Industrial Strategy on track one year in, but political instability should not change its course, warns techUK

[LONDON, 23 June 2026]: One year on from the publication of the Industrial Strategy’s Digital and Technologies Sector Plan we cannot let political instability distract from its potential, warns technology trade association techUK.

Twelve months ago, the UK Government unveiled the ten-year Sector Plan, a core part of the Industrial Strategy, which set out over 50 policy interventions to make Britain a technology superpower. Today, techUK's verdict is cautiously optimistic.

More than half of the commitments have been implemented, including almost £4 billion allocated to frontier tech R&D, the British Business Bank making larger direct investments in strategic technologies, a major quantum investment package worth up to £2 billion, a new Global Talent Fund to attract and relocate leading international researchers to the UK, and the launch of the £500m Local Innovation Partnerships Fund.

For a Plan only one year into a ten-year journey, this represents a meaningful foundation. But progress has been uneven. In particular, the lack of action on electricity — both costs and grid connection delays — continues to pose a significant barrier to digital infrastructure investment. This is a major concern, as data centres and telecoms networks are the backbone of the UK’s digital economy.

This adds to the tech sector’s reporting that it has not yet felt much tangible, real-world impact arising from the Sector Plan. However, this is primarily because it takes time for these policies to bear fruit. Broadly, early implementation is encouraging, but for the Sector Plan to generate long-lasting impact in the tech sector, policy stability and predictability are now required.

However, there is the risk that the opposite occurs: the announcement that the Labour Party will soon have a new leader and the country a new Prime Minister suggests significant uncertainty ahead. Policy stability and consistency are now more important than ever.

Although the Sector Plan should demonstrate some flexibility to respond to the rapidly evolving economic and technological landscapes, the government – and its successors – ought to remain loyal to the overarching ten-year direction of travel that the Sector Plan, and the broader Industrial Strategy, set out. That will ensure that the Sector Plan builds on its early promise and delivers genuine impact for the UK tech sector and the wider economy.

Antony Walker, Deputy CEO, techUK said:  

“The Industrial Strategy's first year has delivered progress but there is more work to be done to ensure this plan generates genuine impact and delivers fully for the UK, our economy and people. techUK is clear that the glass is half full, but we mustn’t let political turmoil derail what this Strategy can achieve.

“As the UK prepares for another new Prime Minister, we look forward to continuing to work with the government to drive the delivery of the Industrial Strategy and continue to advocate for continuity in critical areas.”

Notes to Editors

The full analysis can be viewed here.

The eight high-growth sectors in the Industrial Strategy are advanced manufacturing, clean energy industries, creative industries, defence, digital and technologies, financial services, life science, and professional and business services.