Business

Britain’s ambitions to build a world-leading life sciences industry are being undermined by falling investment and mounting criticism from global pharmaceutical groups, according to a stark new report.

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), working with PwC, has warned that the UK is “losing the race” to attract foreign direct investment, citing a toxic mix of poor access to innovative medicines, low government support and unpredictable NHS pricing clawbacks.

The 50-page study benchmarked the UK against international peers on 48 competitiveness indicators and found foreign investment in life sciences had slumped to £795 million in 2023—58 per cent below 2017 levels—pushing Britain down to seventh place in global rankings from a high of second only two years earlier. Pharmaceutical R&D has also slowed markedly, growing at just 1.9 per cent annually since 2020, against a global average of 6.6 per cent.

The warnings come as Merck scrapped plans for a £1 billion London research hub and cut 125 jobs, while AstraZeneca abandoned a £450 million vaccine site expansion in Liverpool. Eli Lilly and Sanofi have also sounded the alarm, with UK operations paused or scaled back until government policy becomes clearer. Executives say the sector’s world-class research infrastructure, academic institutions and thriving biotech ecosystem are being overshadowed by rising regulation and diminishing confidence in the UK market.

The findings threaten to undercut Labour’s industrial strategy, which has identified life sciences as one of eight key growth sectors. Ministers insist Britain remains the most attractive destination for life sciences investment, pointing to new funds and partnerships, but industry leaders warn urgent action is needed if the UK is to compete with the US, China and European rivals for the next generation of drug discovery and development.

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UK life sciences sector slipping in global investment race, industry warns

Smart glasses that help people with severe depression complete daily tasks and AI-powered filter apps designed to make therapy for anxiety more approachable are among 17 pioneering projects receiving government support to transform mental health care across the UK.

Science Minister Lord Vallance announced the investment today, with £3.6 million in funding from Innovate UK’s Mindset programme. The projects are aimed at delivering real-time, scalable mental health support, reducing costs for the NHS and easing pressure on resources.

The backing comes amid a 40 per cent rise in people accessing NHS mental health support in England since before the pandemic. The technology will be developed and trialled over the next 12 to 18 months, offering potential breakthroughs in how patients manage complex conditions such as depression, anxiety, psychosis and PTSD.

Among the innovations is a lightweight smart glasses system developed by CrossSense in London. The glasses use AI to help users with severe depression and memory loss by recognising household objects and providing real-time prompts through a connected app.

The technology can guide vulnerable individuals through everyday tasks – from issuing safety warnings such as “stay away from boiling water on the hob” to reframing negative thought patterns. It adapts over time to the wearer’s needs, helping prevent cognitive decline and enabling people to live more independently despite complex mental health challenges.

Immersive therapies and AI-powered tools

Other projects backed include:
• Play Well for Life, working with the University of the West of England, is developing an augmented reality board game that helps children improve communication, problem-solving and social skills in a supportive, interactive setting.
• Life Process Program, based in Northern Ireland, is building a customisable virtual coach for individuals recovering from substance abuse, simulating real-life therapy sessions.
• EcoGPX in West Yorkshire is linking extended reality with physical activity to connect people with nature and reduce anxiety.
• Photography Based Therapeutics, with the University of Surrey, is creating the world’s first app combining AI and AR to help young people use photo-editing filters to reduce distressing elements in images, replacing them with calming features. These visuals can then be used in therapy sessions to aid communication.

Lord Vallance described the programme as an example of science driving life-changing solutions: “From smart glasses helping those with debilitating depression to games helping children build social skills, we are supporting teams across the UK to build cutting-edge tech that unlocks opportunity, supports the NHS and grows our economy.”

Minister for Mental Health Baroness Merron added: “By embracing new tech, we’re improving lives and reducing pressure on the NHS to make healthcare fit for the future, as part of our Plan for Change.”

The funded projects cover a wide range of conditions including ADHD, autism, depression, occupational stress and addiction recovery. They form part of the government’s wider 10 Year Health Plan, which pledges an additional £688 million for mental health services, more staff, expanded talking therapies and enhanced access via the NHS App.

By investing in extended reality (XR) – including VR, AR, mixed reality and haptic technologies – the government aims to put the UK at the forefront of digital mental health solutions. These tools could be available via the NHS following clinical approval, or through regulated private channels, offering patients new ways to access personalised, effective care.

