Insights

On 28 May, techUK joined fraternal digital trade associations, Government representatives and tech companies from across the G7 for the TECH7 Summit in Paris, and to publish the TECH7 Joint Statement ahead of the G7 Digital Ministers Meeting on 29 May.  

In this interview, CEO of investigations platform Clue Software Clare Elford reflects on the company’s transformation from the 1980s to scaling across new markets today and the importance of attracting high calibre talent. Having completed Series A funding in 2021, Clue Software features on the Tussell Tech 200 high-growth list 2026.

In this interview, Co-founder and CEO of Great Wave AI and member of techUK’s Scale-up Council Jack Perschke discusses the rapid growth of his GenAI agent orchestration platform, the excitement of starting a business from scratch and the importance of public sector buyers backing the start-up and scale-up community.

In this video, Chief Executive of specialist technology company Opencast Tom Lawson discusses his company’s journey since its founding in 2012, going from a team of 80 in 2019 to 700 people as of today, and how Opencast has benefitted from the UK business environment.

Guest blog by Priit Liivak, Chief Government Technology Officer at Nortal

Guest blog from Keywave Technologies exploring "Manifesto: The Next Frontier of Edge AI

Guest blog by Vishal Marria, Founder and CEO at Quantexa

Find the Joint Statement by the Digital Trade Associations of the G7 Countries here.

Welcome to this week’s update on the fast-moving world of global trade, digital policy, and transatlantic relations. Here’s what’s shaping the global agenda right now.

See upcoming events, opportunities, news, and updates from techUK's International Trade Programme…

Guest blog by Nardos Abraham is Consultancy Services Director at Littlefish Group

Get up to speed with techUK's activity during London Climate Week 2026.

On 28 April, techUK brought together a panel of subject matter experts to discuss a fascinating emerging area at the frontier of artificial intelligence, bio intelligence.

On Wednesday 20 May, techUK brought together industry leaders, government representatives and security professionals to explore the critical issues shaping supply chain security across the UK, examining the steps already being taken and the best practices ready to be implemented.

techUK has published a new report on AI procurement, "Lessons from the AI Procurement Frontline: Beyond the contract and buying blind: Rethinking AI procurement as a governance function," examining how organisations can navigate the critical decisions involved in buying AI systems and establish procurement as a genuine governance function.

Guest blog by Mark Hutchinson, Executive Vice President at Altera Digital Health (UK & EMEA)

On 20 May 2026, techUK hosted a session of the Interoperability in Justice and Public Safety Forum, with an agenda focused on advancing interoperability across justice and public safety, with a particular emphasis on operational data sharing and delivery.

Guest blog by Mark Venables, CEO at Highland

On Thursday 14 May, techUK was pleased to host a Cyber SME Forum webinar exploring how government supports the UK cyber security sector to succeed in global markets.

techUK has published its first report on photonics, the science and technology of light, which sets out how the UK can position itself as a global leader in photonics technologies and lead the next wave of photonics innovation and deployment.

Yesterday (21/05/2026), DBT announced that the UK has signed an FTA with the Gulf Cooperation Council, comprised of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait. This is the GCC’s first FTA with a G7 economy. DBT estimates the deal will remove an estimated £580 million in duties every year.

Read our insight on the CCC's Fourth Independent Assessment of UK Climate Risk, A Well-Adapted UK.

Guest blog by Nataliia Chornohub, CEO at YC World #techUKSupplyChainSecurityWeek

Guest blog by James Thomas, Global Head of Cyber and Priit Liivak, Chief Architect at Nortal #SupplyChainSecurity

Guest blog by Jonathan Lee, Director of Cyber Strategy at TrendAI #SupplyChainSecurity

Guest blog by Nick Leonard, Head of Architecture at CACI #SupplyChainSecurity

Written by Charlotte Knight, Digital Inclusion Officer, GMCA

Guest blog by Dean Clark, Architect, EMEA Defence Strategy; Nick Maynard, Principal Technologist, UK Defence and Jonny Williams, Chief Digital Adviser, UK Public Sector at RedHat #techUKSupplyChainSecurityWeek

Guest blog by Tracey Hannan-Jones, Consulting Director in Information Security at UBDS Digital #techUKSupplyChainSecurityWeek

Guest blog by Steve Jewell, Chief Executive Officer at Nine23 #techUKSupplyChainSecurityWeek

Guest blog by Richard Green, Managing Director, Defence & Justice at North #techUKSupplyChainSecurityWeek

Guest blog by Hayley Patterson #techUKSupplyChainSecurityWeek

Guest blog: Chris Rea, Prospects at Jisc, discusses their new report showing a disconnect between young people's perceptions and AI's real impact on work and jobs.

