Tag: Department for Science Innovation and Technology

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 2 March 2026.

Government launches a landmark consultation on UK children’s digital wellbeing, covering social media age bans, curfews, AI chatbots and gaming.

• Expansive consultation opens to explore measures to keep children safe across the internet, from social media to gaming sites
• Consultation will consider whether to ban social media for children, effects of gaming, restriction of AI chatbots features, and overnight curfews
• Government will run real-world pilots with families and teenagers to examine how potential future social media restrictions could work in practice

Parents, guardians, and young people across the UK are being urged to shape the country’s next steps on children’s digital wellbeing, as the UK government opens the world’s most ambitious consultation on social media today (Monday 2 March).

The consultation will gather insights from the public on how to keep children safe online across social media, AI chatbots and gaming platforms.

Millions of parents across the country worry about what social media is doing to their children’s sleep, concentration and mental health. Many feel they are fighting a losing battle against platforms designed to keep children scrolling. They are grappling with how much screen time their children should have, when they should give them a phone, what they are seeing online, and the impact all of this is having. They worry about their children talking to chatbots as if they’re real people and relying on their advice.

The Online Safety Act brought in strong protections, but there is growing agreement that more needs to be done. The contributions to this consultation will determine how the government will decide what that looks like.

Many parents and campaign groups have called for an outright ban on social media for under-16s. Others, including children’s charities, have warned that a blanket ban could drive children towards less regulated corners of the internet or leave teenagers unprepared when they do come online. That is why this consultation looks beyond a ban and covers a full range of options, from curfews, to the impact of chatbots and gaming. It also asks the questions about how any new rules would work in practice to ensure they are effective.

Key questions the consultation will explore include some of the most talked-about potential changes:

• whether there should be a minimum age for social media, and if so, what age would be right
• whether platforms should be required to switch off addictive features that keep children hooked late into the night – like infinite scrolling and autoplay
• whether mandatory overnight curfews would help children sleep better and what age they should apply to
• whether children should be able to use AI chatbots without restriction
• how age verification enforcement should be strengthened
• how to help children and parents navigate the digital world and thrive online

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said:

The path to a good life is a great childhood, one full of love, learning and play. That applies just as much to the online world as it does to the real one.

We know parents everywhere are grappling with how much screen time their children should have, when they should give them a phone, what they are seeing online, and the impact all of this is having.

This is why we’re asking children and parents to take part in this landmark consultation on how young people can thrive in an age of rapid technological change.

Together, we will create a digital world that gives young people the childhood they deserve and prepares them for the future.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

Technology is fundamentally changing childhood. Used well, it can open up new opportunities for learning, creativity and connection, but only if we get the balance right. That is why we want to hear directly from parents, teachers and young people about how we strike that balance and give children the very best childhood in a digital age.

Today’s consultation is a vital next step. For the first time, we will also publish guidance on healthy screen time for children aged 5 to 16, giving parents the practical tools to help their children build a healthier relationship with technology from an early age.

Every child deserves a childhood – real experiences, real friendships, real opportunities. We are determined to make that a reality, both inside and outside the classroom.

The 3-month consultation is open to everyone with a view:

• parents
• carers
• young people
• those who work with children
• civil society organisations
• academics
• industry

Dedicated versions have been developed for young people and for parents and carers, making it easier for them to share their experiences and views. 

The consultation will close on 26 May 2026.

The government will respond in the summer, acting swiftly on the evidence gathered. 

The Prime Minister and Technology Secretary have announced new legislative powers that will allow the government to act at pace on the consultation’s findings – meaning that once passed, ministers can move within months instead of waiting years for new legislation every time technology evolves. 

The government will also work with parents to run live pilots with teenagers to test interventions including social media bans, overnight curfews, and daily screen time limits in practice, so decisions are grounded in real-world evidence as well as public views.  

The public’s views are essential to getting the next steps right. That’s why alongside the formal consultation, the government is launching one of its most wide-ranging national conversations on a public issue in recent years. Over the coming 3 months, families, young people, and communities across the UK will be invited to share their views, including through dedicated children’s and parent’s versions of the consultation. The national conversation will include community events, MP-led local conversations, influencer roundtables, and engagement through schools and civil society organisations. A parallel academic panel will also assess the developing evidence base, drawing on international experiences from countries including Australia.

The consultation sits alongside the government’s wider approach to online safety, including a new campaign and website that provides practical support that parents can use immediately, giving them the confidence they need to have conversations with their children about the content they see online.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 19 February 2026.

First-ever AI Strategy for UK Research and Innovation marks bold plan to make AI deliver for UK’s cutting-edge science and research efforts.

• First-ever AI Strategy for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) marks bold plan to make AI deliver for UK’s cutting-edge science and research efforts, supporting breakthroughs from health to clean energy and beyond
• AI ambitions for UK’s largest public research funder backed by record £1.6 billion, directly targeted at the AI sector between now and the end of the decade
• From screening for cancer to harnessing clean energy, research and innovation is critical to making AI work for good: a key theme of this year’s AI Impact Summit

AI will be put to work to transform cutting-edge research into innovations that benefit us all – from better healthcare and new public services to cutting edge products. 

The UK’s largest public research funder UKRI has set out its first-ever plan to put AI to work for the nation’s world-leading innovators today (Thursday 19 February) – building on the UK’s historic strengths in fields like computing and agentic AI. 

UKRI-backed work on AI is already making a difference across society and the economy – from the world-leading RADAR AI system that detects faults on the railway network in real time, to the IXI Brain Atlas which is supporting more than 40 clinical trials into degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s by helping to analyse brain scans. 

In the recent Spending Review settlement, UKRI committed a record £1.6 billion of funding directly targeted at the AI sector over the next 4 years, its biggest single investment area for 2026 to 2030. This includes funding for specific activity that UKRI will deliver on behalf of  the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) – which is subject to change as delivery plans are finalised. It also sits alongside significant additional AI investment woven through the broader UKRI budget.  

The new strategy signals UKRI’s intention to make major investments in mathematics, computer science and engineering research which underpin AI expertise. World-class researchers and businesses across the UK will also benefit from better access to the right tools, training and infrastructure to unlock new growth across the UK. This will help bring to life innovations that make people’s lives better – a key theme of the India AI Impact Summit which continues this week. 

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, who is leading the UK delegation at the India AI Impact Summit, said: 

The UK is backing its pioneering AI leadership with more than £1.6 billion in investment to make sure the best of British expertise develops the next wave of AI innovations. Together we are turning potential into progress and that’s the ambition I am bringing to the AI Summit in India this week.

