The UK quantum industry is urging action to retain companies and skilled staff after ministers promised public purchases and funding to anchor development, with officials saying they will buy domestically made machines to support the sector.
The push follows a series of government commitments and academic moves, including Cambridge University's plan to host the country's most powerful quantum computer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves' backing for wider investment; the BBC reported ministers have proposed buying up to £1 billion of quantum computers from UK firms.
Start-ups in Cambridge say workforce and ethical priorities are central as the field scales. Dr Carmen Palacios-Berraquero, founder of Nu Quantum, said: "I genuinely believe that quantum computing talent should be used for good." Nu Quantum says it has almost 80 staff, expects to approach 100 within a year, and raised £45 million in venture capital mostly from UK investors.
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Investors and founders warn there is a steady pull to foreign markets. Cambridge serial investor David Cleevely said: "There's basically a cut, through which our life-blood is draining." Riverlane founder Dr Steve Brierley added that the government acting as "'a fairly smart customer' has a 'massive impact'," and noted a planned public procurement scheme would help create an ecosystem for error-correction and other specialised work.
Industry leaders cite immigration and visa policy, skills recruitment, and sustained public demand as the immediate tests for keeping firms based in Britain; Reeves has said quantum could "create around 100,000 jobs" if businesses remain in the UK and the government has indicated around £2 billion of broader support.
The recap
- Government promises to buy UK-made quantum computers worth £1 billion.
- Nu Quantum raised £45 million from UK and international investors.
- Industry cites workforce and immigration policy as top priorities.
