Global Scans · UK · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Achieving Brexit will dominate the UK's agenda up to and beyond 2020 with uncertainty rife until clear decisions are made on the form of Great Britain's future relationship with the EU and the rest of the world.

• [New] The UK neobanking sector's 19.18% projected CAGR is partly a vote of confidence in mobile-native models. TechBullion
• [New] UK digital payment transaction values will grow at approximately 12% per annum through 2027, significantly outpacing overall retail spending growth. TechBullion
• [New] Buy Now Pay Later has emerged as one of the most disruptive sub-segments within UK digital payments. TechBullion
• [New] The UK is moving toward a cashless society, with cash payments expected to account for only 4% of transactions by 2034. The Fintech Times
• [New] The deployment of proven AI agents is an opportunity for UK retail banks to move away from scripted bots toward multi-step workflow execution that operates within clearly defined governance and policy boundaries. The Fintech Times
• [New] As consumer acceptance grows, service providers are expected to diversify offerings with subscription, ride-sharing, and premium air taxi models across UK. Mobility Foresights
• [New] The UK government's Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution includes investments in hydrogen and carbon capture technologies, generating new offset opportunities. Market Data Forecast
• [New] South-West Wales will focus on scaling offshore wind, hydrogen, and cleaner industrial energy, as well as developing new ways to recover and recycle critical materials to reduce reliance on imports. UKAuthority
• [New] In South-West Wales, two connected clusters will target energy and materials security. Open Access Government
• [New] The UK has pledged to boost defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 in order to plug gaps in Britain's ailing military. The Independent
• [New] The UK, despite having earlier experienced fintech funding declines, bounced back faster than expected and remains the world's second-largest destination for fintech venture capital. TechBullion
• [New] Within days of the U.S.-Israeli strikes, an Iranian drone hit a UK Royal Air Force base in Cyprus, prompting coordinated European deployments; NATO intercepted missiles over Turkey, while European officials warned of rising terrorism risks and renewed refugee pressures. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
• [New] UK GDP growth is expected to slow to 0.7% in 2026, down from 1.3% in 2025, as pressures from a fresh energy price shock push up inflation, weigh on spending and delay interest rate cuts. KPMG
• [New] In the UK, EVs are widely expected to approach majority share of new-car sales by 2030, driven by tightening zero-emission regulations, falling battery costs, and continued expansion of public charging infrastructure. heycar
• [New] The UK could reach around 580,000 electric-car registrations in 2026, representing approximately 29% of all new-car sales. heycar
• [New] Ultra-high-power flash charging systems, capable of adding large amounts of range in just minutes, are already being deployed in parts of China and are expected to begin appearing in the UK later this year. heycar
• [New] Global EV sales are expected to exceed 20 million units in 2026 In the UK. heycar
• [New] The UK Government has confirmed plans to proceed with reforms that will give the UK one of the toughest late payment regimes in the world. Travers Smith
• [New] In northern England, regions including East Yorkshire, Hull and Tees Valley will receive enhanced support, with funding packages of £30 million, to drive industrial decarbonization and clean energy projects, reflecting their strategic importance in the UK's transition to net zero. Business Matters

Last updated: 14 April 2026