From spotting cancers earlier to cutting backlogs in public services, new research into AI will be a game-changer, bringing the promise of tomorrow’s technologies to the UK today.

UK AI Minister Kanishka Narayan said: 

The potential of combining our AI expertise with our peerless R&D community is a game-changer. This plan will harness AI to accelerate both the pace and possibility of scientific endeavour.

We are already seeing AI change the game for what’s possible in fields from health, to energy, and beyond. Boldly backing this technology is how we push our Great British innovators to further success, and build a path to breakthroughs that boost our health, wealth, and wellbeing.

The strategy also commits to expanding doctoral and fellowship routes co-designed with businesses. It will also support recognised career frameworks for research software engineers, data scientists and ethics specialists – supporting the high-paying jobs of the future.  

AI is one of the central growth sectors in the UK’s industrial strategy. UKRI’s plan will turn the UK’s scientific excellence into economic advantage by supporting regional clusters, creating new jobs and backing technologies with high-growth potential.  

Professor Charlotte Deane, Senior Responsible Owner for the UKRI AI Programme and Executive Chair of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, said:  

The UK has deep strengths in AI. From the country of Alan Turing and Ada Lovelace, we have a world-class tradition in mathematics and computer science. This strategy will turn that research excellence into national advantage.

To do that, we must make bold choices in areas where the UK can genuinely lead the world. UKRI will play a central role in backing the full innovation pathway from fundamental research to prototypes to scale-up.

By uniting universities, businesses, industry and government we can unlock the potential we have long had but have not yet fully mobilised.

Areas of focus 

Under the new strategic framework, investment will focus on 6 priority areas:  

• advancing technology development  
• transforming research through AI  
• developing AI skills and talent  
• accelerating innovation for economic growth and societal benefit 
• championing responsible and trustworthy AI 
• building world-class AI data and infrastructure 

Central to UKRI’s plan is building a strong research and innovation community which will support them with the skills they need to become the AI leaders of the future.  

UKRI-backed AI research is already making a difference to everyday life, from the world’s first system spotting railway faults before they cause delays to a tool detecting online harm to keep us safe. In healthcare, AI-powered brain imaging is helping to identify early signs of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.  

Now UKRI is now putting its weight behind AI. Under the new strategy, it will help to deliver:  

• up to £137 million as part of DSIT’s AI for Science Strategy to back AI-enabled scientific discovery starting with drug discovery and new treatments 
• £36 million to upgrade the University of Cambridge’s “DAWN” supercomputer supporting breakthroughs in areas like healthcare and environmental modelling. 

Today’s AI is built on decades of curiosity-driven research across mathematics, computer science, neuroscience and linguistics.  

The strategy will create an environment where discovery-led research continues to thrive. It will simplify programmes and remove barriers, supporting researchers through the journey from fundamental research to prototypes to scale-up.  

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 19 February 2026.

New law requires tech platforms to take down non-consensual intimate images within 48 hours or face fines.

• Government orders tech platforms to detect and remove intimate images shared without consent
• Firms put on notice that any non-consensual intimate image that is flagged to them must be taken down in under 48 hours
• Government clear that tackling intimate image abuse should be treated with the same severity the same as child sexual abuse material and terrorist content

Tech companies will be ordered to take down intimate images shared without a victim’s consent within 48 hours, under new laws to protect women and girls from this distressing abuse.

Through an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, companies will be legally required to remove this content no more than 48 hours after it is flagged to them, and platforms that fail to act could face fines of up to 10% of their qualifying worldwide revenue or having their services blocked in the UK.

The government is determined to make sure that victims will only need to report an image once. This would mean where an image is reported, they are removed across multiple platforms in one go, and from then on, they are automatically deleted at every new upload.

As part of that work, plans are currently being considered by Ofcom for these kinds of images to be treated with the same severity as child sexual abuse and terrorism content, digitally marking them so that any time someone tries to repost them, they will be automatically taken down.

In a further step to protect victims, we will publish guidance for internet providers setting out how they should block access to sites hosting this content, targeting rogue websites that may fall outside the reach of the Online Safety Act.

In recent years, there has been a worrying trend of intimate images being used to threaten, intimidate and distress, and the Prime Minister is determined to hand back control to victims and end their fear that even when an image is taken down, it will only be put up somewhere else.

Prime Minister Keir Stamer said:

As Director of Public Prosecutions, I saw firsthand the unimaginable, often lifelong pain and trauma violence against women and girls causes. As Prime Minister, I will leave no stone unturned in the fight to protect women from violence and abuse. 

The online world is the frontline of the 21st century battle against violence against women and girls. That’s why my government is taking urgent action: against chatbots and ‘nudification’ tools.

Today we are going further, putting companies on notice so that any non-consensual image is taken down in under 48 hours.

Violence against women and girls has no place in our society, and I will not rest until it is rooted out.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said:

The days of tech firms having a free pass are over. Because of the action we are taking platforms must now find and remove intimate images shared without consent within a maximum of 48 hours.

No woman should have to chase platform after platform, waiting days for an image to come down. Under this government, you report once and you’re protected everywhere.

The internet must be a space where women and girls feel safe, respected, and able to thrive.

Minister for Violence Against Women and Girls, Alex Davies-Jones said:

Intimate image abuse devastates lives. These new measures send a clear message: tech platforms can no longer drag their feet. When harmful content is flagged, it must come down, and fast.

By requiring companies to remove non‑consensual intimate images within 48 hours, we are finally putting the onus where it belongs – on the tech firms with the power and resources to act.

It’s a vital step towards making the online world safer, fairer, and more respectful for women and girls.

The government was elected on a pledge to recognise violence against women and girls (VAWG) as a national emergency, and halve this crime in the next decade. Central to this pledge is keeping women and girls safe online.

Just weeks ago, the government called out abhorrent non-consensual intimate images being shared on Grok, which led to the function being removed. Ministers are also legislating to make ‘nudification’ tools illegal and bringing chatbots – like Grok – within scope of the Online Safety Act.

Creating or sharing non-consensual intimate images will also become a ‘priority offence’ under the Online Safety Act, meaning this crime is treated with the same seriousness as child abuse or terrorism.

This builds on the government’s VAWG strategy, the first step in the government’s plan to transform how society response to these awful crimes, this included more than 200 pledges spanning prevention, supporting victims and pursuing offenders, and this laid out a whole of government, and a whole of society approach.

The Prime Minister has been clear this is the first step in the mission to halve violence against women and girls in the next decade, and his government is now focused on delivery.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 19 February 2026.

Major new backing for medical imaging centres across the UK including tidal energy testing expansion in Orkney and cutting-edge materials.

