hong Kong.

    As the Foreign Secretary has made clear, and Minister Alexander relayed in person, it would be unacceptable for any MP to be denied entry for simply expressing their views.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Dr Camilla Kingdon to chair review of children’s hearing services [April 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Dr Camilla Kingdon to chair review of children’s hearing services [April 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 14 April 2025.

    Dr Camilla Kingdon has been appointed by the Secretary of State to chair an independent review of children’s hearing services.

    • Dr Camilla Kingdon has accepted a direct ministerial appointment by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
    • As a consultant neonatologist and former President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), Dr Kingdon brings extensive expertise to the review

    The Secretary of State, Wes Streeting, has commissioned an independent review of children’s hearing services and has appointed Dr Camilla Kingdon as its independent chair.

    The review will consider:

    • the NHS England response to the service failures in paediatric audiology
    • how the relevant governance arrangements between NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) could be improved and identify lessons learned
    • how NHS England’s handling of any future service failures in similar services could be improved and identify lessons learned

    Dr Kingdon brings extensive expertise to the review. She has been a consultant neonatologist at the Evelina London Children’s Hospital for over 20 years and until March last year she was President of RCPCH. She has an MA in Medical Careers Management and was Head of the London School of Paediatrics and Child Health for 5 years from 2014.

    Dr Kingdon is also the independent chair of the NHS Children and Young People’s Gender Service National Provider Network for England, tasked with implementing the recommendations of the Cass Review (the independent review of gender identity services for children and young people) in England. She has been a non-executive director on the board at Great Ormond Street Hospital since January 2025, is chair of the UK Healthy Air Coalition, a coalition of charities and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working to tackle air pollution, and is a member of the NHS Assembly.

    Background to the review

    In December 2021, a report was published into service issues in paediatric audiology in NHS Lothian, which focused on whether children’s hearing tests were being conducted properly and effectively followed up.

    Further issues with the diagnosis of hearing issues in newborns and children were identified in other Scottish NHS trusts in 2023. Subsequent assessment of NHS audiology services in paediatric departments across England in 2023 and 2024 identified similar problems. NHS England established the Paediatric Hearing Services Improvement Programme in 2023 to address the issues and oversee remedial action.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to France: Sir Thomas Drew KCMG [April 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to France: Sir Thomas Drew KCMG [April 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 April 2025.

    Sir Thomas Drew KCMG has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the French Republic in succession to Dame Menna Rawlings DCMG CVO.  Sir Tom will take up his appointment in August 2025.

    Curriculum vitae

    Full name: Thomas Drew

    Year Role
    2020 to 2024 FCDO, Director General, Defence and Intelligence
    2020 to 2024 Trustee, British Council
    2016 to 2019 Islamabad, British High Commissioner
    2015 McKinsey and Company, Visiting Fellow (on secondment)
    2012 to 2014 FCO, Principal Private Secretary to the Foreign Secretary
    2010 to 2012 FCO, Director, National Security
    2008 to 2010 Home Office, Director, Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism
    2006 to 2008 Islamabad, Political Counsellor
    2004 to 2006 FCO, Europe Directorate, Head of Enlargement and South-East Europe Group
    2002 to 2004 FCO, Europe Directorate, Head of Intergovernmental Conference Unit
    1998 to 2002 Moscow, Second/First Secretary
    1997 to 1998 Full time Russian language training
    1995 Joined FCO
    1993 to 1995 McKinsey and Company
  • PRESS RELEASE : Government steps in to back British business in changing world [April 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government steps in to back British business in changing world [April 2025]

    The press release issued by HM Treasury on 14 April 2025.

    The Chancellor announces a multi-billion-pound increase in government-backed financing.

    British businesses across the country have today been given further stability and certainty with access to new support through a multi-billion-pound increase in government-backed financing as the world enters a new era of global trade.

    The new package will give UK Export Finance (UKEF) the power to expand financing support for British businesses by £20 billion, with small businesses also able to access loans of up to £2 million through the British Business Bank’s Growth Guarantee Scheme.

    Thousands of companies are expected to benefit from the move, including those directly affected by tariffs – with iconic British brands like Rolls Royce through to local businesses like Alicat Workboats previously benefitting from similar programmes.

    Today’s boost reaffirms government’s commitment to free and open trade, and means an £80 billion boost for businesses, meaning they can access government-backed finance and support to grow their presence both domestically and overseas, create new jobs and drive economic growth as part of the Plan for Change.

