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Tag: 2025

  • PRESS RELEASE : Yemen will only prosper when all Yemenis can play their role in building a better future for their country – UK statement at the UN Security Council [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Yemen will only prosper when all Yemenis can play their role in building a better future for their country – UK statement at the UN Security Council [January 2025]

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

    Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Yemen.

    First, we welcome the visits and continuing efforts of both WHO Director-General Tedros and Special Envoy Grundberg to secure the release of detainees.

    We are deeply concerned about claims of Houthis further arbitrary and unlawful detentions of Yemeni citizens.

    We call on this Council to unite in condemning Houthi detentions in the strongest terms and demand that the Houthis immediately and unconditionally release all those detained, enabling a safe operating environment for the delivery of humanitarian assistance to those most in need.

    This is more important than ever with nearly 20 million Yemenis now in need of assistance, as Ms Msuya spelled out so starkly for us.

    Second, the UK will continue to support Freedom of Navigation including in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden and we look forward to the extension later today of the mandate of UNSCR 2722.

    The UK condemns the ongoing and reckless Houthi attacks against Israeli population centres.

    We are clear on Israel’s right to self-defence against these attacks.

    But this must be done in compliance with Israel’s international humanitarian law obligations, including the need to avoid damage to critical civilian infrastructure such as Hodeidah port, the main entry point for food and humanitarian supplies into Yemen.

    Third, the UK is resolute in our support to the Government of Yemen and that is why we are co-hosting an event this month to galvanise international support for the Government as the legitimate representatives of the Yemeni people, and in order to promote stability and stable governance.

    Yemen can only truly prosper, when all Yemenis are able to play their role in building a better future for their country.

    Finally, President, on the occasion of General Beary’s final briefing to this Council I would like to commend his efforts in support of UNMHA and the Yemeni people in Hodeidah Governorate. I thank him for his service.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Joint investment in Scottish City Deals now more than £3 billion [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Joint investment in Scottish City Deals now more than £3 billion [January 2025]

    The press release issued by the Scottish Office on 15 January 2025.

    UK Government investment in the City Region and Growth Deal programme in Scotland is now £1.5 billion – meaning more than £3 billion in total.

    The Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Murray, has today [15 January] confirmed that, following the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget, the total UK Government investment specifically on City Region and Growth Deals in Scotland has now reached £1.5 billion. The Scottish Government is also investing £1.6 billion in the City Region and Growth Deals programme. That means that total investment now tops £3 billion in total.

    Of the UK Government contribution, £527 million was part of a nearly £1.4 billion package of local growth investment signed off by the Chancellor in her Autumn Budget. That means that the UK Government is also, separately, investing £840 million in some two dozen local growth projects and programmes across Scotland. Driving growth and improving living standards across the UK is a key part of our Plan for Change, and these investments are an important part of that.

    The Scottish Secretary gave evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Economy and Fair Work Committee today [15 January]. He is the first Cabinet Minister since the General Election to appear before a Holyrood committee.

    Mr Murray was invited by the Committee to give evidence on the UK Government’s involvement in the City Region and Growth Deals programme, which is delivered jointly in Scotland with the Scottish Government.

    Mr Murray said:

    I am delighted to confirm that UK Government investment in City Region and Growth Deals alone in Scotland is now £1.5 billion. This is our Plan for Change in action, and this funding will drive economic growth and improve living standards right across Scotland.

    I am very pleased to be the first minister from this administration to give evidence at Holyrood. We have changed the way we do business and work with the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament. We have reset those relationships to ensure we can work together to deliver for people in Scotland. That means genuine partnership working with the Scottish Government, and the City Region and Growth Deals programme, delivered jointly across Scotland, is an excellent example of that.

    City Region and Growth Deals are packages of funding agreed between the Scottish Government, UK Government and local authority partners.

    At the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor confirmed additional funding for the Falkirk and Grangemouth Growth Deal to support Grangemouth refinery workers and their communities, confirmed funding for a number of projects not yet in delivery, and gave the go-ahead for the signing of the Argyll and Bute Growth Deal. That means that we will shortly have City Region and Growth Deals covering every part of Scotland, with UK Government investment in them specifically, since 2014, totalling more than £1.5 billion.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government reaffirms commitment to Free Speech in universities [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government reaffirms commitment to Free Speech in universities [January 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 15 January 2025.