• Major new research programmes backed by the government and delivered through UKRI will drive innovation in healthcare, cleaner energy and advanced manufacturing.
• Pioneering medical imaging centres across the UK will help doctors detect diseases earlier and speed up treatment for patients.
• Tidal energy testing expanded in Orkney – cementing Scotland’s place as a clean energy superpower and unlocking greener power for communities.
• £80 million pumped into efforts to produce cutting-edge materials, supporting everything from lighter and more efficient aircraft parts to long-lasting medical implants.

Patients will see faster cancer diagnoses and doctors will gain new insights into how diseases develop and resist treatments, as part of 3 new research programmes which harness cutting-edge tech to deliver benefits for hardworking people across the country. 

Unveiled by Science Minister Lord Vallance today (Thursday 19 February), a combined pot of £150 million will support 3 key projects spanning healthcare, clean energy, and the development of state-of-the-art materials. This will help deliver on the government’s plans for national renewal, by growing the economy, improving lives, and helping turn the brightest UK research ideas into new businesses.

The investment is part of UKRI’s record £38 billion funding settlement, which will specifically target curiosity-driven research, R&D addressing government priorities, and support for innovative companies to start, scale and stay in the UK.

The UK’s research community has already been backed by a record £86 billion in R&D investment over the coming years, with today’s announcements highlighting how that support is helping researchers go further and faster to deliver positive change and tangible impact for the British public.

One key area is in the treatment and diagnoses of cancer – a disease which will touch all of us over the course of our lifetimes. The earlier a disease is caught, the better a patient’s chances, while the ability for researchers to understand why a treatment works for one person but not others holds the potential to transform care for millions.

Backed by £55 million, a new medical imaging programme will create ‘Centres of Imaging Excellence’ in England, Scotland and Wales. These hubs for cutting-edge med tech will bring together the latest scanning technology with clinical expertise to unlock new insights into how diseases develop and why some infections resist drugs. For patients, this means faster, more accurate diagnoses and treatments tailored to them. For the NHS, it means staying at the forefront of medical science while easing pressure on services.

A project backed by £15 million meanwhile will tap into Britain’s coastline – one of our greatest natural assets – to help generate reliable, clean power. Blue Horizon will expand the European Marine Energy Centre’s world-leading tidal test facilities in Orkney, meaning more companies can trial their turbines in real world conditions, accelerating the journey from prototype to power grid. The investment brings tidal energy closer to becoming a mainstream part of Britain’s energy mix, creating skilled jobs in coastal communities and supporting the government’s mission to make the UK a clean energy superpower.

Scotland’s natural strengths as a renewable energy powerhouse have already seen the country taking on an increasingly pivotal role to deliver growth and opportunity. Lanarkshire’s new AI Growth Zone announced just weeks ago will not only create 3,400 high-value local jobs but will also be powered by on-site renewables. This pioneering approach highlights the potential of renewable energy to power the UK’s science, innovation, and technology ambitions for generations to come.

Science Minister Lord Vallance said:

Britain has world-class researchers and a proud history of turning insight and ideas into innovation. Our job is to make sure those ideas don’t just stay in the lab, but become the treatments, technologies and products that improve lives in hospitals, homes and communities across the country.

Government investment in projects like these – from helping to spot diseases earlier and developing new cancer therapies to taking advantage of our coastline to power the nation – will make a real difference to people and spark the economic growth hardworking communities deserve.

This represents British research at its best – bringing together ideas, expertise, and technical know-how and turning it into impact.

Dr Zubir Ahmed, Health Innovation Minister, said:

After 20 years of frontline NHS experience, I know how vital it is that cancer is caught early to give patients a fighting chance.

Cutting edge research like this could save lives by giving patients faster diagnoses and individually-tailored treatments.

This is another step on our journey to shift our NHS from analogue to digital, as part of our 10 Year Health Plan.

As part of today’s announcements, the government is also rolling out an £80 million National Materials Innovation Programme (NMIP) – helping deliver on the ambition of its Modern Industrial Strategy. Advanced materials are already part of daily life – they stop our phone screens from shattering when they’re dropped and help electric car batteries charge faster and last longer. They’re also behind critical innovations in healthcare, defence and clean energy.

Britain has world-leading researchers developing these materials, but promising discoveries too often end up manufactured abroad. The programme unveiled today will bridge that gap, helping UK innovations reach market faster and keeping production in Britain. This sort of innovation is already delivering positive change for the public. Only 3% of UK adults with glioblastoma – the most aggressive brain cancer – currently survive for 5 years, with Cheshire-based QV Bioelectronics now using advanced materials to develop a world-first implant device which delivers targeted therapy directly to the brain. The company has secured £4.5 million, including Innovate UK funding, to now begin first-in-human trials.

The money announced today will help bring together industry, academia, and government to streamline access to funding, and support targeted pilots which could lead to the eventual development of everything from lighter, more efficient aircraft parts through to long-life medical implants.

Mike Biddle, Executive Director Net Zero at Innovate UK, said:

Working alongside Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) will help establish a coordinated approach for the UK advanced materials sector and accelerate the pull through of impactful innovations into industry, boosting productivity, resilience and growth nationwide.

The programmes announced today highlight how curiosity-driven research and a focus on national priorities and support for companies to scale up and grow will deliver sustainable, positive change for British people. This agile, focused, and impactful approach won’t just put British expertise at the heart of innovations and breakthroughs delivering for people here at home, but which are transforming lives for the better all over the world.

Notes to editors

The National Materials Innovation Programme will fund 5 areas of activity:

• connecting researchers with businesses – new networks bringing together universities, companies and government
• backing high-potential projects – targeted support for the most promising innovations
• protecting strategic supplies – ensuring the UK can produce materials critical to national security,
• improving testing and data – developing better ways to measure and verify how new materials perform
• building international partnerships – working with global partners to attract investment, share expertise and strengthen the UK’s reputation as a world leader in materials science

The Blue Horizon project is delivered by the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney, with funding from UKRI’s Infrastructure Fund.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 16 February 2026.

UK and international partners to redouble efforts for AI to transform public services, create jobs and drive renewal for people worldwide at AI Impact Summit.

• UK and international partners to redouble efforts for AI to transform public services, create jobs and drive renewal for people worldwide, as talks get underway at India AI Impact Summit 2026
• Talks build on the Bletchley, Seoul, and Paris AI summits – focusing AI’s impact on citizens, growth and sustainability
• Deputy PM and AI Minister lead UK delegation with a range of planned engagements and moves to support global AI innovation

The UK will use the AI Impact Summit in India this week to champion how AI can supercharge growth, unlock new jobs, improve public services and deliver benefits for people across the globe.

