Overview
- The fourth AI Growth Zone will span South Wales along the M4 corridor with Microsoft and Vantage Data Centers involved, targeting 1GW of compute and seeking an investor for buildout.
- Officials say the South Wales programme is expected to create more than 5,000 jobs over the next decade, including roles at the former Ford engine plant in Bridgend.
- A new £500m Sovereign AI Unit, chaired by venture capitalist James Wise and launching next year, will back UK AI startups and infrastructure as a government‑aligned investor.
- The package includes up to £250m to provide free compute access for researchers and startups and £137m to apply AI to drug discovery and new treatments.
- DSIT framed the moves as central to growth ahead of the Budget, while CIPD data and recent corporate cuts highlight that one in six employers expects staff reductions as AI is adopted.