In early March, techUK hosted our annual Policy Conference to bring together tech policymakers from across Westminster and Whitehall to discuss some of the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the sector. We were delighted to bring together a range of speakers from across Government, Industry and Parliament to discuss a range of topics, including:
The Rt Hon Michelle Donelan MP – then-Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
The Rt Hon Peter Kyle MP – then-Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
Saqib Bhatti MP – then-Minister for Tech and the Digital Economy
Sam Sharps – Executive Director of Policy, The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change
Rachel Wolf, Founding Partner, Public First
Katie Prescott - Technology Business Editor, The Times
Kirsty Innes - Director of Technology, Labour Together
Dom Hallas - Executive Director, Startup Coalition
Dr Nicola Hodson – Chair, IBM UK and Ireland
It was here that we launched our Seven Tech Priorities report, which built on our UK Tech Plan, published in July 2023. The report recommended seven key priorities that should be a priority for any incoming government following the General Election hoping to seize the opportunities presented by working with the tech sector to confront the challenges faced by our country.
The full report is available to read here, but recommendations include: Introducing an updated AI Strategy, removing barriers to the digitisation of public services and establishing a new regulatory model that recognises the strategic economic importance of our regulators. This was published alongside polling, conducted by Public First, which surveyed 250 leaders from the wider tech sector which found that whilst the UK had built a competitive business environment that is comparatively easy to operate in, businesses were concerned about the costs of doing business in the UK. High energy costs, the current level of business taxes, the impact of interest rates and regulatory burdens were all cited by tech companies as challenges to growth.
The General Election
In May 2024, the then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that the long-awaited General Election would take place on Thursday 4 July.
Whilst each of the three main parties (Labour, Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats) all had fairly different manifestos, their approach to tech policy was fairly similar. All discussed the opportunities for digital adoption to improve efficiency in businesses, drive productivity across the economy and deliver better public services. That being said, techUK spent the election campaign supporting our members with relevant announcements for the tech sector and wider businesses, sharing the candidates to watch across different parts of the UK and dissecting the different Parties and their manifestos.
Within Labour’s Manifesto, we saw multiple commitments to the tech sector which we had long been calling for which was a win. These included:
Taking a more industrial strategy approach to AI
Reforming planning rules to better support the construction of new digital infrastructure, with Data Centres specifically named
Improving the regulatory system with more Government oversight and a focus on growth through the new Regulatory Innovation Office
Improving data sharing across the economy and public services
Skills reforms including curriculum updates and the reform of the apprenticeship levy
Strengthening DSIT into an economic and delivery department in addition to its policy role
Seek to negotiate standalone sector deals, such as digital, or mutual recognition agreements, to promote UK services exports
The King’s Speech
Shortly after the General Election, we saw the new Labour Government outline its legislative plan for the coming Parliamentary Session in the King’s Speech on 17July 2024. Whilst incredibly ambitious with over 40 Bills featured, technology was woven throughout many proposed changes to regulation. This included:
The Data (Use and Access) Bill: A welcome addition following techUK’s open letter to the political parties on the need to modernise the UK’s data protection legislation and replaces the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill which was dropped during the last Parliament’s wash-up period.
The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill: Consultation with industry has already begun on the specifics of this legislation but it has long been widely accepted that the UK has fallen behind its counterparts in terms of cybersecurity legislation.
Planning and Infrastructure Bill: Making up Labour’s manifesto pledge to introduce reform of the planning system, this legislation will likely be the vehicle for National Planning Policy Framework changes including recategorising data centres as Nationally-Significant Infrastructure Projects – streamlining the delivery of this vital digital infrastructure.
The Railways Bill: Expected to follow on from the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill which has already been introduced by this Government, this will see reforms to ticketing introduced. This is likely to include the use of technological solutions such as automatic compensation, digital pay-as-you-go and digital season ticketing to be introduced across the whole rail network.
Our full summary of the King’s Speech can be found here.
