United Kingdom: Government, Public Sector

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Geopolitical disruption in the Strait of Hormuz is exposing critical vulnerabilities in the semiconductor supply chain through an emerging helium shortage. This analysis examines how maritime chokepoint risks transmit into sectors far removed from shipping, creating hidden dependencies across global manufacturing, capital markets...

The UK government has launched a £500m sovereign AI fund led by Balderton's James Wise, aiming to help British AI startups start, scale, and compete globally. With ticket sizes between £1m-£10m, the fund offers not just capital but fast-tracked visas, supercomputer access, and government procurement opportunities—but can this strategy overcome the UK's historical challenge of retaining founders at the growth stage?

The UK government has launched a consultation on safety principles for automated vehicles, seeking input on regulatory frameworks that will govern self-driving technology on British roads.

In R (University of Sussex) v Office for Students [2026] EWHC 984 (Admin), the High Court quashed the decision of the Office for Students (the OfS) to find the University of Sussex (the UoS)...

The Government has launched a consultation (with draft regulations) on DB surplus sharing, and The Pensions Regulator has published an associated statement.

As the aerospace, defence and space sector looks ahead to the Farnborough International Airshow 2026, attention is turning to the key themes set to shape conversations, investment and innovation across the industry.

On 5 May 2026, the FCDO announced in a press release that it would introduce new sanctions to curb the production of Russian drones. These sanctions are also intended to affect the networks...

For many countries, the answer has long been defence offsets - a requirement for foreign suppliers within the defence sector to deliver inward investment into the purchasing country...

This issue examines three significant construction law cases from March 2026, exploring the boundaries of expert determination challenges, professional conflicts of interest in project financing, and the complexities of contract termination during extraordinary circumstances. The cases provide critical insights into when courts will intervene in expert decisions, how surveyors must navigate dual advisory roles, and the application of waiver and prevention principles in pandemic-related contract disputes.

The UK government has committed £19 million to advance space technologies, with £10 million allocated to Space Forge for developing reusable heat shield technology that could enable commercial microgravity manufacturing.

The Procurement Act 2023 represents the most significant transformation of UK public procurement law in over 30 years, introducing a clearer, more transparent and flexible framework for public bodies and suppliers. This comprehensive guide examines the key legislative changes now in effect, including new payment compliance and contract performance reporting requirements, and explores how organizations can navigate the evolving regime with confidence.