New opportunities: Why global businesses are investing in the UK's world-leading sectors

CNN

27-03-2025

The UK has long been a destination for global businesses, offering a dynamic environment that fosters innovation and expansion. This year, the UK is set to go even further with a modern Industrial Strategy, making it simpler for companies to invest and scale up.
With a legacy of industrial leadership and an open market that champions entrepreneurship, the UK has built its global reputation as a place where businesses come to thrive. Now, in alignment with its core mission for growth, the UK is building on these foundations to support the success of a new wave of innovators and investors.
'Britain is back in business under this government,' says Jonathan Reynolds, UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade.
We're lifting barriers to investment, creating thousands of jobs in the process, promising better wages, and building prosperous communities.
Jonathan Reynolds, UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade
Confidence in the UK's business landscape is growing. In 2024, businesses committed £63 billion in private investment to the UK, reinforcing global confidence in the country as one of the most attractive places to do business. These pledges—made at the International Investment Summit—will accelerate growth in key sectors and strengthen the UK's position as an industry leader.
Next is a modern, future-fit Industrial Strategy. Launching this spring, it is designed to build on the UK's unique strengths and unlock new opportunities across eight of the UK's world-leading sectors. There's good reason for this—over the last 25 years, a third of the UK's highest-productivity industries have generated almost two-thirds of its total productivity growth.
So, as the UK cements its position as a global business hub, what is it that makes the country a go-to for businesses looking to flourish?
As one of the largest and most globally connected economies in the G20, the UK is a springboard to international markets. Its strategic location provides easy access to Europe, North America, and fast-growing economies in Asia.
'The UK is one of the most connected places in the world to do business,' continues Reynolds. 'Investors should be in no doubt that we are doing everything we can to help attract investment into the most productive parts of the UK economy.'
To make the most of these natural advantages, the UK is deepening its global trade relationships. The country is pursuing a closer, more cooperative relationship with the EU, has recently joined the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and is negotiating trade agreements with India, the Gulf Cooperation Council, South Korea, Switzerland, and Türkiye.
The UK is built on talent. Ranked 4th in Europe and 7th in the OECD for tertiary education, it produces a steady stream of highly skilled graduates across key disciplines such as engineering, life sciences, technology, and finance—the very sectors that make up the future of the global economy.
With four of the world's top 10 universities, the UK is also leading in nurturing future talent, ensuring businesses have access to the cutting-edge expertise they need. This doesn't just apply to local talent either—the UK is the second most attractive country in the G20 for young professionals, making it a global hub for the best and brightest minds.
The impact this diverse workforce is having can be seen across the UK—from the tech startups of London's Silicon Roundabout to the gaming hubs of Cardiff, Scotland's offshore wind farms, and Northern Ireland's advanced manufacturing clusters. With such a strong foundation in skills and education, the UK continues to be one of the best places in the world for businesses to attract talent.
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Britain has always been a nation of pioneers—and today, it remains one of the most exciting places to be an innovator.
The UK's technology and digital sector is worth over $1 trillion, making it the third most valuable tech startup ecosystem globally. In 2023 alone, spinouts from UK universities attracted around £1.7 billion in equity investment—a testament to its ability to turn research into real-world breakthroughs.
The country has also built a world-class research ecosystem, where more than 140 science parks and Catapult centres bridge academia and industry. These hubs have already broken through in areas like cell and gene therapy, high-value manufacturing, and energy systems—where the UK is accelerating its journey to Net Zero.
For investors and businesses looking to grow, it's clear the UK is the right and premium choice. With its unique culture that champions innovation, it provides access to a thriving ecosystem where collaboration turns ideas into commercial success. And with the support of the upcoming Industrial Strategy, businesses have a clear path to scale, innovate, and shape the future of the global economy.
Find out more about the opportunities the UK offers here.