    Key provisions from the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 will be brought into force, whilst burdensome provisions will be scrapped.

    The Education Secretary has confirmed that key provisions of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 will be brought into force, defending the free speech rights of students, academics and speakers.

    The Office for Students will have the power to investigate complaints over breaches of free speech from academics, external speakers and members of universities, as well as issuing fines.

    The Act will require all universities to have robust codes of practice to ensure the protection of free speech, which will be enforced by the Office for Students (OfS).

    The new workable, robust complaints system will uphold academic freedom without exposing universities to potentially disproportionate and crippling costs that could have forced them to divert cash away from students.

    Universities who flout the rules will be publicly held to account and could end up paying compensation, risk facing fines and the suspension of their registration, in the most extreme circumstances.

    There will be a complete ban on the use of non-disclosure agreements to silence victims of bullying, harassment or sexual misconduct on campus, which will be upheld by the Office for Students.

    Arif Ahmed will remain in post as Director for Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom at the OfS, to ensure that these measures are rigorously upheld.

    Unnecessary elements of the Act which risk leaving universities vulnerable to disproportionate costs for legal disputes will be scrapped, including the statutory tort.

    This would have exposed already struggling providers to large costly legal fees, driven by potentially unnecessary complaints, that would have forced money intended for students to be diverted.

    The threat of legal action and the financial fallout for universities breaching their duties under the Act might push some providers to overly defend hateful or degrading speech instead of looking out for students who feel intimidated, out of fear of the consequences.

    The Act was initially placed on pause due to widespread concerns about the negative impact it would have on vulnerable groups. There were fears that the legislation would encourage providers to overlook the safety and wellbeing of minority groups, including Jewish students, and instead protect those who use hateful or degrading speech on campus.

    The move to pause implementation of the Act reflected widespread concern that the legislation was disproportionate, burdensome and damaging to the welfare of students while not addressing hate speech on campuses.

    Groups representing Jewish students also expressed concerns that sanctions could lead to providers overlooking the safety and well-being of minority groups.

    Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

    Academic freedom and free speech are fundamental to our world-leading universities and this government is committed to protecting them.

    These changes protect free speech but avoid implementing excessive and burdensome provisions which could have exposed struggling universities to disproportionate costs, diverting money away from students to pay lawyers.

    The decisions we are making about the Act demonstrate that we were right to pause commencement and to review its impact before making decisions on its future.

    The Government will bring into force strengthened duties on providers to take steps to secure freedom of speech and establish a code of practice, as well as a new duty to promote the importance of freedom of speech and academic freedom.

    As part of the Act, Higher Education providers must establish a set of policies and values that provide a space for robust discussion and all academic freedoms.

    The Office for Students will have the power to investigate complaints over breaches of free speech from staff, external speakers and members of universities, as well as issuing fines and penalties.

    All higher education students will be able to make similar complaints to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA).

    As part of changes to make the Act fair and proportionate, the government has decided to remove the overly burdensome duties placed directly on students’ unions.

    The Act, as it stands, makes demands which would require students’ unions to take on complex legal responsibilities, which would leave the majority student-led organisations to be overwhelmed with additional costs and administrative burdens, distracting from work to support students.

    The Department for Education aims to ensure that any protections introduced to increase transparency around foreign funding and influence, do not impose unnecessary burdens on providers and regulators, such as the Office for Students.

    The Government is also working at pace on the implementation of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, which will apply to universities across the UK, and will encourage transparency and deter harmful covert activity from foreign states.

    To ensure careful consideration of this important issue, the overseas transparency provisions in the Act will be kept under review, while assessment of the existing approaches to managing foreign interference are reviewed and as we implement the Foreign Interference Registration scheme.

    The Office for Students already has powers to request information when concerns arise about free speech or academic freedom, including issues related to suspected foreign interference and funding, and the Department will consider whether these powers require strengthening as part of our review.

    The Department for Education is closely monitoring these measures and working with the sector to assess current strategies for managing these risks. This ensures a targeted and proportionate approach to increasing transparency.

    In making changes to the future of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023, the Government will ensure that the right to academic freedom is rigorously defended, without compromising the safety of students and staff, or taking away vital resources from an already stretched sector.