On 20 May 2026, techUK and NHS England Core Services co-hosted the inaugural session of a new Supplier Engagement Series, attended by over 100 industry representatives.

Securing supply chains is a shared responsibility - one that requires collaboration across procurement, security, engineering and operations teams alike.

Guest blog by Arno Selvini, EMEA Marketing at Yubico #techUKSupplyChainSecurityWeek

Guest blog by Amber Strickland at Gowling WLG #techUKSupplyChainSecurityWeek

Guest blog by Emily Wells-Cole, Principal at Netcompany #techUKSupplyChainSecurityWeek

Guest blog by Brig (Rtd) Sara Sharkey CBE, Strategy & Executive Director at Prolinx #techUKSupplyChainSecurityWeek

Guest blog by Sarb Sembhi, CTO at Virtually Informed #techUKSupplyChainSecurityWeek

Guest blog by Kenneth Abraham, Solutions Architect at Zaizi #techUKSupplyChainSecurityWeek

Guest blog by Mit Patel, Founder at Assurix #techUKSupplyChainSecurityWeek

Guest blog by Sakif Zafar, Principal Information Security Consultant at Littlefish Group #techUKSupplyChainSecurityWeek

This month's Talking 5 guest is Julia Brennan, Director of Local Government, Housing and Communities at Transform

Guest blog by Andrius Ulenskas, Technical Director at Hyve Managed Hosting #techUKSupplyChainSecurityWeek

techUK is excited to launch its inaugural Supply Chain Security Campaign Week, taking place from 18–22 May 2026, bringing together insights and expertise from across our Cyber Resilience, Defence and National Security programmes.

Guest blog by Phil Skelton, International Senior Director at eSentire #techUKSupplyChainSecurityWeek

Guest blog by John Hicklin, Lab-1 and Rob Wright, Nexor #techUKSupplyChainSecurityWeek

Guest blog by David Mitton – Head of UK Government Team at Dun & Bradstreet #techUKSupplyChainSecurityWeek

On Monday the 20th of April, techUK hosted a series of talks looking at how we can move chips up the policy agenda, through leveraging government ambitions across AI and other emerging technologies.

The Government has set out its vision for transforming care through its Neighbourhood Health Framework, supported by NHS England’s latest guidance to Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) on developing Neighbourhood Health Centres (NHCs).

On Thursday 7 May, techUK was delighted to host a webinar in partnership with the UK Cyber Security Council on ‘Shaping the Future of the UK Cyber Profession’.

A survey conducted by Policing Insight, supported by a steering group comprising the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), the Police Federation of England and Wales, the Home Office, and the Police Digital Service, has found that more than half of police officers are dissatisfied with the current provision of digital, data and technology (DDaT) within police forces.

The Government's Growing Up in the Online World consultation closes on 26 May. techUK sets out its positions ahead of submitting a formal response. 

techUK is pleased to gather member interest to join techUK’s Delegation to Switzerland taking place from 28 September to 01 October 2026. 

We were pleased to host the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) for a market engagement webinar focused on Forensics Net (MO4).

On Wednesday 29 April, techUK convened a panel discussion hosted by FDM Group to examine AI's impact on junior hiring, set against a backdrop of acute government focus on youth employment and concern about automations implications on entry-level roles. 

What the 2026 legislative agenda means for investment, innovation, and the UK’s digital economy.

Today’s King’s Speech outlined the government’s legislative priorities for the year ahead, including an upcoming Bill covering Digital Identity, called the Digital Access to Services Bill. The focus of the Bill is to modernise how citizens interact with public services. 