    New measures come as prime minister goes further and faster to boost growth, working in partnership with business to deliver it.

    This week alone has seen swift and decisive action from the government to protect UK businesses and workers by:

    • Taking action to keep British Steel operating, saving thousands of jobs
    • Increasing flexibility on the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate to help British carmakers
    • Cutting the red tape that slows down clinical trials in the life sciences sector
    • Investing up to £600 million in a new Health Data Research Service
    • Backing a £30 million package to support the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport which is expected to support 5,000 jobs and boost the economy by £5 billion

    Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said:

    The world is changing, which is why it is more important than ever to back our world-leading businesses and support them to navigate the challenges ahead.

    Today’s announcement will do that just, with thousands of businesses right across the country set to benefit.

    We are going further and faster to boost growth, but we cannot do it alone. Only by working with businesses will we achieve our Plan for Change and put more money into people’s pockets.

    Business and Trade Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds said:

    Our message to British business is clear – we’ve got your back. This package, backed by the British Business Bank and UKEF, will be a crucial shot in the arm to exporters and small firms looking to trade around the world.

    Within a changing world, we need to adapt, and as part of our Plan for Change, this Government is responding. These changes will help to boost growth support jobs and supercharge thousands of businesses across all four corners of the country.

    UKEF will also offer businesses partial loan guarantees through more flexible uses of its Export Development Guarantee, helping to mitigate the impact of new tariffs and associated economic uncertainty. Of the £80 billion, up to £10 billion will be allocated to ensure that businesses significantly impacted in the short term by the current situation have access to the finance they need to grow.

    The British Business Bank will also expand its Growth Guarantee Scheme by £500 million, which will provide vital finance for smaller businesses as they look to invest and grow. This scheme provides the lender with a 70% government-backed guarantee against loans or other types of finance, enabling lenders to support smaller businesses that would struggle to obtain financing through traditional means – and has so far enabled more than £2.1 billion of lending.

    This comes on top of £1 billion of funding for British Business Bank programmes for this financial year, confirmed at Autumn Budget 2024. This includes additional support for smaller housebuilders through the ENABLE Build programme, funding for Start Up Loans and additional funding for three equity programmes supporting innovative high growth businesses

    This week, the Chancellor and Business and Trade Secretary also took part in the 13th UK-India Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD) in order to strengthen ties between the two countries. In addition to India, the UK is negotiating trade deals with partners including the Gulf Cooperation Council, South Korea and Switzerland, which will give businesses more opportunities than ever before to expand into new markets.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Sarah Newton Reappointed as Chair of the Health and Safety Executive [April 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Sarah Newton Reappointed as Chair of the Health and Safety Executive [April 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 14 April 2025.

    The Department of Work and Pensions has confirmed the reappointment of Sarah Newton as Chair of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Her reappointment will run from 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2027.

    Sarah Newton has led HSE since 01 August 2020, overseeing its critical role in ensuring the health, safety, and welfare of workers across Great Britain. During her tenure, she has driven strategic improvements, strengthened regulatory frameworks, and championed HSE’s mission to protect people and places.

    Minister for Social Security and Disability, RT Hon, Sir Stephen Timms said:

    I am pleased to confirm Sarah Newton’s reappointment as Chair of the Health and Safety Executive. Her leadership and expertise have been invaluable in driving forward HSE’s important work. I look forward to seeing her continue to lead the organisation in ensuring high standards of health and safety across the country.

    Sarah Newton said:

    I am honoured to have been re-appointed Chair of HSE. It is a privilege to work with colleagues who are passionate about our mission and dedicated to protecting people and places.

    This reappointment has been made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments and follows an open and transparent process.

  • PRESS RELEASE : £121 million boost for quantum technology set to tackle fraud, prevent money laundering and drive growth [April 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : £121 million boost for quantum technology set to tackle fraud, prevent money laundering and drive growth [April 2025]

    The press release issued by Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 14 April 2025.

    The UK government is investing £121 million in quantum technology to tackle crime, fraud, and money laundering, while reinforcing its global leadership in the field and driving economic savings.

    • A new £121 million investment in quantum, a novel technology with huge potential, will bolster the UK’s world-leading research programmes.
    • Developing and rolling out quantum will bring a range of benefits to working people, including improved healthcare systems and boosted energy efficiency in the grid.
    • Areas such as crimefighting, tackling fraud and preventing money laundering will also benefit, putting more money in working people’s pockets and driving economic growth.
    • Investment will see more opportunities to create the next generation of quantum researchers through talent and skills schemes, supporting the government’s Plan for Change.