    During the review of the Act which began in July 2024, Ministers and officials met with a range of providers, academics, unions and minority groups to discuss their views on the future of the Act and what would work best for the sector, while maintaining a space for healthy debate and exposure to new ideas for students and staff.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government introduces import ban of cattle, pigs and sheep from Germany to protect farmers after Foot and Mouth case [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government introduces import ban of cattle, pigs and sheep from Germany to protect farmers after Foot and Mouth case [January 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 15 January 2025.

    Exports of animals and meat susceptible to the disease prohibited.

    The Government has stepped up measures to prevent the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), following a case being confirmed in Germany.

    The commercial import of cattle, pigs, sheep, deer, buffaloes and their products such as meat, and dairy from Germany will now be banned to protect farmers and their livelihoods. GB health certificates will no longer be issued for animals susceptible to FMD including all live animals and fresh meat and animal products.

    As of 15 January it is no longer permitted for travellers to bring unpackaged meat, meat products, milk and dairy products, certain composite products and animal by products of pigs and ruminants into Great Britain from the EU,  EFTA states,  Faroe Islands and Greenland. Additionally, these products may not be brought to Great Britain from Germany, even if commercially packaged.  These products can be placed in the secure bins provided in ports and airports.

    The UK Chief Veterinary Officer is also urging livestock keepers to remain vigilant to the clinical signs of FMD following an outbreak of the disease in Germany. There are no cases in the UK currently.

    FMD poses no risk to human or food safety, but is a highly contagious viral disease of cattle, sheep, pigs and other cloven-hoofed animals. Livestock keepers should therefore be absolutely rigorous about their biosecurity.

    Maintaining good biosecurity is essential to protecting the health and welfare of herds and critical to preventing the spread of diseases such as FMD and preventing an outbreak spreading.

    FMD causes significant economic losses due to production losses in the affected animals as well as loss of access to foreign markets for animals, meat and milk for affected countries.

    Clinical signs to be aware of vary depending on the animals, but in cattle the key signs are sores and blisters on the feet, mouth and tongue with potentially a fever, lameness and a reluctance to feed. In sheep and pigs signs tend to manifest with lameness with potential for blistering.

    UK Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Christine Middlemiss said:

    We remain in constant contact with German counterparts to understand the latest situation following their confirmation of a single case of Foot and Mouth disease.

    We have robust contingency plans in place to manage the risk of this disease to protect farmers and Britain’s food security, which means using all measures to limit the risk incursion and spread of this devastating disease.

    I would urge livestock keepers to exercise the upmost vigilance for signs of disease, follow scrupulous biosecurity and report any suspicion of disease immediately to the Animal and Plant Health Agency.

    Everyone can help stop animal diseases spreading to this country by not bringing home meat, cheese and milk products when they travel abroad.

    Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner said:

    The Government will do whatever it takes to protect our nation’s farmers from the risk posed by Foot and Mouth.

    That is why restrictions have immediately been brought in on animal products from Germany to prevent an outbreak and we will not hesitate to add additional countries to the list if the disease spreads.

    We will continue to keep the situation under review working closely with the German authorities.

    This comes as the Government announced a £200 million investment in the UK’s main research and laboratory testing facilities at Weybridge to bolster protection against animal disease.

    Foot and Mouth Disease is a legally notifiable disease and must be reported. If you suspect a notifiable disease in your animals you must report it immediately by calling the Government Helpline. Failure to do so is an offence.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Britain working at pace to curb rising synthetic drugs threat [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Britain working at pace to curb rising synthetic drugs threat [January 2025]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 15 January 2025.

    More than 20 dangerous substances have been banned by the government as efforts stepped up to combat the increasing drug threat and make our streets safer.

    Significant efforts are being made to combat the threat of devastating synthetic drugs, which the UK government warns is increasing.

    Measures are being stepped up across government to better equip policing, healthcare and Border Force to deal with this growing issue, as well as contributing to international efforts to better protect communities.

    Latest figures show since June 2023, there have been at least 400 drug-related deaths across the UK linked to nitazenes, a type of synthetic opioid, and this figure is expected to increase in the coming years.

    As part of the effort to make our streets safer, legislation will come into force today (Wednesday 15 January) which bans xylazine, as well as several other synthetic drugs that can be hundreds of times more potent than heroin, meaning tougher sentences for drug dealers.

    Xylazine, often known as ‘tranq’, is a high-strength veterinary sedative, which has increasingly been used in combination with opioids such as heroin. Its effects can leave users prone to non-healing skin lesions and more liable to overdose.

