UK Tech Sector Monthly Monitor – September 2026 update

In this Growth Commission paper in May 2026, Growth Commissioner Douglas McWilliams set out the critical contribution to the economy of the UK’s tech sector. Following the publication today of the UK GDP figures for the three months to July 2026, he observes:

“The output data shows that the UK’s tech sector’s contribution to the UK economy continues to increase. On a narrow definition of the sector (just including programming, IT consultancy and sale of information services) the sector grew by 7.9% in real terms between the three months to July 2025 and the three months to July 2026 and accounted for 23.6% of all the UK’s GDP growth over the period.

“On a wider definition of the tech sector which includes the main tech-using sectors, growth in turnover was 8.2% in value terms between the three months to July 2025 and the three months to July 2026.

‘The tech sector is the jewel in the crown of the UK economy, directly accounting for around a quarter of the growth and presumably driving more than this through its knock on effects. Moreover, unlike in the U.S. where AI seems to be reducing the number of jobs in the sector, the number of jobs in the sector in the UK remains higher than a year ago.

“For the UK’s tech sector to continue to drive economic growth in the UK economy, it is critical that whatever EU Reset deal is made keeps the UK tech sector outside the orbit of EU regulation.”