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Smart glasses and AI apps backed to transform mental health care in the UK

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is tightening control over the government’s economic strategy by strengthening a cross-government Budget Board that will shape the Autumn Statement on 26 November.

The board, which will meet weekly, is designed to ensure closer coordination between No 10 and the Treasury after criticism of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s first Budget, which drew backlash from business groups over steep tax rises.

The new structure will be co-chaired by Torsten Bell, pensions minister and former director of the Resolution Foundation, and Minouche Shafik, Starmer’s recently appointed chief economic adviser.

The committee will also include Katie Martin, Reeves’s chief of staff, tasked with managing relations with business; Varun Chandra, No 10’s business envoy; Darren Jones, the new Chief Secretary to the Treasury; and Starmer’s chief of staff Morgan McSweeney.

Both No 10 and No 11 communications chiefs will sit on the board, alongside Tim Allan, Starmer’s newly appointed comms director and a veteran of Tony Blair’s government.

Government insiders said the expanded line-up was designed to align economic and political messaging while injecting a stronger business perspective into budget discussions.

Pressure on Reeves as fiscal rules tighten

Chancellor Rachel Reeves faces growing pressure ahead of November’s Budget, with the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) expected to downgrade forecasts. To stay within her self-imposed fiscal rules, she may need to find £25bn–£50bn in additional tax rises, according to independent estimates.

Reeves was criticised after her last Budget for raising employer national insurance contributions by £25bn, a move business leaders said increased hiring costs and fuelled inflationary pressures.

Rain Newton-Smith, director-general of the CBI, has urged the government to pursue “radical tax reform” rather than more tax hikes, pointing to stamp duty and VAT thresholds as areas in need of overhaul.

The Institute of Directors (IoD) welcomed the creation of the Budget Board but called for greater business representation.

Anna Leach, IoD chief economist, said: “It is positive that the government is putting renewed energy into the growth agenda, with a particular focus on business. But to succeed, the Budget Board must deliver a statement that works for enterprise, with swift action to remove barriers to growth from the tax and regulatory system.”

She added that incorporating independent business voices into the board would help “constructively challenge” government thinking and bring specialist expertise to budget planning.

The strengthened Budget Board underlines Starmer’s determination to centralise economic decision-making and avoid the political missteps of recent months. But with sluggish growth, falling business confidence and difficult fiscal choices ahead, the test will be whether this new forum can balance Labour’s fiscal discipline with a pro-growth agenda that reassures enterprise.

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Starmer strengthens grip on economic policy with new Budget Board

Sir Nick Clegg has never been short of vantage points from which to view power. After five years as Deputy Prime Minister in the coalition government, he spent almost seven at the heart of Big Tech as Meta’s president of global affairs.

Now, in a recent conversation with Wilfred Frost on The Master Investor Podcast, he offered a bracing diagnosis of Britain’s malaise, a withering assessment of Silicon Valley’s culture, and a pragmatic take on how artificial intelligence and free speech should be handled in the years ahead.

Clegg’s fondness for Britain is undimmed, but his verdict on our current mood is stark. The UK, he argues, is “remarkably creative” for a “soggy, muddy island”, yet something has curdled. “It’s as if the country has fallen out of love with the future,” he says, lamenting a pervasive habit of talking down people and ideas. By contrast, Americans “celebrate success” in a way many Britons find “a bit frothy” — but which, he insists, creates its own momentum.

That cultural divergence is reinforced by economics and geography. When he was in Downing Street, Clegg notes, the GDP of Europe and the US was broadly comparable. Today, he observes, the American economy is perhaps 1.5 to 1.7 times larger — the product of faster rebounds after the financial crisis and the pandemic, stronger demographics, and the structural advantages of a continent‑sized market. Europe, for all its virtues, is a “trickier” neighbourhood.

Silicon Valley’s self‑pity

From Westminster’s rough and tumble to California’s wealth and influence, Clegg was struck by an unexpected phenomenon: thin skins in high places. “There’s this odd culture of very rich, successful men who feel terribly sorry for themselves,” he says of parts of the Valley. Many celebrate their role as disrupters, yet complain when disruption brings criticism. “Either be a disrupter — and take the flak — or don’t,” he shrugs, adding that the recent vogue for conspicuous “bro” bravado sits uneasily with a streak of “simpering self‑pity”.