    The UK is also training Border Force dogs to detect a range of nitazenes and fentanyl – currently the only country in the world doing so – to stop these substances entering the country in the first place.

    As of December 2024, police officers in forces across the country are now trained to carry and administer naloxone – a lifesaving medicine that reverses the effects of opioid overdose. The government is working closely with the National Police Chiefs’ Council to see the provision rolled out across most forces.

    The National Crime Agency is also working in partnership with policing and Border Force to ensure that all lines of enquiry are prioritised and vigorously pursued to stem any supply of nitazenes and fentanyl to and within the UK.

    Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson said:

    Synthetic drugs cause devastation wherever they are found – to individuals, to families, to our town centres and our communities.

    I have been concerned about the growing presence of these drugs on UK streets and I don’t think enough has been done in recent years to get a grip on it. Stepping up efforts to tackle this threat will form a key part of this government’s approach to drugs, which we hope to set out later this year.

    As part of our Plan for Change and mission to make our streets safer, we are dedicated to driving down drug misuse and harms through prevention and treatment while acting quickly to stop the criminals peddling these harmful substances.

    As part of the international effort to combat these substances, the UK is spearheading a workstream under the US-led Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats which will focus on how governments across the world can control the availability of these drugs through legislation and further strengthen efforts at the border by sharing intelligence.

    This is a multi-nation effort run by core coalition countries, who are developing their own initiatives that aim to disrupt supply chains and enhance public health interventions.

    The government also has an enhanced early warning system, which is designed to improve our ability to respond to emerging drug threats with several new data streams, such as hospital admissions and lab-tested police seizures, which are monitored and fed into the decision-making processes.

    Today’s legislation will see 22 substances banned under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, 6 of which will be controlled as Class A.

    This means that anyone caught producing or supplying these could now face up to life in prison, an unlimited fine, or both. Anyone caught possessing a Class A drug can also face up to 7 years in prison, a fine or both.

    Xylazine will be controlled as a Class C substance, meaning its unlawful supply carries a maximum sentence of up to 14 years in prison, a fine or both and unlawful possession up to 2 years, a fine or both.

    A generic definition of nitazenes, a type of synthetic opioid, has also been introduced into law today, which will prevent drug gangs from trying to make adjustments to drug recipes to attempt to bypass UK drug law.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Home Office and IBM to partner on Emergency Services Network [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Home Office and IBM to partner on Emergency Services Network [January 2025]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 15 January 2025.

    Frontline emergency services will benefit from a new communications network that will modernise how they work together, as the government announces a new partnership with IBM following a series of delays by previous suppliers.

    The Emergency Services Network (ESN) will support more than 300,000 emergency responders in Great Britain, providing them with better technology and faster access to data in emergency situations and frontline operations.

    Police forces, fire services and ambulance trusts will be able to share live data and imagery, location reports and essential public safety information as they work on time-critical rescue and response efforts.

    After several delays to the rollout of ESN over recent years, the government is committing to delivering the project as quickly as possible and help save lives as a result. The Policing Minister, Dame Diana Johnson, will chair regular meetings to ensure the project is running to time and cost.

    Providing the emergency services with improved technology is a key part of the government’s drive to make the nation’s streets safer, which is a crucial part of the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change.

    Minister for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention, Dame Diana Johnson, said:

    Every day our brave emergency services help members of the public facing life-or-death situations. We must do everything we can to maximise the chances of successful outcomes, and communications between frontline staff is critical to ensuring this.

    This government is working tirelessly to support this project, making sure it is delivered in a timely and cost-effective manner, and IBM will be an important part of bringing the Emergency Services Network online.

    Rahul Kalia, Managing Partner at IBM UK and Ireland, said:

    We are proud to support the Emergency Services Network (ESN) in delivering a secure and resilient communications platform to empower frontline emergency services.

    Working with our ecosystem partners, we will deliver mission-critical services for first responders to enhance safety in our communities across Great Britain.

    We look forward to working with the government to deliver this in a timely and cost-effective manner.

    Software for new handheld devices will provide data-sharing functions and real-time video features, providing personnel with the critical information they need to save lives, as well as a push-to-talk protocol for instant communications.

