Prime Minister announces significant increase in Defence spending
The commitment means that in-year Defence spending will rise gradually each year between now and 2030, reaching £87.1bn by the end of the decade. At that point, in-year spending will be £7bn higher than the current level of 2.3% of GDP.
Commenting on yesterday's commitment techUK CEO Julian David said:
techUK and our members warmly welcome yesterday's announcement to boost Defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2030. The injection of an extra £75bn for Defence is transformative, giving technology and digital companies the confidence to invest in the sector, helping to enhance our own national security and reassuring our allies and partners in what is an increasingly dangerous and unpredictable world. With technology now playing an increasingly critical role as both an enabler and a force multiplier, extra investment in digital capabilities is vitally important to help the UK maintain its competitive advantage. We look forward to further clarity on where the spending uplift will be focused in due course for both our own members and the wider tech sector
Fred Sugden
Fred Sugden
Fred is responsible for techUK's activities across the Defence and National Security sectors, working to provide members with access to key stakeholders across the Defence and National Security community. Before taking on the role of Associate Director for Defence and National Security, Fred joined techUK in 2018, working as the Programme Head for Defence at techUK, leading the organisation's engagement with the Ministry of Defence. Before joining techUK, he worked at ADS, the national trade association representing Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space companies in the UK.
Fred is responsible for techUK’s market engagement and policy development activities across the Defence and National Security sectors, working closely with various organisations within the Ministry of Defence, and across the wider National Security and Intelligence community. Fred works closely with many techUK member companies that have an interest in these sectors, and is responsible for the activities of techUK's senior Defence & Security Board. Working closely with techUK's Programme Head for Cyber Security, Fred oversees a broad range of activities for techUK members.
Outside of work, Fred's interests include football (a Watford FC fan) and skiing.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 07985 234 170
Jeremy Wimble
Jeremy Wimble
Jeremy manages techUK's defence programme, helping the UK's defence technology sector align itself with the Ministry of Defence - including Defence Digital, DE&S, innovation units and Frontline Commands - through a broad range of activities including private briefings and early market engagement events. It also supports the MOD as it procures new digital technologies.
Prior to joining techUK, from 2016-2024 Jeremy was International Security Programme Manager at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) coordinating research and impact activities for funders including the FCDO and US Department of Defense, as well as business development and strategy.
Jeremy has a MA in International Relations from the University of Birmingham and a BA (Hons) in Politics & Social Policy from Swansea University.
- Email:
- [email protected]