His discomfort grows when political and corporate power get too cosy. Clegg worries that tech leaders and Washington are binding themselves together around a single idée fixe: beating China in AI. The rhetoric — and the spending — can sound like a reprise of the Cold War, with an assumption that the United States can outspend its rival to a decisive victory. That, he argues, misunderstands both the technology and the geopolitics. “AI is too versatile and too dispersed to deliver a single knockout blow,” he says. China is “far too powerful and technologically adept” to be treated as a foil in a winner‑takes‑all race. For Clegg, the smarter path is renewed partnerships with allies, not tariffs and chest‑beating.

Zuckerberg’s big swings — and AI realism

What of Meta’s own arms race? Clegg defends Mark Zuckerberg’s taste for outsized bets — Instagram and WhatsApp looked expensive at the time, he reminds us, and proved prescient. Even the metaverse, much mocked, may pay off over the long run as we migrate from hand‑held screens to new interfaces. But he injects a note of sobriety into the AI hype cycle. As each new model arrives, the step change can be less than the marketing suggests. “We were told [a next‑generation model] would be the moment we walked through the looking glass,” he says. “It’s a great improvement — but an incremental one.” If the industry is now “squeezing more out of the same paradigm”, he asks, will the revenue ultimately justify the capital outlay?

Meta can fund experimentation because its ads machine keeps humming, Clegg says, but none of the giants can rely forever on growth by capex alone. For their part, the AI specialists have begun to earn real money from enterprise tools and APIs — welcome, but not yet transformative at the scale of investment being made.

Clegg, for his own part, has moved on cleanly. After leaving Meta, he sold his remaining shares — not as a market call, he insists, but as a way of turning the page between distinct chapters of a career that has taken in Brussels, Westminster and Silicon Valley.

Free speech, the law — and a necessary reset

Asked about claims from figures such as Elon Musk and US senator JD Vance that Britain lacks robust free speech, Clegg’s response points in two directions. First, he bristles at lectures from Washington: “Just butt out,” he says, noting what he sees as a striking double standard in the way the current US administration deals with dissent. Yet he also believes the UK has indeed tilted too far towards criminalising online speech. Citing reports that police make dozens of arrests each day for social‑media offences using pre‑digital statutes, he argues that a free society must tolerate “ghastly, offensive” speech unless it incites imminent harm.

The pendulum, he suggests, has swung widely over the past decade. In the late 2010s, he found corporate America “humourless and earnest” about speech — a climate that hardened further under the pressures of the pandemic. With hindsight, he concedes, platforms over‑corrected as they tried to contain harmful misinformation during a period of acute uncertainty. Today the backlash risks going too far the other way, towards an absolutist, “cardboard‑cut‑out” libertarianism that few truly practise. “Free expression becomes ‘free expression for stuff I like’,” he says of some of Musk’s interventions.

Clegg is unapologetic that platforms enforce community standards which go “well beyond” the letter of the law — a reality often overlooked when politicians and commentators complain they are not going further still. Private companies, he points out, are being asked to act as philosopher‑kings in a space where democratic consensus is elusive.

The coming shift, in his view, is even more consequential. For two decades, social networks could plausibly argue they were conduits for speech created by others. Generative AI complicates that defence. Increasingly, users will engage directly with AI agents or avatars — “the sharp arrowhead” of technology built and deployed by the companies themselves. Liability, therefore, will evolve. Clegg worries about interactions between these systems and children, teens and vulnerable adults, and about the sophistication with which AI will impersonate human conversation.

He also observes a strategic realignment at Meta and its peers. The firm’s original advantage was its “social graph” — the map of relationships among friends and family. Now, like TikTok and YouTube, its services are pipelines for algorithmically recommended entertainment, increasingly including synthetic content. In that world, responsibility and risk look different. It may yield a “cleaner” internet if companies are forced to take more direct accountability — but it will also demand more scepticism from users. “One of the ways we will have to live with the online world is by fostering society‑wide scepticism,” Clegg says, especially among the young, because so much more of what we see will be AI‑generated slop.

On the question of past harms, he defers to the coroner’s findings in the Molly Russell case, while stressing that the company changed policies and systems to make a repeat of her experience less likely. It does not make the internet risk‑free, he says soberly, but it is “very, very different” from the era in which she was online.

What leadership really demands

Clegg closes with a defence of politics as a craft. Leadership, he argues, is harder in government than in business: the trade‑offs are “dizzying”, accountability more relentless. British ministers, however senior, face constituents every week — a discipline that keeps them close to the real world. By contrast, he has seen chief executives take umbrage at a critical adjective on page 13 of the FT. The lesson for both spheres is the same: resilience matters, and so does perspective.

