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US firms pledge £150bn investment in UK, as Starmer hosts Trump US firms pledge £150bn investment in UK, as Starmer hosts Trump
(about 1 hour later)
The UK government says it has secured £150bn worth of US investment in Britain, coinciding with President Trump's state visit. The UK government says it has secured £150bn worth of US investment which it hopes will create 7,600 jobs.
Tech giants Microsoft and Google as well as private equity firm Blackstone have pledged to spend billions of pounds in the UK, which the the government hopes will create 7,600 jobs. The announcement, which coincides with President Donald Trump's state visit, follows a series of big tech firms, including Microsoft and Google, pledging to spend billions of pounds in the UK.
It follows a difficult few days for the government after major pharmaceutical companies said they would scrap investment in the UK and redirect spending to the US. It is part of a wider plan by the UK to deepen economic ties with the US. However, some industries, such have steel, have been dealt a blow in recent days with a proposed deal to cut tariffs shelved.
On Thursday, UK and US investors will meet Sir Keir Starmer and Trump at the prime minister's country house Chequers to discuss economic ties and future collaborations. Several major pharmaceutical companies, such as Covid-vaccine maker Astrazenca, have also halted investment plans, claiming the UK was an "increasingly challenging" country to do its business in.
On Thursday, UK and US investors will meet Sir Keir Starmer and Trump at the prime minister's country house Chequers to discuss economic deals.
The vast majority of the £150bn investment - £90bn - will come from Blackstone over the next decade. The US private equity firm announced in June it would spend £370bn across Europe over 10 years.
Microsoft has pledged to spend £22bn in the UK over the next four years, while Google is to invest £5bn over the next two years to expand an existing data centre in Hertfordshire.
Starmer said the investments were "a testament to Britain's economic strength and a bold signal that our country is open, ambitious, and ready to lead".Starmer said the investments were "a testament to Britain's economic strength and a bold signal that our country is open, ambitious, and ready to lead".
The vast majority of the £150bn investment - £90bn - will come from Blackstone over the next decade. The private equity firm announced in June it would spend £370bn across Europe over 10 years. While it is hoped the investments will generate thousands of jobs in the years ahead, it comes at a time when domestic businesses appear to be slowing investment due to higher running costs.
Microsoft pledged to spend £22bn in the UK over the next four years, while Google will invest £5bn over the next two years to expand an existing data centre in Hertfordshire. The number of people on UK payrolls has fallen by an estimated 127,000 employees in the year to August, according to the Office for National Statistics. Vacancies were down by 119,000 (14%) in June to August 2025 from the level of a year ago.
While it is thought the investments will generate thousands of jobs in the years ahead, the number of people on UK payrolls has fallen by an estimated 127,000 employees in the year to August, according to the Office for National Statistics. Many firms have blamed increasing costs, such as having to pay more in National Insurance and the minimum wage, as reasons for slowing investment.
Meanwhile, Britain's life sciences sector has sustained a number of blows in recent days. In recent days, pharmaceutical companies have highlighted other challenges to investing in the UK. US giant Merck rowed back on a plan to invest £1bn after blaming successive governments for undervaluing innovative medicines. Instead, it will move research to the US.
US giant Merck rowed back on a plan to invest £1bn in the UK after blaming successive governments for undervaluing innovative medicines. Instead, it will move research to the US.
AstraZeneca then paused plans to invest £200m at a Cambridge research site, a project expected to create 1,000 jobs. It has also switched investment to the US.AstraZeneca then paused plans to invest £200m at a Cambridge research site, a project expected to create 1,000 jobs. It has also switched investment to the US.
Where is the UK investment going?
Where is the investment going? Blackstone's large investment is in addition to the £10bn it previously announced for data centre development in the UK
Blackstone's large investment is in addition to the £10bn it previously announced for data centre development in the UK. Real estate investment trust Prologis is set to invest £3.9bn into the UK's life sciences and advanced manufacturing in Cambridge and Daventry
Real estate investment trust Prologis is also set to invest £3.9bn into the UK's life sciences and advanced manufacturing. Palantir is invest up to £1.5bn in UK defence innovation and plans to create up to 350 new jobs.
Palantir will invest up to £1.5bn in UK defence innovation and plans to create up to 350 new jobs. American tech company Amentum plans to create more than 3,000 jobs across Glasgow to Warrington and the Midlands
American tech company Amentum plans to create more than 3,000 jobs and expand its UK workforce by more than 50%. Boeing has said it will convert two 737 aircraft in Birmingham for the US Air Force, which would be the first USAF aircraft built in the UK for more than 50 years
Boeing has said it will convert two 737 aircraft in Birmingham for the US Air Force, which would be the first USAF aircraft built in the UK for more than 50 years, and could create 150 high-skilled jobs. Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said the planned investment reflected growing confidence in the UK's industrial strategy.
US Engineering firm STAX has also committed up to £38m to expand its UK operations.
The 7,600 total jobs promised are intended to be in all areas of the UK.
This is set to include 1,000 new jobs in Belfast and 6,000 more roles from Glasgow to Warrington, the Midlands and the north-east of England.
Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said the deal reflects growing confidence in the UK's industrial strategy.
"These record-breaking investments will create thousands of high-quality jobs across the UK," he said."These record-breaking investments will create thousands of high-quality jobs across the UK," he said.
The government said it wants to give "real opportunities for working people", including apprenticeships in clean energy and careers in biotech and AI. But former Deputy Prime Minister Sir Nick Clegg, who also used to be Facebook's president of global affairs, told the BBC's Today programme that the investment was "crumbs from the Silicon Valley table".
This comes ahead of the signing of the Tech Prosperity Deal on Thursday, which is an agreement to accelerate the building of new nuclear power in both the US and the UK. He called for "some perspective" to be applied to the "hype", and that the deal did not solve the UK's "perennial achilles heel", which was that British start-ups tended to end up in the US as they seek investment.
"Not only do we import all their technology, we export all our good people and good ideas as well," he said.
He said the UK had to learn to "stand more on our own two feet", rather than "cling on to Uncle Sam's coat tails".