Led by Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy and AI Minister Kanishka Narayan, the UK delegation begins a week of discussions focused on how AI can improve everyday life– not just in advanced economies but in every corner of the world.

They will make the case that AI is the engine of renewal – helping doctors diagnose faster, teachers personalise learning, councils deliver services in minutes, and businesses create the next generation of good jobs.

The Summit follows the momentum of the Bletchley, Seoul and Paris AI summits, where the UK has consistently shaped the global agenda. At home Britain is powering ahead – deepening partnerships with leading tech firms, working with international governments and delivering on the AI Opportunities Action Plan to unlock jobs and investment.

Since taking office in the summer of 2024, the government has attracted more than £100 billion worth of private investment alone into the UK’s AI sector – highlighting the huge appetite from global backers to support British AI expertise.

The UK and India are natural tech partners, with major Indian tech companies like Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services and Wipro already expanding in the UK. Their backing follows hot on the heels of the PM’s visit to Mumbai in October, where a combined £1.3 billion of investments was pumped into the UK by Indian firms.

UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said:

The UK is leading the way on AI innovations and expertise. We are rightly a magnet for investment and talent from across the globe. 

This Summit is an important moment in determining how we can work together with our international partners to unlock the full benefits and potential of AI, while baking in robust and fair safety standards that protect us all. 

We are turning ambition into action to deliver UK jobs, growth and prosperity. The business leaders joining us in India will build concrete partnerships and secure investment that delivers opportunity for working people in the UK, India and across the globe.

UK AI Minister Kanishka Narayan said:

AI is the defining technology of our generation – and we’re determined to make sure it delivers for everyone. It can cut waiting times, transform public services, create new jobs and give hard working communities a fresh start – and that’s exactly the message we’re taking to the summit.

It is central to our plans for delivering national renewal but its benefits can’t and shouldn’t be reserved by the few.

That’s why the UK is leading from front, pushing a global vision for AI that helps people everywhere to learn more, earn more, and shape the future on their terms.

On the agenda this week, The Deputy Prime Minister is expected to speak on a high‑level panel on Friday about unlocking opportunity through global languages. He will announce new UK support for an African Language Hub, enabling AI to work in 40 African languages – making the technology more inclusive and accessible for millions.

This is 1 of 3 new initiatives being announced as part of the £58 million AI for Development (AI4D) programme to ensure that developing countries benefit fully from the AI revolution:

• Asian AI4D Observatory – supporting responsible AI innovation and governance across South and Southeast Asia.
• AI4D Compute Hub at the University of Cape Town – giving African innovators the compute power they need to turn ideas into impact.

Ahead of the Summit, Minister Narayan will also travel across India to see how our 2 countries are working together to reap the benefits of breakthrough tech – including at Indian Institute of Technology – Delhi, which holds India’s record for most unicorn startups produced, as well as travel to Bengaluru, often described as India’s Silicon Valley.

In New Delhi, the Deputy Prime Minister will explore new British and Indian innovations changing the world in AI and take part in a session looking at how AI can drive inclusive social empowerment and tackle inequality. 

Collaboration with India is critical to the UK’s ambitions in science and technology. The UK and India are investing tens of millions in cutting edge research – from better batteries and next generation telecoms for rural communities, to genomic medicine that could tackle rare diseases.

India is also a vitally important market for British businesses generally – with UK firms generating more than £47.5 billion in revenue from their business in India.

The Prime Minister joined PM Modi last year to unveil Vision 2035, a shared ambition for how the UK and India partner together to unlock the huge potential of this partnership. Unlocking new opportunities for growth across both economies, driving innovation, and shaping the technologies of tomorrow together are key pillars of that commitment.  

Notes to editors

Overall, the UK has contributed £58 million to the AI for Development programme, launched alongside partners at the AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park in 2023.

Projects being awarded UK support through the AI for Development (AI4D) programme, in partnership with Canada

Asia AI4D Observatory
This will support responsible AI innovation and governance across South and South East Asia – helping innovators and people in India, and right across the continent. This is work that will encourage AI adoption in Asia that aligns with development goals, protects people’s rights, and safeguards marginalised groups.

Masakhane African Languages Hub
Aiming to make AI accessible 40 African languages – benefitting up to 700 million people.

AI4D Compute Hub
To be based at the University of Cape Town and in partnership with Canada, UK investment will help build a new AI4D Compute Hub to democratise access to computing for innovators in Africa. The Hub will help Africa’s innovators access the compute infrastructure they need to bring their ideas to life. 

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 3 February 2026.

Scotland will host a new AI Growth Zone in Lanarkshire, supporting more than 3,400 jobs and helping drive economic growth as part of the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy.

• Scotland to host new AI Growth Zone – a key pillar of the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy – creating 3,400 highvalue jobs and boosting wages across the region over the coming years
• Strong links with universities and businesses to open new collaborations, as the delivery of dozens of apprenticeships to support the next generation of Scottish AI talent. 
• £8.2 billion in private investment committed with an additional £540 million to support the local community, help tackle the cost of living, and boost jobs
• Demonstrates rapid progress on AI, with over 75% of the AI Opportunities Action Plan already delivered, laying the groundwork for growth and transformed public services. 

Hardworking people in Lanarkshire will have access to the skills and opportunities they need to chase the jobs of the future, as AI is put to work to transform communities and livelihoods.  

Delivered by home-grown data centre company DataVita around their data centre site in Airdrie – and in partnership with AI cloud firm CoreWeave – the Lanarkshire AI Growth Zone announced by the Technology Secretary today (29 January) will bring more than 3,400 jobs over the course of the coming years (note), including delivering 50 apprenticeships to nurture the next generation of Scottish AI expertise.  

Of these jobs, around 800 are expected to focus on the high-paying AI jobs of the future, including everything from AI researchers and coders through to permanent staff who will run and maintain data centres. The rest will be made up of immediate construction jobs, as attention turns to building out the entire site, including data centres, supportive infrastructure, and a renewables park. 

Alongside £8.2 billion in private investment that will drive economic renewal in the local area, a new community fund will inject up to £543 million into support for a range of local programmes over the next 15 years (note). The money will come as a direct result of the work carried out at the site, being raised as data centre capacity comes online.  

From skills and training packages which will give people the tools they need for jobs in and working with AI, through to after-school coding clubs, and support for local charities and foodbanks – this is how the government is ensuring AI is delivering frontline support and opportunity for communities and playing an active role to bring down the cost of living. 

AI Growth Zones are just one of the many commitments the government has delivered one year on from the publication of the AI Opportunities Action Plan. In total the government has met 38 of its 50 commitments (note) with the public able to track progress in detail at a newly published interactive dashboard. 