If Britain is to regain its optimism, Clegg implies, it will need to rediscover the confidence to build — and the generosity to celebrate those who try. And if Silicon Valley wants to lead responsibly, it must shed its self‑pity, temper its absolutism on speech, and accept that AI’s future will be collaborative, not imperial.

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Nick Clegg urges Britain to rediscover optimism and tells Silicon Valley to drop the self pity

Video platform Vimeo has agreed to be acquired by Italian technology company Bending Spoons in a deal valued at $1.38 billion (£1.1bn). The all-cash transaction will see Vimeo shareholders receive $7.85 per share, a 91% premium on the company’s 60-day average closing price as of 9 September 2025.

The transaction, unanimously approved by Vimeo’s board, is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals. Once completed, Vimeo will become a privately held company, delisting from public markets.

Glenn H. Schiffman, Chairman of the Board, said the move followed a disciplined review of options: “This transaction delivers compelling, certain value to Vimeo shareholders and positions the company to accelerate its roadmap as part of Bending Spoons. We are confident they are the right long-term partner for our customers, employees and brand.”

Vimeo CEO Philip Moyer echoed the optimism, noting Bending Spoons’ commitment to scaling Vimeo’s self-serve, OTT/streaming and enterprise services. He added: “We believe this partnership will unlock even greater focus for our team and customers as we continue to strive towards being the most innovative and trusted video platform in the world for businesses.”

Founded in Milan, Bending Spoons is known for acquiring and scaling digital products, including productivity apps and creator tools. CEO and co-founder Luca Ferrari described Vimeo as a “pioneering brand in the video space” with a global community of creators and businesses.

Ferrari said the acquisition fits Bending Spoons’ model of owning and operating companies “indefinitely” and promised ambitious investments in the US and other priority markets. Plans include strengthening performance and reliability, expanding enterprise and creator offerings, and rolling out AI-enabled features with a focus on responsibility and innovation.

The deal comes as video platforms face rising competition from social media giants, AI-driven content tools and enterprise streaming services. For Vimeo, which has pivoted towards business and professional services in recent years, the acquisition offers a chance to accelerate investment without the constraints of quarterly market scrutiny.

For Bending Spoons, it represents a strategic expansion into enterprise video solutions, complementing its growing portfolio of consumer-facing digital products.

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Vimeo accepts $1.38bn takeover bid

The imposition of 100% tariffs on all imports from China and India would create an unprecedented shock to global trade, according to Dr Jonathan Owens, Senior Lecturer in Operations and Supply Chain Management at the University of Salford.

Talking to Business Matters Dr Owens warns that such a move would severely disrupt supply chains, drive up costs, and have far-reaching geopolitical consequences.

Both countries are integral to the global economy. China, the world’s largest exporter, dominates in electronics, machinery, textiles, automotive parts and consumer goods. Its manufacturing base is deeply embedded in the supply chains of multinational corporations. India plays a crucial role in IT services, pharmaceuticals, textiles and chemicals. Few global alternatives can match the scale and depth of their expertise.

Initially, some businesses might absorb the higher costs by compressing margins or delaying price changes. But Dr Owens notes this is only a short-term response. Over time, increased costs from tariffs and supply chain disruption would inevitably be passed on to consumers.

Industries with fast product cycles – such as electronics, clothing and consumer goods – could see price rises within months. For sectors dependent on seasonal stock, the impact might be felt in the next product cycle. Meanwhile, industries with longer, more complex supply chains – particularly automotive and digital hardware – could experience compounded cost increases where multiple tariffs are applied at different stages.

Supply chain shifts are slow to stabilise

Some firms would attempt to mitigate the impact by sourcing from new suppliers, redirecting supply chains, or shifting production to other regions. However, such changes are medium- to long-term strategies. Transitioning production is complex and costly, with limited viable alternatives to China’s manufacturing scale or India’s IT and pharmaceutical capacity.

The timeframe for global supply chains to adjust would therefore span months to years, during which consumers and businesses alike would face sustained disruption.

Tariffs on China and India would also trigger knock-on effects across other markets. As businesses reprice goods and redirect sourcing, ripple effects could spread to industries not directly reliant on Chinese or Indian supply chains. Customers may seek cheaper alternatives, while competing exporters could increase their own prices in response to shifting global demand.

Dr Owens suggests the situation could “irritate customers” as once-affordable products quickly rise in price, undermining consumer confidence and household budgets.