    One real-world example of how the network could work is in a serious road traffic collision:

    • the first service to arrive would be able share their exact location using GPS data with the other services
    • fire services would be instantly updated with the make and model of vehicle, which can then be cross-referenced with data on how to best use cutting equipment, if someone was trapped, or where batteries are located on electric cars
    • they could also update paramedics with passenger details to check medical information and determine if there is anything they need to know such as prior medical conditions
    • this would greatly speed up dealing with the incident and the ability to aid the victims involved

    Led by the Home Office, ESN will implement the next generation of fast, safe, and secure voice, video, and data communication, allowing emergency services to work in tandem and coordinate efforts when protecting and aiding members of the public. Similar technology has already been rolled out with success in countries including the USA, Canada and South Korea.

    As the new user services supplier, IBM will be responsible for leading the design, build and system integration of the ESN platform. Key to achieving this will be IBM’s delivery of IT infrastructure, which will be fundamental to ensuring improved and more efficient communication capabilities for mission-critical services.

    The news comes swiftly after EE was awarded the contract to provide the mobile communications infrastructure for the project, as the new government works towards deploying the new ESN and shutting down the current system, Airwave.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Nadine Thomson reappointed to the VisitEngland Advisory Board [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Nadine Thomson reappointed to the VisitEngland Advisory Board [January 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 15 January 2025.

    The Secretary of State has reappointed Nadine Thomson as a Board Member of VisitEngland for a five year term from 6th January 2025 to 5th January 2030.

    Nadine Thomson

    Appointed from 6th January 2025 to 5th January 2030.

    Nadine Thomson is the President of Product Deployment & Operations at Choreograph, WPP’s data and tech company delivering media, data capabilities and digital products to manage $60 billion in annual media spend for the world’s largest advertisers.  She is an experienced executive with digital, media and travel experience and has held leadership roles in a number of international businesses.

    Over her career, Nadine has led international transformations across the travel, media, retail, entertainment and professional services industries. She has a deep understanding of the travel and tourism industry, having led technology at STA Travel for 9 years where she enabled a global, multi-channel, e-commerce travel business. Previous roles also include leading digital transformation for Conde Nast International, Vue Cinema and News UK and providing digital and technology consultancy to Capita.

    Nadine was awarded Chief Technology Officer of the Year in 2023 and European Technology Leader of the Year in 2021 for real-world achievements in tech in regard to business turnaround and application of innovative technologies. Nadine has 10 years Non-Executive experience.

    Remuneration and Governance Code

    Trustees of VisitEngland are remunerated £275 for 1.5 days a month. This appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Nadine has has not declared any significant political activity.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Change of UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, WTO, and other International Organisations in Geneva [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Change of UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, WTO, and other International Organisations in Geneva [January 2025]

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

    Mr Kumar Iyer CMG has been appointed the United Kingdom’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, World Trade Organisation and other International Organisations based in Geneva, in succession to Mr Simon Manley CMG who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mr Iyer will take up his appointment during July 2025.

    The UK’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative oversees the work of the UK Mission in Geneva and represents the United Kingdom in its engagement with over 35 international organisations, agencies and offices based in the city.  These include the UN Human Rights Council, the World Trade Organization, the World Health Organization, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Telecommunication Union, the World Intellectual Property Office, the Conference on Disarmament, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, CERN, and the World Economic Forum.

    Curriculum vitae

    Full name: Kumar Sabapathy Iyer

    Date Role
    2024 Clifford Chance LLP, London, Senior Adviser to the Board & Global Partnership
    2020 to 2023 FCDO, Director General Economics, Science & Technology
    2020 No 10, Prime Minister’s Covid Taskforce, Director General Policy & Analysis
    2019 to 2020 FCO, Chief Economist
    2017 to 2019 Oliver Wyman, London & International, Partner; & Oxford University, Hertford College, Academic Visitor
    2013 to 2017 Mumbai, Deputy High Commissioner & HM Trade Commissioner to India
    2012 to 2013 HM Treasury, Financial Sector Interventions, Deputy Director
    2010 to 2012 HM Treasury, Strategy, Planning & Budget, Deputy Director
    2008 to 2010 No 10, Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit, Deputy Director
    2004 to 2008 Boston Consulting Group, London & International, Management Consultant
    2003 to 2004 Harvard University, Kennedy Scholar & Teaching Fellow
    2000 to 2003 Oliver Wyman, London & International, Management Consultant
    1999 to 2000 Corpus Christi College, Cambridge University, Economics Supervisor
    1998 to 2000 Bank of England, Postgraduate & Undergraduate S
  • PRESS RELEASE : Chancellor’s National Wealth Fund fuels 8,600 jobs in six months [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Chancellor’s National Wealth Fund fuels 8,600 jobs in six months [January 2025]

    The press release issued by HM Treasury on 15 January 2025.