In the past 12 months, the government has laid the foundations for long-term success, increased its AI computing power tenfold and launched a major skills drive which has already seen over one million free AI courses delivered.   

It is already delivering practical benefits – a third of chest x-rays in the NHS are AI-enabled, while AI is also helping the government function more efficiently by reducing the time taken to identify fraud by 80%. Meanwhile, Extract, the government-backed tool to digitise planning, is expected to be made available to all councils by Spring 2026, with a target to digitise all planning documents by the end of 2026. AI tutoring tools to narrow the attainment gap will also be co-developed this Summer and begin trials at the start of the next academic year. 

The UK AI sector is already the largest in Europe, raising £6 billion in 2025, which is an 80% increase from 2024. 

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:  

Getting on in life should not mean travelling miles from your community for work while struggling to pay the bills at home. 

By bringing billions of pounds of investment into Lanarkshire, we are creating good, wellpaid jobs and funding support that directly helps families with the cost of living.

With strong progress made on our AI Opportunities Action Plan over the past year, now is the time to put our foot on the accelerator and ensure working people feel the benefits in every corner of the UK.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said:   

Today’s announcement is about creating good jobs, backing innovation and making sure the benefits AI will bring can be felt across the community – that’s how the UK government is delivering real change for the people of Scotland. 

From thousands of new jobs and billions in investment through to support for local people and their families, AI Growth Zones are bringing generation-defining opportunity to all corners of the country.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said: 

Seizing the opportunities of AI is vital for getting jobs and growth in every part of the country. 

Our AI growth zones are doing just that – creating new opportunities for local communities and unlocking investment so businesses can grow and scale up, building an economy that works for working people.

Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill said: 

North Lanarkshire’s proud industrial heritage helped power Britain through the last century – from coal and steel to manufacturing. Today, we’re writing the next chapter, as this community becomes home to an advanced AI site. The area will once again be at the very heart of Scotland’s and Britain’s industrial story. 

This is the UK government’s economic growth in action. Scotland’s AI Growth Zone, backed by £5 million of UK government investment will create more than 3,400 jobs and attract billions in investment. With 5 AI Growth Zones now across the UK, we are cementing our position as Europe’s leading tech sector. 

The UK government’s AI Growth Zone will bring new industries, good jobs and fresh opportunities to North Lanarkshire, but also boost the economy of the whole of central Scotland.

Danny Quinn, Managing Director of DataVita, said: 

Scotland has everything AI needs, the talent, the green energy, and now the infrastructure. But this goes beyond the physical buildings

We’re creating innovation parks, new energy infrastructure, and attracting inward investment from some of the world’s leading technology companies. This is a massive opportunity for North Lanarkshire & Scotland, and we want to make sure local people share in it.

The £543 million community fund means the benefits stay here, good jobs, new skills, and investment that actually reaches the people who live and work in this area.

Ben Richardson, Managing Director of CoreWeave International, said: 

The Lanarkshire AI Growth Zone marks a meaningful step in moving the UK from AI ambition into AI in production.

We’re proud to make this £1.5 billion investment with DataVita, delivering a production-grade AI cloud designed to run, scale, and evolve as AI becomes embedded across the economy.

That long-term approach is what supports economic growth and strengthens the UK’s position in AI.

Bolstering the benefits for local communities even further, DataVita’s parent company HFD Group will also contribute a separate £1 million per year towards local charities and community groups.  

When completed, Lanarkshire will be one of the most advanced AI sites anywhere in the world, with DataVita planning to include the generation of more than 500MW of on-site power to drive AI breakthroughs in the next 4 years.  

It will also explore cutting-edge solutions to one of the most pressing challenges facing AI – energy consumption. The energy powering this new Growth Zone will be drawn from on-site renewables, while excess heat – produced by cooling systems as they keep cutting-edge computers and tech in top working order – will also be put to good use. Once the site is fully up and running, plans will be explored to see this excess heat re-directed to power the nearby University Hospital Monklands – Scotland’s first fully digital and Net Zero hospital.   

Being in striking distance of land ripe for development for solar and wind power source will help to ensure the UK can realise its AI ambitions without compromising on its clean energy superpower mission. This is a pioneering new approach to AI development – harnessing renewable energy to power advances in the technology while ensuring those benefits always filter down to benefit local communities.  

CoreWeave will be one of the key backers of the site, rolling out cutting edge NVIDIA GPU chips so researchers and innovators can power their work. This deployment will be part of the £2.5 billion investment the company has made to AI projects in the UK.   

It joins a stable of 5 AI Growth Zones announced in the 12 months since the launch of the AI Opportunities Action Plan, joining Oxfordshire, North and South Wales, and the North East of England as jewels in the UK’s AI Crown. All told, AI Growth Zone announcements over the last 12 months have been bolstered by commitments to add up to 15,000 jobs for local communities, and at least £28.2 billion in private investment (note).     

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 3 February 2026.

Barnsley named UK’s first Tech Town – with local schools and college, businesses, NHS and more getting bespoke government support to unleash opportunities of AI.

• Barnsley named UK’s first Tech Town – with local schools and college, businesses, NHS and more getting bespoke government support to unleash opportunities of AI 
• Delivers on town’s ambitions to put AI to work in overhauling public services and business, blazing a trail for the rest of the UK to follow
• Leading firms including Microsoft, Cisco, Adobe and Google back the plans and pledge to support local people’s access to jobs of the future
• Follows launch of free AI training for all as part of commitment to upskill 10 million UK workers, naming of Lanarkshire as latest AI Growth Zone, and £36 million investment into AI Research Resource supercomputer

People across Barnsley could see improved public services, better support in local schools, quicker NHS care and new opportunities for jobs and skills as it becomes the UK’s first government backed Tech Town.   

Announced today (Tuesday 3 February), Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has set out plans to put the full heft of government behind the town’s rollout of AI across everything from education to health and more.   

Tech Town status will position Barnsley as the UK’s trailblazer, acting as a national blueprint for how AI can improve everyday life. From AI tools that help GPs triage patients quicker, to new digital training for adults – today marks the start of a transformation designed to make like easier, fairer and more prosperous in Barnsley.    

Over the next 18 months, government will work closely with local business leaders, educators, NHS workers and more to build local talent who can access the jobs of the future, and make local services fit for the AI era. Unleashing AI’s potential to turbo-charge how we learn and upskill is a central part of Barnsley’s regeneration plans, and the government’s ambitions for the UK overall too. Barnsley is set to forge a path the rest of the country, could follow – one that makes sure communities left behind by the economic changes of the 20th century, can seize the benefits of the 21st.  