With tariff retaliation a likely outcome, the risk of a broader trade war would be high. Reciprocal measures from Beijing and New Delhi could further restrict flows of goods, services and raw materials, with particularly damaging consequences for sectors such as agriculture, automotive, technology and pharmaceuticals.

Ultimately, while the immediate impact would be higher prices for consumers, the longer-term implications would be the destabilisation of global supply chains and heightened geopolitical tensions. Businesses and governments would need to adapt strategies quickly to avoid systemic risks in a deeply interconnected global economy.

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Global supply chains face severe disruption if China and India hit with 100% tariffs

Formula 1 drivers Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson of the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls (VCARB) team have taken an unusual step to thank their hardworking pit crew: asking fans and creatives to design a bold, one-of-a-kind helmet through Airtasker.

The brief, live now on the local services platform, challenges designers to come up with concepts that are “big, bold, and badass.” The winning idea will be transformed into a special-edition helmet to be worn by the pit crew during the Qatar Grand Prix in December 2025.

Hadjar and Lawson said in their post: “The pit crew have been crushing it, and we want to find someone who can design a special edition helmet for them – something wild, unforgettable and creative as a thank you gift they’ll never forget. They’re the heartbeat of everything we do, so we want to create something as legendary as they are.”

Submissions will be reviewed personally by the two drivers, who will select their favourite concept. The chosen Tasker will then bring their idea to life before the helmets are unveiled later this season.

The task is titled “Need Crazy and Creative Ideas for F1 Helmet” and carries a £500 reward for the winning design.

Tim Fung, founder and CEO of Airtasker, said the collaboration showed how the platform can connect talent with unique opportunities: “It’s awesome to see VCARB Formula 1 drivers turning to Airtasker to find creative talent – it proves that anyone can get anything done on our platform. Motorsport is driven by passion and precision, just like the Airtasker community. Whether you’re a designer, a racing fan, or just someone with a wild idea, this is your moment.”

For fans and aspiring designers, the project is being hailed as a once-in-a-lifetime chance to leave a mark on the world of Formula 1. By merging Airtasker’s community-driven ethos with the spectacle of elite motorsport, the initiative celebrates creativity in a way that reaches far beyond the racetrack.

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VCARB F1 drivers Hadjar and Lawson turn to Airtasker for bold helmet designs

Contactless card payments could soon exceed the current £100 cap – and even become unlimited – under proposals from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

The regulator is consulting on plans that would give banks and card providers the freedom to set their own limits, potentially making the four-digit PIN a rarity for UK shoppers.

The changes would bring physical cards in line with digital wallets on smartphones, which already allow unlimited tap-and-go payments thanks to biometric security features such as fingerprints or facial recognition.

From £10 to £100 – and beyond

Since their introduction in 2007, contactless card limits have risen steadily: from £10 initially, to £15 in 2010, £20 in 2012, £30 in 2015, £45 in 2020 during the pandemic, and £100 in 2021.

If approved, the latest plan could be rolled out as early as next year. However, the FCA stressed that any higher-value transactions would only be permitted for low-risk payments, with providers carrying the burden if fraud occurs.

The proposals come despite strong opposition from the public. An FCA consultation revealed that 78 per cent of consumers favoured keeping the £100 limit, citing fears of theft and overspending.

Protections already in place include a requirement to enter a PIN after a series of five consecutive contactless payments, or once cumulative spending exceeds £300. The FCA acknowledged that raising limits would likely increase fraud losses, but said detection systems are improving and customers remain protected by reimbursement rules if fraud occurs.

David Geale of the FCA reassured cardholders: “People are still protected. Even with contactless, firms will refund your money if your card is used fraudulently.”

Some banks already allow cardholders to lower their contactless limit or switch the feature off entirely. Under the new proposals, this flexibility could be expanded, with customers given more control over their own spending caps.

UK Finance, which represents the banking industry, said: “Any changes will be made thoughtfully with security at the core.”

The FCA said the move is part of a wider push to stimulate economic growth by removing regulatory barriers, echoing calls from the Prime Minister for regulators to support the economy. Similar systems already operate in Canada, Australia and New Zealand, where card providers set their own limits.

But the consultation, which runs until 15 October, highlights the balancing act between consumer convenience, fraud prevention and economic stimulus. For some shoppers, unlimited contactless could be a welcome sign of progress. For others, it risks eroding trust in the security of one of Britain’s most widely used payment methods.

