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] Within five years, AI will be fully embedded into the purchase journey, and as latest Cognizant Research suggests, AI enthusiasts will be driving consumer spending by $690 B in the UK alone, with more than half of consumer purchasing driven by AI. www.cognizant.com
• [New] In the course of 2026, Mercedes-Benz will launch its first services for bidirectional charging in Germany, France and the UK. Electric Cars Report
• [New] Supermarket shoppers across the UK are all too familiar with empty shelves when disruption strikes. University of Manchester
• [New] UK JOBS / WAGES (TUE): August's unemployment rate is expected to remain at 4.7%, average earnings are also seen at 4.7% once again, while the ex-bonus figure is forecast to moderate slightly to 4.7% from 4.8%. investing.com
• [New] By the end of 2025, all petrol stations in the UK will be required to share real-time fuel prices, thanks to the launch of the Fuel Finder scheme. MotorEasy
• [New] Britain is seeking to scale up renewable power to help meet its climate targets and also hopes to create thousands of clean energy jobs. Reuters
• [New] In the UK, that could mean extending the law on criminalising paedophile manuals to include material generated by AI. The Conversation
• [New] A major AI downturn could knock 1.2% off global GDP by 2027, including a hit of nearly 1% to the UK. City AM
• [New] Strong UK business investment in the first half of 2025, and signs from rising corporate borrowing that investment will keep growing, bode well. City AM
• [New] Leading pharmacist warns of patient safety risk due to UK medicine pack barcode errors, as petition urges MHRA to take action. BusinessMole
• [New] The influence of music tourism in the UK will surely only increase in the years to come, from foreign tourists attending important music festivals to local communities profiting from the increased revenue. Travel And Tour World
• [New] The continued success of music tourism in the UK demonstrates its significance from an economic and cultural standpoint, and it is anticipated that its growth will continue to yield substantial advantages for many years to come. Travel And Tour World
• [New] The future of music tourism in the UK looks promising, with continued growth expected in the coming years. Travel And Tour World
• [New] Tanzania presents a £2 billion to 3 billion annual export opportunity in critical minerals, offering the UK a strategic partnership to secure green supply chains and support sustainable development. GOV.UK
• [New] Morocco's growing fintech ecosystem presents significant opportunities for UK investors, supported by strong digital infrastructure, regulatory reform, and bilateral collaboration. GOV.UK
• [New] AI is being rapidly adopted by UK businesses, according to the business leaders surveyed, and three-quarters said they expect new tools to deliver tangible benefits to their organizations within the next 12 months. The Guardian
• [New] Both the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Bank of England are warning of an AI bubble that could burst sooner than later, citing soaring valuations and stock prices. Yahoo Finance
• [New] UK recruitment agencies are looking ahead with renewed optimism, with more than half expecting revenue growth from 2025 to 2026 - a 10% increase on last year's outlook. theHRDIRECTOR
• [New] US tech giants are investing £150 billion in the UK, creating thousands of AI-driven jobs and new opportunities. Dr Logic - IT Support for Business
• [New] The Welsh Government's current targets are for 100% of Wales' electricity to come from renewable sources by 2035 and to be net zero by 2050. Yahoo News
• [New] We expect weak growth to lead the Bank of England to cut rates further, in contrast to the ECB, which is nearing the end of its easing cycle. / UK Wellington
• The UK Government has announced plans to introduce a mandatory digital identity scheme by 2029, with the headline aim of tackling illegal employment and streamlining access to public services. UKAuthority

Last updated: 14 October 2025