    The National Wealth Fund has fuelled 8,600 jobs in the last six months, unlocking almost £1.6 billion of private investment, driving growth across the UK.

    The Chancellor began work just days into office to establish a new National Wealth Fund (NWF) that would invest in the new industries of the future to create good jobs and opportunity across every part of the country.

    With £27.8 billion of firepower, the National Wealth Fund will help drive the government’s Plan for Change and turbocharge growth across the country to raise living standards in every part of the United Kingdom.

    The jobs that have been created will support the digital and clean energy sectors, including 6,500 expected to be created in the retrofit sector across the UK, with the National Wealth Fund providing a financial guarantee that will see Lloyds and Barclays deliver £1 billion of funding to deliver improvements such as low carbon heating and insulation in social housing.

    New figures reveal almost £1.6 billion of private investment has been leveraged into projects across the UK’s clean energy and growth sectors over the past six months. This includes to support faster broadband connections for thousands of businesses and households in Cornwall, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Cumbria, fuelling economic growth.

    Millions of pounds have also been committed to help West Suffolk Council to decarbonise its buildings and transition its fleet to electric vehicles, alongside supporting the expansion of a successful rooftop solar scheme. This innovative investment model has the potential to be replicated by other local authorities and means more businesses can benefit from low cost, low carbon electricity, supporting local businesses and the growth of the clean energy sector.

    It comes as today, the National Wealth Fund announces a loan of £92 million to support Denbighshire County Council’s crucial improvements to coastal flood defence barriers in Denbighshire, North Wales, protecting businesses and homes against the devastating impact of flooding, creating jobs and growth in the construction industry.

    Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Darren Jones said:

    Growth is our national mission, and the cornerstone of our Plan for Change that will improve living standards and put more money in people’s pockets.

    And the National Wealth Fund is playing a vital part in delivering economic growth, securing over a billion of private investment since July in industries that turbocharge growth in our economy and create good quality jobs across the UK.

    The Chancellor announced in October how the National Wealth Fund would drive long-term investment in Britain, working hand in hand with business to create new high skilled jobs right across the UK, helping make people better off.

    To mobilise investment at pace, the NWF will expand on the UK Infrastructure Bank’s offer including additional financial instruments so it is more catalytic and will take on more risk to have a greater impact:

    • The NWF has more capital with £27.8 billion – inheriting UK Infrastructure Bank’s £22 billion and having an additional £5.8 billion.
    • It has a renewed focus to support the delivery of the wider industrial strategy and the Government’s clean energy and growth missions. At least £5.8 billion of the NWF’s capital will focus on the five sectors announced in the manifesto: green hydrogen, carbon capture, ports, gigafactories and green steel.
    • The NWF will have increased resources and focus on conducting more outreach to identify expanded project pipelines and structure innovative transactions.
    • It will have a strong regional mandate to unleash the full potential of our cities and regions.
  • PRESS RELEASE : UK AI sector attracts £200 million a day in private investment since July [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK AI sector attracts £200 million a day in private investment since July [January 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 15 January 2025.

    An average of £200 million in private sector investment has been funnelled into the UK’s world leading AI sector every day since last summer.

    • Monday’s AI Opportunities Action Plan prompts more than £14 billion in fresh inward investment across the country.
    • Technology Secretary hails ‘new chapter’ with average of £200 million in AI investment now secured every day since taking office.
    • Upward of 13,000 jobs to be delivered to communities as global tech firms back Britain and the government’s Plan for Change.

    An average of £200 million in private sector investment has been funnelled into the UK’s world leading AI sector a day since the new government took office last summer – an average of more than £8.3 million every hour – fuelling the Plan for Change to fix the foundations of the economy.

    More than £14 billion pounds worth of investment into the UK and thousands of new jobs have been confirmed in just 48 hours since the AI Opportunities Action Plan was published, as companies from around the world back Britain’s new blueprint to ensure it can fully realise the opportunities of artificial intelligence.