Political Party Conferences
Following on from the, earlier than expected, General Election techUK attended the National Political Conferences for The labour Party, The Conservative Party and The Liberal Democrats. Hosting events at all, we were delighted to partner with the CBI for the Business Receptions at Labour and Conservative Conference, and the Startup Coalition at Liberal Democrat Conference.
In addition to the above, we held a range of events at Labour Conference including a panel on “What does Labour’s Landslide mean for tech?” with Andrew Pakes MP, Kanishka Narayan MP, Lucy Rigby MP and Samantha Niblett MP and an ‘In conversation with’ event with the Rt Hon Peter Kyle MP, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology. Other events we hosted saw speakers including Minister for the Future Digital Economy and Online Safety Baroness Jones of Whitchurch, Chair of the Science, Innovation and Technology Select Committee Chi Onwurah MP and Chair of Labour Digital Josh Simons MP.
Our full agenda can be found here for reference, but we’ll be back in Liverpool, Manchester and Bournemouth next year so do reach out if you’re already (even in January!) thinking about your events at Conference.
The Autumn Budget
Amidst a challenging fiscal landscape, the Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered her first Budget in Government on 30 October 2024. Whilst the Autumn Statement included various announcements which significantly impact businesses and the technology sector, there were some announcements specifically which techUK had previously advocated for. These include:
The Cross-Government review of technology adoption for growth, innovation and productivity.
A commitment to take steps to encourage digital adoption in SMEs through e-invoicing and a renewed Digital Adoption Taskforce, with a £4 million pilots’ package to encourage tech adoption for SMEs.
Investment into modernising IT and data systems with HMRC to improve HMRC’s productivity. This follows techUK raising a specific failure on customer service from HMRC on the delivery of the R&D tax credit within our Growth Plan.
An extension of the Innovation Accelerators programme to continue to bolster high-potential innovation clusters across the Glasgow City Region, Greater Manchester and the West Midlands.
A commitment from Government to continue to deliver Project Gigabit and the Shared Rural Network.
The announcement that funding for the Made Smarter Adoption programme will double to £16 million in 2025-26, supporting more small manufacturing businesses to adopt advanced digital technologies and enabling the programme to be expanded.
It was confirmed that the core R&D budgets would be protected, with a real terms increase in funding for the National Institute for Health and Care Research to support the NHS and wider heath care system to drive revolution through research, life sciences, med tech and data.
Clarifications on how full expensing applies to computer software and what qualifies for different capital allowances.
Many of the above were called for in techUK’s Growth Plan, published in October 2024, which is available to read in full here.
Looking ahead to 2025:
Prime Minister’s Plan for Change: On 5 December, the Prime Minister announced six clear ‘milestones’ he wants his Government to be held accountable to by 2030. These are closely linked to Labour’s Five Missions and include treating 92% of patients within 18 weeks, building 1.5 million homes and fast-tracking planning decisions on at least 150 major infrastructure projects. We can expect much of 2025’s narrative from Government to link to these targets, and many policies will be aimed towards reaching them.
The UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy: In October 2024, the Government published their draft Industrial Strategy Green Paper which techUK responded to. Outlined in this Green Paper was the Government’s commitment to addressing the UK’s challenges across skills, competition and technology adoption. The aim is for the feedback from this to feed into a more developed strategy to be published in Spring 2025.
10-year Infrastructure Strategy: It was also announced in October 2024 that alongside the multi-year Spending Review, expected in Spring or early Summer, the Government will also publish a ten-year national infrastructure strategy which will outline the Government’s approach to core economic infrastructure including transport, energy and housing.
National Planning Policy Framework: Last year we also saw the Government update the National Planning Policy Framework, encouraging sustainable growth in the UK’s planning system to encourage a more efficient and strategic approach to planning policy. It is expected that changes to this will begin to be implemented this year, further cementing planning as a key topic to come out of Government throughout 2025.