This will include:   

• free AI and digital training – working with Barnsley College and the South Yorkshire Institute of Technology, residents will be able to take part in free courses to boost their career, retrain or simply learn something new
• help to increase AI adoption – expanding the Seam Digital Campus to give small and growing businesses hands‑on support to use new technology, scale up and create good local jobs. The Seam is already home to 33 digital businesses, with plans for it to become an AI Campus based around a new National Centre for Digital Technologies
• innovating in healthcare – partnering with Barnsley Hospital to test AI tools that offer quicker check-ins, faster triage and smoother outpatient care – providing a better service and freeing up NHS workers to focus on what they do best
• tools to support teaching and learning –testing AI and edtech tools in schools and Barnsley College, to improve evidence of the impact of technology on pupil outcomes, inclusion and reducing teacher workload
• building the right infrastructure – planning how the town will use technology better like public buildings and Wi‑Fi, as well as adding strong cybersecurity so people can use digital services with confidence and boosting connectivity

Government will use its convening power to get leading tech companies involved in this work in Barnsley, with Microsoft and Cisco’s UK CEOs joining Kendall on a visit to Barnsley, to see the town’s digital and AI ambitions first-hand. Leading tech firms including Cisco, Microsoft, Adobe and Google are backing the plans – with all 3 pledging a package of initiatives to boost Barnsley’s AI and digital talent, so that people of all ages can build the skills that will help them access the jobs of the future in growing tech industries. Key local organisations like Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber of Commerce and Barnsley CVS are also set to partner the Tech Town initiative. 

This follows a raft of government action last week to unleash AI’s potential as a force for national renewal: from the launch of free AI training for all as part of commitment to upskill 10 million UK workers, to the naming of Lanarkshire as the latest AI Growth Zone, as well as a £36 million investment to upgrade the AI Research Resource supercomputer in Cambridge. 

Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said:  

I am delighted to have been invited by Barnsley, to work with them to achieve their ambition to become the UK’s leading tech town.

If we are going to get AI to work for Britain, we need Britons and British public services that can work with AI. That is why Barnsley’s ambitions are crucial, because if we can show that AI helps young people learn, supports local businesses to be more productive, and improves public services, then we can show what’s possible for the whole country.  

What we learn here will shape how we roll out AI across the UK – making sure every community sees the benefits.

Barnsley Council Leader Sir Stephen Houghton CBE said:  

One of the key missions in our Inclusive Economic Growth Strategy is for Barnsley to become the UK’s leading digital town. Welcoming the Secretary of State to Barnsley to announce that we are the UK’s first Tech Town underlines our ambition and commitment to innovation which will benefit our residents, businesses and partners. This is one of the most important investments in Barnsley in our history and will help secure our long-term economic future. 

The Tech Town programme is where cutting-edge technology meets everyday usefulness. It will complement our existing plans at The Seam Digital Campus, including the National Centre for Digital Technologies, and the Health on the High Street programme, which is revolutionising how residents can access health and wellbeing services in Barnsley. 

We’re looking forward to working with colleagues from DSIT, our residents and our partners to shape the programme to create safer, smarter public services and new opportunities for everyone to thrive in the emerging and fast-paced AI landscape, blazing a trail for the rest of the country to follow. 

South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: 

Thanks in no small part to work being led by Steve Houghton and Barnsley Council, we’re building a bigger, better economy in South Yorkshire, creating jobs and opportunities in the industries that will define the next generation and beyond. 

That’s why the government have recognised Barnsley as the UK’s first Tech Town. Because we have already built a thriving digital ecosystem, from The Seam Digital Campus and the growing cluster of digital and creative businesses, to the cutting edge training at Barnsley College and the South Yorkshire Institute of Technology. Barnsley has all the foundations of a modern, thriving tech economy. 

This is a place that is driving real change across our region. Being recognised as the first Tech Town in the UK both reflects and reinforces that momentum, strengthening South Yorkshire’s position as one of the most exciting tech communities in the country.

UK government AI Ambassador, and 2024 Nobel Prize Winner for Economics, Simon Johnson said:  

AI is changing everything, and the opportunities are massive. We have to make sure that everyone, wherever they live and whatever their background, gets to feel the benefits.  

But that will only happen with ordinary people in the driving seat. That’s why what’s happening in Barnsley is going to be critical, to the whole country’s AI aspirations. By putting this technology into the hands of local people, working to improve their town, Barnsley can guide us to an AI-powered future that puts people and their families first, and that builds stronger communities. 

Naming Barnsley as the UK’s first Tech Town is about putting local residents in the driving seat. Over the coming months, they will be invited to a series of “Tech Town Halls” – giving local people a real say in how AI is used across the community and an opportunity to feedback their experience of using the technology.   

Barnsley is already embracing AI and other technologies to improve people’s lives. Delivery company EVRi recently trialled robot delivery dogs in the town, it is one of the first UK councils to roll out Copilot at scale and it is being used to support overstretched social care teams from paperwork.   

Becoming a Tech Town will help take these bold ambitions to the next level. Just last month the government announced plans to make safe AI-powered tutoring tools available to up to 450,000 children in a bid to level the playing field for disadvantaged pupils. Trials will start in summer this year with a number of schools in Barnsley being considered.  

While Barnsley’s Seam Digital Campus is set to be expanded into an AI campus; to help local firms make use of AI, to link them with universities and investors, and to help build a pipeline of local skilled tech talent.  

Becoming a Tech Town will help take these bold ambitions to the next level. Just last month the government announced plans to co-design and trial safe AI-powered tutoring tools in schools. These tools could support up to 450,000 disadvantaged children; levelling the playing field for those who cannot afford private tutors. The co-design will start in the summer term this year with schools in Barnsley being considered.   

Support for Barnsley Tech Town

Nathan Hancock, Vice President and MD, Adobe UK, Ireland and Middle East, said: 

AI is reshaping businesses, industries and the economy at a rapid pace, but it will only reach its full potential if skills and training programmes are accessible and delivered in partnership with industry to meet the real-world needs of businesses today.  

By partnering with the government on the Tech Town initiative, we will bring the best of Adobe’s AI-driven tools, skilling and education programmes to the community, accelerating innovation and creativity, transforming careers and creating a talent hub in Barnsley that supports the UK’s ambition of becoming a leading AI economy.

Sarah Walker, Chief Executive, Cisco UK and Ireland, said: 

AI is set to be more transformative than the advent of the Internet. But to really matter to our citizens today, it must translate locally. That’s exactly what this first government-backed Tech Town is designed to deliver. How AI can be applied in real places, for real people, to make everyday life and work better. Whether that’s a parent being able to book childcare more easily, or a small business finding the confidence to hire and grow. 

