Leading audit, tax, and advisory firm Blick Rothenberg has urged Chancellor Rachel Reeves to provide detailed plans for the £2 billion pledged under the UK’s AI Opportunities Action Plan in her upcoming Autumn Budget.
Evelina Panchal, a director at Blick Rothenberg, said businesses need clarity on how the funds will be deployed, stressing that effective investment planning could deliver substantial economic gains. “Research from Microsoft suggests AI represents a £550 billion opportunity for the UK over the next decade,” she said. “To support the tech sector, Rachel Reeves should confirm how the £2 billion commitment will be used.”
The AI Opportunities Action Plan, unveiled in the 2025 Spending Review, is designed to strengthen the UK’s national AI infrastructure. Among its proposals are AI Growth Zones, where planning rules would be relaxed to accelerate the development of data centres and computing facilities. Panchal said firms need specifics on timelines, locations, and access to benefit fully from the programme.
The UK tech sector contributed £71 billion to the economy in 2023 and employed 1.77 million people in 2024. Panchal warned that the impact of the £2 billion investment will depend on the speed of fund release and the government’s delivery of a clear roadmap. “Infrastructure gaps, skills shortages, and slow business adoption remain the biggest challenges,” she said. “Reeves must set clear timelines and implementation plans.”
Panchal also cautioned against Budget measures that could undermine the UK’s appeal as a hub for digital entrepreneurship. She highlighted the importance of share-based incentive schemes, such as Enterprise Management Incentives (EMIs), which are widely used in tech and AI firms to attract specialist talent in a competitive global market.
“Rachel Reeves should not introduce any further changes to Capital Gains Tax, exit taxes, or wealth taxes,” she said. “If she does, it risks killing off the remaining entrepreneurial spirit in the tech sector, with negative consequences for innovation and economic growth.”
Panchal argued that maintaining a supportive environment for tech companies and their founders is essential for ensuring continued investment, job creation, and revenue generation in the UK. She stressed that clear, actionable commitments in the Autumn Budget could help the country fully capitalise on the transformative potential of AI.
The Chancellor’s approach to the AI Opportunities Action Plan will be closely watched by industry leaders, who say it could shape the UK’s position in the global race for artificial intelligence development and talent retention.