NHS 10-year Health Plan: In October it was also announced that the Government was taking views on the long-term reforms to the NHS. The recommendations are set to be published in Spring 2025 and is expected to cover three core shifts in healthcare: hospital to community; analogue to digital; and sickness to prevention. With extensive funding to the NHS committed to in the Autumn Statement in 2024, improving the structures and delivery of care across the sector will be a consistent focus for this year.
Archie Breare
Public Affairs Manager, techUK
Archie Breare
Public Affairs Manager, techUK
Archie Breare joined techUK in September 2022 as the Telecoms Programme intern, and moved into the Policy and Public Affairs team as the Team Assistant in February 2023 and as Public Affairs Manager in September 2023
Before starting at techUK, Archie was a student at the University of Cambridge, completing an undergraduate degree in History and a master's degree in Modern British History.
In his spare time, he likes to read, discuss current affairs, and to try and persuade himself to cycle more.
As Head of Public Affairs, Alice supports techUK’s strategic engagement with Westminster, Whitehall and beyond. She regularly works to engage with ministers, members of the UK’s parliaments and senior civil servants on techUK’s work advocating for the role of technology in the UK’s economy as well as wider society.
Alice joined techUK in 2022. She has experience working at both a political monitoring company, leading on the tech, media and telecoms portfolio there, and also as an account manager in a Westminster-based public affairs agency. She has a degree from the University of Sheffield in Politics and Philosophy.
As Associate Director for Policy Neil leads on techUK's public policy work in the UK. In this role he regularly engages with UK and Devolved Government Ministers, senior civil servants and members of the UK’s Parliaments aiming to make the UK the best place to start, scale and develop a tech business.
Neil joined techUK in 2019 to lead on techUK’s input into the UK-EU Brexit trade deal negotiations and economic policy. Alongside his role leading techUK's public policy work Neil also acts as a spokesperson for techUK often appearing in the media and providing evidence to a range of Parliamentary committees.
In 2023 Neil was listed by the Politico newspaper as one of the '20 people who matter in UK tech' and has regularly been cited as a key industry figure shaping UK tech policy.
Oliver is the team assistant for the Policy and Public Affairs teams, joining techUK in November of 2023. He assists the teams admistrative support, communication, and event production.
Prior to working at techUK, Oliver studied at Swansea and Bristol universities, attaining a masters in Policy Research. During this time he competed in debating competitions around the country where he discussed and deliberated various policy issues. Between his studies Oliver acted as a student assistant in mental health research for the SMaRteN student network.
techUK's Policy and Public Affairs Programme activities
techUK helps our members understand, engage and influence the development of digital and tech policy in the UK and beyond. We support our members to understand some of the most complex and thorny policy questions that confront our sector. Visit the programme page here.
techUK's Growth Plan
We are excited to announce our Growth Plan, which outlines how supporting the UK tech sector will drive growth for the benefit of every nation and region in the UK
Our members develop strong networks, build meaningful partnerships and grow their businesses as we all work together to create a thriving environment where industry, government and stakeholders come together to realise the positive outcomes tech can deliver.
Antony Walker is deputy CEO of techUK, which he played a lead role in launching in November 2013.
Antony is a member of the senior leadership team and has overall responsibility for techUK’s policy work. Prior to his appointment in July 2012 Antony was chief executive of the Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG), the UK’s independent advisory group on broadband policy. Antony was closely involved in the development of broadband policy development in the UK since the BSG was established in 2001 and authored several major reports to government. He also led the development of the UK’s world leading Open Internet Code of Practice that addresses the issue of net neutrality in the UK. Prior to setting up the BSG, Antony spent six years working in Brussels for the American Chamber of Commerce following and writing about telecoms issues and as a consultant working on EU social affairs and environmental issues. Antony is a graduate of Aberdeen University and KU Leuven and is also a Policy Fellow Alumni of the Centre for Science and Policy at Cambridge University.