 >Together with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and local leaders, we are excited to support Barnsley showcasing how towns across the UK can turn AI innovation into visible improvements in people’s lives, prospects and public services.

Barnsley College CEO and Principal, David Akeroyd, said: 

Being named the UK’s first government‑backed Tech Town is a significant moment for Barnsley, and Barnsley College is proud to be at the heart of this ambition. 

This work reflects the long-standing commitment, vision, expertise and dedication of the College and our partners, who continue to push boundaries and provide a sector-leading digital curriculum to ensure our community can build the skills needed for an AI‑enabled future. 

Together, we are creating new opportunities for people across Barnsley, opportunities that will shape lives, strengthen our economy, and open the door to a more innovative and prosperous future.

Notes to editors

Barnsley Tech Town supports Barnsley 2030: Barnsley Council’s long-term plan to build a prosperous, better, fairer and more inclusive town.  

As part of Barnsley’s ambition to become the UK’s leading digital town, work is already well underway delivering the Seam Digital Campus, part of the South Yorkshire Investment Zone, which is home to DMC: an innovation space for digital and creative scale-ups. This is where the forthcoming National Centre for Digital Technologies will be based.  

The £15 million Barnsley campus of the South Yorkshire Institute of Technology is also already up and running, offering a state-of-the-art learning environment that replicates industry conditions and uses the latest equipment 

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 27 January 2026.

Government sets out key part of its digital transformation agenda, bringing world class talent into Whitehall to modernise essential services.

• UK AI experts join government to improve everyday public services including in transport and national security with $1 million from Meta.
• Anthropic will collaborate with the government to create AI assistants that support job seekers with career advice and finding employment.
• This forms a key part of the government’s wider digital transformation agenda, bringing world‑class talent into Whitehall to modernise essential services and deliver quicker, safer and more efficient outcomes for the public.

People across the UK could benefit from faster, safer and more reliable public services as leading British AI specialists join government to modernise critical systems used every day – from public safety to transport maintenance.

Backed by a $1 million investment from Meta and delivered through the Alan Turing Institute, this new cohort of AI fellows will spend the next year developing open‑source tools that tackle some of the biggest challenges facing public services.

In transport, fellows will harness AI to develop models which analyse images and videos, enabling councils to prioritise infrastructure repairs more effectively.

Specialists will develop cutting-edge AI solutions which run offline or within secured networks to support national security and defence teams to make vital decisions while safeguarding sensitive data.

Ensuring emerging technologies like AI can go further and faster to support people at all stages of their lives, a new partnership with Anthropic also launches today to help build and pilot a dedicated assistant tool for public services. The AI assistant will support people through crucial life moments, starting with job seekers, providing custom career advice and help to lock down a job.

The technology, which will be entirely optional, is part of a cutting-edge plan to use AI agents for national government services, with a pilot expected to begin later this year.

Today’s announcement comes as the government marks a week of focused action, showcasing how emerging technologies like AI are being put to work for the public good, benefitting hardworking people at the point of delivery.

A bold new vision for how tech will be used to help re-wire Whitehall will drive a further boost to the government’s digital transformation agenda. Launched in January 2025, the roadmap capitalises on the AI Opportunities Action Plan as it prepares to celebrate its first birthday, bringing the benefits of AI to the frontline of public services.

Minister for Data and Modern Digital Government, Ian Murray said:

A digital world needs a modern, digital government. That is why we are enlisting the homegrown talent we already have to elevate our public services.

Having met the fellows I know they will play a pivotal role in re-wiring our healthcare, police, transport systems and more, to make sure hardworking people benefit from the opportunities that only technologies like AI can deliver.

Rob Sherman, VP, Deputy Chief Privacy Officer, Policy, at Meta said:

Meta is proud to help bring top British AI talent into government, fast-tracking the transformation of public services. Advanced AI is already woven into daily life—powering the UK’s economy, driving innovation, and enhancing quality of life for citizens. By placing AI experts at the heart of government institutions, we’re accelerating meaningful change and ensuring these benefits reach everyone.

Pip White, Head of UK, Ireland and Northern Europe at Anthropic:

We’re excited to partner with the UK government to help deliver on the AI Opportunities Action Plan.

This partnership with the UK government is central to our mission. It demonstrates how frontier AI can be deployed safely for the public benefit, setting the standard for how governments integrate AI into the services their citizens depend on.

Professor Mark Girolami, Acting CEO and Chief Scientist at the Alan Turing Institute said:

AI has huge potential to help us anticipate risks, improve decision making and boost productivity, strengthening the UK’s resilience and prosperity. The new fellows will play an important role in putting effective AI tools into the hands of our public servants in order to realise these benefits.

The programme brings together some of the UK’s leading AI researchers and practitioners including:

• Dr Armin Mustafa, University of Surrey – an expert in computer vision and AI‑driven modelling
• Angus Williams, Senior Data Scientist at the Alan Turing Institute – specialist in real‑world machine‑learning applications for the public sector
• Dr Shan Luo, Associate Professor of Computer Vision at King’s College London – known for robotics‑led approaches to imaging and automated decision‑making
• Dr Frank Soboczenski, Assistant Professor in AI at the University of York – a leader in trustworthy AI and safety‑critical systems
• Dr Mingfei Sun, Assistant Professor in Computer Science at the University of Manchester – an expert in large-scale reinforcement learning

Earlier this month, the UK government announced CustomerFirst – a new team within the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) focused on eliminating long wait times, repetitive form‑filling and outdated processes across a number of public services. To accelerate this work, government is bringing in additional private‑sector expertise and emerging technology to deliver tangible improvements on the frontline.

Led by Tristan Thomas, formerly of Monzo and with Greg Jackson, CEO of Octopus Energy as its first co‑chair, CustomerFirst will put modern technology to work to cut out long phone queues, reduce paperwork and make it easier and faster for people to access the services they rely on.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 8 January 2026.

Dating apps and social media platforms must now prevent cyberflashing, as it becomes a priority offence under the Online Safety Act.

• Online Safety Act strengthened as ‘cyberflashing’ becomes a priority offence
• Dating apps and social media platforms now have to take proactive steps to prevent this vile content before users see it
• New law follows a historic government strategy to halve Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) within a decade, which included a commitment to make cyberflashing a ‘priority offence’ under the Online Safety Act

People using dating apps and social media platforms will be better protected from receiving unsolicited nude images, as a new law compelling tech firms to stop this type of content before it reaches users comes into force today (Thursday 8 January).

