Global Scans · UK · Weekly Summary

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WHAT'S NEXT?: Achieving Brexit will dominate the UK's agenda up to and beyond 2020 with uncertainty rife until clear decisions are made on the form of Great Britain's future relationship with the EU and the rest of the world.

• [New] PayPal has confirmed a £150 million investment in product innovations and growth and Bank of America will create up to 1,000 new jobs in Belfast in its first operation in Northern Ireland. This is Wiltshire
• [New] Citi Group has confirmed it will invest £1.1 billion across its UK operations, while S&P Global will put £4 million into its Manchester offices. This is Wiltshire
• [New] Britain's science, AI and the City of London, joined with America's tech giants and venture markets, could set the standards of this century and help secure western leadership over China for decades to come. This is Wiltshire
• [New] The UK should leverage the US partnership to gain an edge over China in artificial intelligence and defence technology, de-risked supply chains and greater security for critical minerals supplies. This is Wiltshire
• [New] A team at the University of Glasgow has developed an interactive 'social robot' that could help refugees and asylum seekers settle in Scotland. UKAuthority
• [New] Changes to the MREL regime will benefit smaller banks, while the Bank of England expects to reduce interest rates gradually if economic conditions remain stable. City AM
• [New] The combination of diversified tourism offerings, coupled with creative marketing strategies like the Starring GREAT Britain campaign, is expected to position the UK as a global travel hub for years to come. Travel And Tour World
• [New] The Axiom Space mission will be the first commercially-sponsored space flight, meaning no cost to the UK taxpayer, and it's hoped it will open doors to further commercial partnerships and whet the appetite for space sponsorship in the future. Great British Life
• [New] The world's largest money manager will use President Trump's state visit to the UK next week to unveil a £500m plan to invest in UK data centers, one of the fastest-growing areas of global infrastructure spending. SKY
• [New] Next week's state visit to the UK by Donald Trump is expected to signal greater collaboration between the UK and Silicon Valley to make Britain an important center of AI development. The Guardian
• [New] The UK FinTech industry is expected to experience revenue growth of 32.3% in 2024-2025, highlighting its robust expansion and significance in the financial sector. Elizabeth Michael
• [New] The UK Government's Invest 2035 industrial strategy emphasises the importance of digital and technological sectors, aiming to foster an environment conducive to innovation and investment. Elizabeth Michael
• [New] 51% of UK adults are worried about the impact that AI will have on their jobs. Just Food
• [New] Working people will be more secure as the UK Armed Forces prepare for the new era of threats with a major deal with Google Cloud for the latest security technology - strengthening collaboration between the UK and US. GOV.UK
• [New] UK Armed Forces enter new phase of operational readiness with £400 million investment Comes ahead of the historic second State Visit of the US President that will deliver economic growth and security for working people. GOV.UK
• [New] The UK, though outside the EU, has legislated for driverless taxis on roads by 2027. Medium
• [New] Government-backed projects will use AI and new technologies to enhance platform safety, reduce delays, and boost passenger experience across the UK rail network. Global Railway Review
• [New] Nearly 50% of businesses in the UK and Ireland do not have cyber insurance in place, despite a significant rise in ransomware attacks and other digital threats. REG Technologies
• Most significantly, Net Zero will require the development of a UK greenhouse gas removal 'solutions bank' involving nature-based and technological options that removes 60-90 megatonnes of CO2 each year by 2050. AtkinsRealis
• Reforms will free up capital for investment by raising the MREL threshold and reviewing the ring-fencing regime, while Basel 3.1 rules will be tailored to support UK competitiveness. Addleshaw Goddard

Last updated: 16 September 2025