The UK Spectrum Policy Forum is pleased to announce that Coleago Consulting has been selected to lead the UK Spectrum Policy Forum's study on future spectrum users' demand.

Catch up on the discussion from the UK SPF's Cluster 1 workshop.

On the 12 May, the government published the annual Cyber Security Sectoral Analysis 2026 report, sharing insights on the size, growth and focus areas for the UK cyber security sector.

On 30 April, techUK convened senior leaders from across the digital health, life sciences, and social care industry in Leeds for our annual Health and Social Care Industry Dinner.

Following last week's local elections and the Senedd vote in Wales, Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivered a reset speech on 11 May morning. The speech contained some announcements on the UK's relationship with the European Union

Catch up on the conversation from the inaugural Advanced Connectivity Technologies Forum

This article sets out why the UK must move now to lead the convergence that will define the next generation of medicines.

The RIO Is seeking insights from businesses to understand the regulatory barriers that are holding back innovation across all science and technology sectors.

techUK convened its inaugural Climate Policy Forum, bringing together members, policymakers and industry experts to explore key climate policy developments and shape the future direction of techUK’s climate programme.

This year’s reception brought together leaders from policing, justice, fire and industry for an afternoon of discussion on the role of data and technology in improving public safety outcomes

On Tuesday 28 April, techUK was pleased to host the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC): United States programme update webinar providing members with an update on the United States Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification CMMC programme, following the finalisation of regulations by the US Department of Defense.

Guest blog by Katy Weber, Director of Partnerships at Apolitical #techUKSmarterState

In the early hours of 7 May 2026, after roughly nine hours of negotiations, the European Parliament, Council, and Commission reached political agreement on the AI Omnibus during the third political trilogue meeting.

The framing of the debate - that grid convenience should drive location decisions for digital infrastructure - deserves scrutiny.

techUK has submitted its response to the Department for Education's Call for Evidence on the use of AI and digital technology in children's social care.

Guest blog by David Singer, Director of Design at Transform #techUKSmarterState

Guest blog by Andres Raieste, SVP, Global Head of Public Sector at Nortal #techUKSmarterState

Guest blog by Jim Small, Director of Identity at Hippo Digital #techUKSmarterState

Guest blog by Anthony Soares, Defence Lead at EfficiencyIT

Guest blog by Shashin Shah, Founder & CEO at Onepoint Consulting #techUKSmarterState

Guest blog by Emma James, Chief Commercial Officer at Digital Modus #techUKSmarterState

Guest blog by Richard Davies, UK Country Managing Partner at Netcompany #techUKSmarterState

Guest blog by Alaa Owaineh, Research Director at GlobalData #techUKSmarterState

UK policing is delivering an increasingly ambitious programme of national digital, data and technology change, as set out in the National Policing Digital Strategy 2025–2030. While this strategy defines what policing seeks to achieve digitally, experience across recent national programmes has consistently shown that successful outcomes are dependent not only on technical delivery, but on how digital business change is delivered, adopted, embedded and sustained within forces.

Guest blog by Duncan White, Senior Director, Communications and Marketing at AtlasEdge #techUKSmarterState

Guest blog by Gavin Sneddon, Principal Analyst for Local Government at GlobalData #techUKSmarterState

Guest blog by Laura Larwood, Head of Central Government at SCC #techUKSmarterState

Guest blog by Afshin Attari, Senior Director of Public Sector at Exponential-e #techUKSmarterState

Guest blog by Chris Roberts, NetApp UK&I Public Sector Director at NetApp #techUKSmarterState

The UK has spent a decade building world-class quantum foundations. The next challenge is turning that foundation into a globally competitive quantum sector, and that means getting investment right. With up to £2 billion recently announced by the government for quantum technologies, the scale of public commitment is clear.

National Highways has issued its UK2 Preliminary Market Engagement Notice, inviting suppliers to express interest and participate in market engagement for the Estates Construction Projects Pipeline. The notice was published on 28 April 2026, and the engagement window closes on 5 June 2026.

See upcoming events, opportunities, news, and updates from techUK's International Trade Programme…

Welcome to this week’s update on the fast-moving world of global trade, digital policy, and transatlantic relations. Here’s what’s shaping the global agenda right now.