Platforms will be required to take proactive steps to prevent this vile content from appearing in the first place, not just react after the harm is done. Tech firms will now face some of the strongest requirements under the Online Safety Act as ‘cyberflashing’ becomes a Priority Offence.

Companies could tackle these images for example by using automated systems that pre-emptively detect and hide the image, implementing moderation tools or stricter content policies.

Those that fail to comply could face fines of up to 10% of their qualifying worldwide revenue, or have their services blocked in the UK.

Bumble was the first dating app to explicitly moderate cyberflashing to protect its members from seeing unwanted pictures. 

The women-first dating app launched Private Detector, an AI-powered feature that automatically detects and blurs nudity in images sent within chats. It then alerts the recipient who can choose to view, block, or report the image. The AI model is carefully trained with vast datasets to avoid misclassification.

Liz Kendall, Technology Secretary, said: 

We’ve cracked down on perpetrators of this vile crime – now we’re turning up the heat on tech firms. Platforms are now required by law to detect and prevent this material.

The internet must be a space where women and girls feel safe, respected, and able to thrive.

Elymae Cedeno, VP of Trust and Safety at Bumble said: 

Receiving unsolicited sexual images is a daily violation that disproportionately impacts women and undermines their sense of safety online. Strengthening the law to make cyberflashing a Priority Offence is an important step toward ensuring platforms proactively address this behaviour to better protect members.

As part of our long standing safety commitments, Bumble introduced features like Private Detector, which uses AI to identify and blur nude images in chats, giving members greater control over what they see. We hear regularly from our community about the impact of this behaviour, and we welcome measures that increase accountability and help create a safer digital environment.

Ofcom will now consult on new codes of practice, setting out exactly what steps platforms must take to protect users from unsolicited sexual images.

The priority offence marks another step in making the online world safer, particularly for women and children, who are disproportionately targeted. 1 in 3 teenage girls has received unsolicited sexual images*. This government is serious about ending that.

This builds on the government’s wider commitment to tackle online abuse and halve violence against women and girls, making clear that the digital world is not a law-free zone.

Minister for Safeguarding and Violence against Women and Girls Jess Phillips said:

For too long cyberflashing has been just another degrading abuse women and girls are expected to endure. We are changing this.

By placing the responsibility on tech companies to block this vile content before users see it, we are preventing women and girls from being harmed in the first place. 

We will deploy the full power of the state to make this country safe for women and girls, both online and offline.

Through the cross-government strategy to Build a Safer Society for Women and Girls, published on 18 December, we committed to making the ‘cyberflashing’ offence a ‘priority offence’ under the Online Safety Act.

These strengthened protections will tackle the problem at the root, before women are subject to this gross violation.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 6 January 2026.

New measures will be introduced to make online public services more secure and resilient, so people can use them with confidence – whether applying for benefits, paying taxes or accessing healthcare.

• £210 million plan to strengthen cyber resilience across government
• Government Cyber Unit to coordinate risk management and incident response across departments
• Leading firms with strong track record of cyber security to drive best practice through new Software Security Ambassador Scheme

New measures will be introduced to make online public services more secure and resilient, so people can use them with confidence – whether applying for benefits, paying taxes or accessing healthcare. 

Backed by over £210 million, the Government Cyber Action Plan published today (Tuesday 6 January) sets out how government will rise to meet the growing range of online threats. Driven by a new Government Cyber Unit, the plan will rapidly improve cyber defences and digital resilience across government departments and the wider public sector, so people can trust that their data and services are protected.  

It underpins UK government plans to digitise public services. This will make more services accessible online, reduce time spent on phone queues and paperwork, and enable citizens to access support without repeating information across multiple departments. This approach could unlock up to £45 billion (note) in productivity savings by using technology effectively across the public sector. 

However, realising these benefits depends on trust. As services move online, they must be secure and resilient. Cyber attacks can take vital public services offline in minutes, disrupting lives and undermining confidence. The new plan addresses this challenge head-on. 

Released as the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill has its Second Reading in the House of Commons, the Bill sets out clear expectations for firms providing services to government to boost their cyber resilience. From energy and water suppliers to healthcare and data centres, strong defences throughout supply chains will help keep the water running and the lights burning – facing down the cyber attackers who want to grind our country to a halt.   

The plan will lead to: 

• clearer visibility of risks: shining a light on cyber and digital resilience risks across government, so we can focus efforts where it matters most
• stronger central action on the toughest challenges: taking decisive, joined-up action across departments on severe and complex risks that no single organisation can solve alone with a dedicated team overseeing coordination
• faster response to threats and incidents: reacting quickly to fast-moving cyber threats and vulnerabilities to minimise harm and speed up recovery by requiring departments to have robust incident response arrangements in place
• higher resilience across government: boosting resilience at scale, with targeted measures to close major gaps and protect critical services

Digital Government Minister Ian Murray said: 

Cyber-attacks can take vital public services offline in minutes – disrupting our digital services and our very way of life.  

This plan sets a new bar to bolster the defences of our public sector, putting cyber-criminals on warning that we are going further and faster to protect the UK’s businesses and public services alike. 

This is how we keep people safe, services running, and build a government the public can trust in the digital age.

Today’s plan is also bolstered by further steps to take the UK’s cyber defences further and faster. 

A new Software Security Ambassador Scheme will now help drive adoption of the Software Security Code of Practice – a voluntary project designed to reduce software supply chain attacks and disruption. 

Software underpins the economy as a core component of all technologies that businesses rely on. Yet weaknesses in software can cause severe disruption to supply chains and the essential services the public use every day with more than half (59%) (note) of organisations experiencing software supply chain attacks in the past year. 

These issues can be addressed by embedding basic software security practices across the software market. Among others, Cisco, Palo Alto Networks, Sage, Santander and NCC Group will come on board as the scheme’s ambassadors, championing the Code across sectors, showcasing practical implementation, and providing feedback to inform future policy improvements. 

Cyber risk to the public sector remains high. The plan responds with £210 million to spark a step change in public sector cyber defences, holding organisations to account for fixing vulnerabilities. This includes setting clear minimum standards and investing in more hands-on support to minimise the impact when incidents do occur.

Cyber resilience is central to the government’s mission of national renewal. Secure, reliable digital public services help protect citizens, support growth, and deliver better value for taxpayers, while maintaining trust in the services communities rely on every day.

Thomas Harvey, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Santander UK said:

We are pleased to be an ambassador for the UK government’s Software Security Code of Practice and it reflects our broader commitment to collective resilience. By advocating for these standards we’re not just protecting Santander and our customers, we are helping to build a more secure digital economy for everyone.