As Associate Director for Policy Neil leads on techUK's public policy work in the UK. In this role he regularly engages with UK and Devolved Government Ministers, senior civil servants and members of the UK’s Parliaments aiming to make the UK the best place to start, scale and develop a tech business.
Neil joined techUK in 2019 to lead on techUK’s input into the UK-EU Brexit trade deal negotiations and economic policy. Alongside his role leading techUK's public policy work Neil also acts as a spokesperson for techUK often appearing in the media and providing evidence to a range of Parliamentary committees.
In 2023 Neil was listed by the Politico newspaper as one of the '20 people who matter in UK tech' and has regularly been cited as a key industry figure shaping UK tech policy.
As Head of Public Affairs, Alice supports techUK’s strategic engagement with Westminster, Whitehall and beyond. She regularly works to engage with ministers, members of the UK’s parliaments and senior civil servants on techUK’s work advocating for the role of technology in the UK’s economy as well as wider society.
Alice joined techUK in 2022. She has experience working at both a political monitoring company, leading on the tech, media and telecoms portfolio there, and also as an account manager in a Westminster-based public affairs agency. She has a degree from the University of Sheffield in Politics and Philosophy.
Edward leads the Digital Regulation programme at techUK, which includes our work on online safety, fraud, and regulation for growth initiatives.
He has prior experience working for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and has previously worked for a number of public affairs consultancies specialising in research and strategy, working with leading clients in the technology and financial services sectors.
Samiah Anderson is the Head of Digital Economy at techUK, overseeing the Digital Economy programme, which promotes how the UK digital economy and innovation can drive sustained economic growth.
With over six years of Government Affairs expertise, Samiah has built a solid reputation as a tech policy specialist, engaging regularly with UK Government Ministers, senior civil servants and UK Parliamentarians.
Before joining techUK, Samiah led several public affairs functions for international tech firms and coalitions at Burson Global (formerly Hill & Knowlton), delivering CEO-level strategic counsel on political, legislative, and regulatory issues in the UK, EU, US, China, India, and Japan. She is adept at mobilising multinational companies and industry associations, focusing on cross-cutting digital regulatory issues such as competition, artificial intelligence, and more.
She holds a BA (Hons) in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics from the University of London, where she founded the New School Economics Society, the Goldsmiths University chapter of Rethinking Economics.
Audre joined techUK in July 2023 as a Policy Manager for Data. Previously, she was a Policy Advisor in the Civil Service, where she worked on the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and at HM Treasury on designing COVID-19 support schemes and delivering the Financial Services and Markets Bill. Before that, Audre worked at a public relations consultancy, advising public and private sector clients on their communications, public relations, and government affairs strategy.
Prior to this, Audre completed an MSc in Public Policy at the Korea Development Institute and a Bachelor's in International Relations and History from SOAS, University of London. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time outdoors, learning about new cultures through travel and food, and going on adventures.
Mia focuses on shaping a policy environment that fosters the expansion of the UK tech sector while maximising the transformative potential of technology across all industries.
Prior to joining techUK, Mia worked as a Senior Policy Adviser at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) within the Policy Unit.
Mia holds an MSc in International Development from the University of Manchester and a BA(Hons) in Politics and International Relations from the University of Nottingham.
Archie Breare joined techUK in September 2022 as the Telecoms Programme intern, and moved into the Policy and Public Affairs team as the Team Assistant in February 2023 and as Public Affairs Manager in September 2023
Before starting at techUK, Archie was a student at the University of Cambridge, completing an undergraduate degree in History and a master's degree in Modern British History.
In his spare time, he likes to read, discuss current affairs, and to try and persuade himself to cycle more.
Oliver is the team assistant for the Policy and Public Affairs teams, joining techUK in November of 2023. He assists the teams admistrative support, communication, and event production.
Prior to working at techUK, Oliver studied at Swansea and Bristol universities, attaining a masters in Policy Research. During this time he competed in debating competitions around the country where he discussed and deliberated various policy issues. Between his studies Oliver acted as a student assistant in mental health research for the SMaRteN student network.