    It follows £25 billion worth of new investment into the UK’s data centre infrastructure announced at the Global Investment Summit earlier this year, bringing the total to £39 billion in the last six months.

    Cementing the UK’s position as the global destination for AI, a wave of global companies have put their weight behind the UK’s new vision for the technology which was unveiled by the Prime Minister and Technology Secretary on Monday.

    In a move to bolster our AI infrastructure, American AI cloud-computing company CoreWeave has set to work using cutting edge NVIDIA technology to ramp up the UK’s compute capacity – a key pillar of the government’s new vision for AI. They are doing this at their Data Centre sites in Crawley and London Docklands – their first bases in the UK – rolling out a new compute platform by delivering state-of-the-art processors through its specialized cloud platform, purpose-built to provide highly performant and efficient infrastructure for AI workloads. This has opened up a new world of processing power to Britain’s innovators, and follows the company’s decision to base its European Headquarters in London and invest £1.75 billion into the UK in 2024.

    Putting the right building blocks in place to help British companies scale up and become AI leaders is also central to the new blueprint set out by the government. Synthesia – a London based company which is the market leader in software for AI-generated video content – are the latest to be riding this wave of momentum with a successful funding round which has seen their value swell to $2.1 billion. This investment will support Synthesia’s growth and expansion ambitions, as it aims to become one of Britain’s most valuable AI companies.

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

    This week we begin a new chapter – putting AI in the driving seat to power the government’s Plan for Change and deliver better lives for everyone in the country.

    The steps we’re taking forward from Matt Clifford’s AI Opportunities Action Plan represent a step change in how the UK manages this technology – unlocking a fresh start for our economy and for working people.

    By attracting more than £14 billion in new investment and thousands of fresh jobs since unveiling our new blueprint from companies across the globe, the message is clear – the UK’s pull as a magnet for AI innovation and growth will only go from strength to strength.

    Supporting the government’s laser-focus of spreading the benefits of AI across the economy, Tech Nation – part of Founders Forum group – Merantix, and Onfido Founder Husayn Kassai, in partnership with Techspace, have also committed today to launching a new dedicated AI hub in London. The London AI Hub will serve as a new epicentre for collaboration and innovation based in Farringdon. Creating a vital focal point for AI innovators to come together and collaborate, companies are now set to move into the Hub from next month.

    In an announcement earlier this week, one of our leading home-grown success stories Nscale also committed to delivering a $2.5 billion investment to support the UK’s data centre infrastructure over the next three years. Deepening their commitment even further, they have also put pen to paper on a contract to build the largest UK sovereign AI data centre in Loughton, Essex by 2026. The site is expected to be up and running in late 2026, unlocking more than 750 jobs during its construction and a further 250 permanent roles which will then drive forward its work – delivering new opportunities for people across the region.

    Further support has also come from Vantage Data Centers, who are committed to continuing to expand their footprint in the UK, with a more than £12 billion funding commitment which will deliver 11,500 jobs across the UK and will meet the growing demand for cloud-based services and technology.

    In a further jobs boost, French AI giant Mistral also unveiled plans last week to make the UK their home from home with a new office in London – its first European base outside France – with plans to double its UK workforce by the end of 2025. Kyndryl – the world’s largest IT infrastructure services provider and a leading IT consultancy – has also announced plans to create up to 1,000 AI-related jobs in Liverpool over the next three years. This new tech hub will share the government’s ambition to roll AI out across the country to help grow the economy and foster the next generation of talent.

    Setting out a plan to turbocharge AI on Monday (13 January), the Prime Minister committed to harnessing the technology to turbocharge growth and boost living standards to deliver on the government’s Plan for Change. Every lever of the state has now swung into action to deliver on the 50 proposals from AI entrepreneur Matt Clifford’s AI Opportunities Action Plan, with a singular focus on making the UK a magnet for firms looking to invest, scale, and grow their businesses.

    The plan includes initiatives that will help make the UK the number one place for AI firms to invest, which is vital if Britain is to be at the forefront of this industry and be a change-maker rather than a change-taker.

    Further Information

    • The Vantage Data Centres anticipated investment, some of which is subject to planning permission and agreed connection timelines, is expected to support over 10,000 local construction jobs over the next decade, and create over 1,500 operational roles at its data centres.
    • Read about the UK’s new blueprint for AI.