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Contactless payments could go unlimited

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has warned ministers that access to the Treasury’s emergency funding pot will be sharply curtailed in the run-up to the government’s first Budget this autumn.

In a letter to cabinet colleagues, Reeves said departments would only be able to draw on the Treasury Reserve once they had maximised internal savings. She added that any borrowing from the reserve – which amounted to £9 billion last year but is being halved in 2025 – would have to be repaid.

The Reserve is intended for “genuinely unforeseen, unaffordable and unavoidable pressures” but has in recent years been used to fund public sector pay deals and compensation settlements. Reeves’ move signals a desire to tighten discipline across Whitehall as she seeks to balance the books while boosting growth.

The clampdown comes less than 11 weeks before Reeves delivers her first Budget on 26 November, where she will set out tax and spending plans covering the NHS, schools, defence and infrastructure.

Economists warn she faces a fiscal challenge of between £25 billion and £50 billion to meet her self-imposed borrowing rules, which require day-to-day government costs to be met through tax income rather than borrowing by 2029–30.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies has already cautioned that the Spending Review’s reduction of the Reserve from a typical £14 billion a year leaves “little space to deal with unforeseen pressures.”

At Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, Reeves referenced recent bond market instability across advanced economies, stressing that “stability is more important than ever to underpin growth in a volatile global environment.”

She told ministers: “I do not think there is anything progressive about spending £100 billion a year on paying off debts accrued by previous governments. I would rather spend that money on cutting hospital waiting lists, tackling illegal migration and keeping our country safe.”

The Chancellor also sought to reassure markets and backbench MPs that she will resist “the temptation to duck tough choices on spending.”

Business leaders have raised concerns over the impact of further tax rises. Rain Newton-Smith, director-general of the CBI, wrote in the Guardian that the Chancellor “must commit to tax reform, not just tax rises.”

She warned that companies already face higher costs following the April increase in employer National Insurance contributions, the rise in the National Living Wage, and ongoing price pressures. “The Chancellor cannot raid corporate coffers again,” she argued, urging instead for “long-term strategic tax reforms rather than adherence to outdated manifesto commitments.”

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Reeves clamps down on Treasury emergency funds ahead of November Budget

BT has been announced as a Gold Partner for Wales Tech Week 2025, the international summit celebrating digital innovation and entrepreneurship, which takes place from 24–26 November at the ICC Wales.

As one of the UK’s leading providers of telecommunications and digital infrastructure, BT connects more than a million businesses each day. Its involvement is being seen as a strong endorsement of Wales’s fast-growing tech sector, as the event looks to attract industry leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers and investors from around the world.

At the summit, BT will collaborate with Cisco to showcase new sustainable technology solutions designed to create a greener, more resilient Wales. By combining BT’s expertise in connectivity with Cisco’s advanced digital infrastructure, the partnership aims to demonstrate how smart, scalable technologies can transform industries, strengthen communities and unlock wider economic potential.

“This partnership is a huge vote of confidence in Wales Tech Week and the thriving innovation ecosystem we have here in Wales,” said Avril Lewis, managing director of Technology Connected, which organises the summit. “BT brings not only world-class expertise, but also a genuine passion for shaping a future where technology delivers for everyone.”

Championing digital skills and public service innovation

BT has been a key player in the UK’s critical national infrastructure for more than 88 years, working with over 200 NHS trusts, 44 police forces and 38 fire services. In Wales, it continues to be a strong advocate for innovation and connectivity.

Susi Marston, head of public sector Wales at BT, said: “At BT, innovation and connectivity go hand in hand. From AI to IoT, none of it works without the right networks to connect people, places and possibilities. Wales is home to some of the UK’s most exciting tech talent and forward-thinking organisations. This summit is a chance to showcase how collaboration is powering real-world solutions.”

Wales Tech Week 2025 promises to put the nation on the global stage, with a programme of thought-provoking panels, live innovation showcases, immersive technology experiences and a dynamic exhibition.

The final day will feature Talent4Tech, the country’s largest tech careers event, aimed at inspiring the next generation of digital talent. As a Gold Partner, BT will play a central role in promoting the importance of digital skills and lifelong learning in building an inclusive, sustainable tech ecosystem.

The summit is free to attend and open to anyone passionate about the role of technology in solving today’s biggest challenges, from sustainability to digital inclusion.

For more information and registration, visit www.walestechweek.com.

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BT backs Wales Tech Week 2025