    Cutting-edge quantum technology is being put to work to deliver the government’s Plan for Change, with a new £121 million investment to help tackle challenges including crimefighting, spotting the first signs of fraud and halting money laundering which could save billions for the economy.

    To coincide with World Quantum Day (Monday 14 April), the funding is being made available over the next year to expand the use of the technology, which uses the properties of the universe’s smallest particles to build ultra-powerful computers and sensors. This will further secure the UK’s position as a world-leader in quantum as part of the government’s long-term commitment to the sector.

    Today’s investment is also giving the next generation of researchers to the opportunity to bring their ideas for health, cybersecurity and beyond to life. Their innovations, like quantum technologies for tackling fraud, could birth thousands of jobs and the businesses of tomorrow – supporting the Government’s economic mission and the Plan for Change.

    This is the latest part of the UK’s National Quantum Technologies Programme: which sets out the long-term effort to back early-stage research, and support getting quantum technologies out of the lab and onto the marketplace. It sets the UK on the pathway to deliver its ambitious National Quantum Missions – our plan to make this tech deliver for the private and public sectors.

    Secretary of State for Science and Technology, Peter Kyle said:

    Quantum – manipulating the universe at its smallest scale – has the potential to save millions for our economy, create thousands of jobs and improve businesses across the country – stopping fraudsters in their tracks, protecting our bank accounts and more.

    Backing our world-class quantum researchers and businesses is an important part of our Plan for Change.

    The UK is home to the second largest community of quantum businesses in the world and this investment means they can go further paving the way for new quantum tools and products that make our lives easier, fuel growth, and help us tackle the great challenges of our era.

    Examples of use

    The technology is already being harnessed, by using quantum computing’s unique ability to analyse complex data and detect subtle patterns, to tackle fraud, one of the biggest challenges facing society, which currently costs the economy £2.6 billion each year.

    Quantum specialists at HSBC bank have been working with government backed partners like the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC)to find ways quantum can be used to identify the indicators of anti-money laundering. The support for the NQCC and other cutting edge facilities across the UK, that we are announcing today, is making this research possible.

    This project is proof that, with strong support from the government, researchers can harness quantum technologies to benefit working people, nationwide – in this case, protecting their bank accounts from would-be fraudsters and sparing them the lost time and heartache this crime can cause.

    The UK quantum sector is world-leading and home to the second largest community of quantum companies globally, behind only the US.This investment is the latest drive to deliver the government’s goal to unleash economic growth across the country as part of the Plan for Change, by leveraging the potential for breakthrough technologies like quantum to deliver new products, create new businesses, and support high-skill jobs. It builds on commitments such as the AI Opportunities Action Plan, which will also benefit the UK’s quantum innovators.

    Notes to editors:

    Full breakdown of today’s investment:

    • £46.1 million through Innovate UK to accelerate the deployment of quantum technology across a range of sectors, including computing, networking, PNT (position, navigation and timing) and sensing.
    • £21.1 million to further the work of the National Quantum Computing Centre, including their testbed programme with Innovate UK, with support from the Quantum Software Lab to accelerate the discovery of more ways that quantum can overhaul how we work and solve problems.
    • £10.9 million for the National Physical Laboratory’s (NPL) quantum measurement programme to encourage more businesses to make full use of the technology

    We’re also backing the next generation of leaders in quantum research to maintain the UK’s position as a pioneering nation in quantum technologies with:

    £24.6 million in funding from EPSRC for the five research hubs announced last year, including a £3 million investment into training and skills programmes.

    • £15.1 million being awarded to 11 Quantum Technology Career Acceleration Fellowships, by UKRI EPSRC, to find more real-world applications for quantum, from drug discovery to disease diagnostics
    • £4.3 million from Science and Technology Facilities Council to back early- career researchers and Quantum- enabled apprenticeships.

    Today’s announcement includes a round up of earlier investments from ESPRC and Innovate UK, including support for the five research hubs and the Quantum Missions Pilot competition, bringing the total commitment from the UK Government over the next 12 months to £121 million.

    This announcement comes as the government marks World Quantum Day, an international initiative promoting awareness of the vast capabilities of quantum science and technology. 53 countries are hosting events, from research programmes to conferences.