Government & Regulatory Affairs in the United Kingdom

Full guide · Source-checked research100% of statements checked against a source145 checked against an official source0 checked against a secondary sourceChecked 2026-10-19Not yet professionally reviewed

• Acquisitions of more than 25%, more than 50% or 75% or more of the shares or votes in a qualifying entity active in one of 17 sensitive sectors must be notified to and approved by the government before completion under the National Security and Investment Act 2021.

  Mandatory sectors include advanced materials, artificial intelligence, communications, critical suppliers to government, data infrastructure, defence, energy, military and dual-use, quantum technologies and transport. Acquiring votes that allow passing or blocking any class of resolution is also a trigger.Cabinet Office · checked 2026-10-18

• The government confirmed in March 2026 that it will revise the mandatory sectors (new water schedule, standalone critical minerals and semiconductors schedules, narrower AI and communications schedules) through secondary legislation, with no commencement date announced.

  Status at the check date; the current 17-sector regime applies until amending regulations are made.UK Parliament · checked 2026-10-18

• No person may carry on a regulated activity in the United Kingdom, or claim to do so, unless authorised or exempt (the general prohibition).

  Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 s19. Regulated activities (for example deposit-taking, lending, payments-related and investment activities) are defined in secondary legislation; authorisation is granted by the Financial Conduct Authority and, for dual-regulated firms, the Prudential Regulation Authority.legislation.gov.uk · checked 2026-10-18

• The Procurement Act 2023 rules for how public bodies and utilities buy goods and services took effect on 24 February 2025, and suppliers bid through the Central Digital Platform (the enhanced Find a Tender service), where registration is free.

  Applies to suppliers to central government, the NHS, local authorities, universities, schools, social housing providers, police and fire services and utilities. Geographic scope, including Scotland, is not stated on the source page.Cabinet Office · checked 2026-10-18

• As a party to the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement, the UK allows businesses from other parties to bid for certain UK public contracts.

  Coverage depends on the UK's GPA schedules and contract thresholds.Department for Business and Trade · checked 2026-10-18

• Businesses can claim a 100% enhanced capital allowance on qualifying plant and machinery for use in Freeport or Investment Zone special tax sites, for spending until 30 September 2031 in English Freeports and 30 September 2034 in Scottish Green Freeports, Welsh Freeports and Investment Zones.

  Only from the date the site is designated. Other site reliefs (structures and buildings allowance, employer National Insurance, Stamp Duty Land Tax in England, business rates) have their own conditions.HM Revenue & Customs · checked 2026-10-18

• Every overseas entity on the Register of Overseas Entities must file an update statement each year, within 14 days of its statement date, even if nothing has changed.

  Overseas entities that own UK land or property and are registered at Companies House. Changed or new information must be verified by a UK-regulated agent no more than 3 months before the statement date.Companies House · checked 2026-10-18

• An overseas entity that fails to file its update statement commits a criminal offence and cannot buy, sell, transfer, lease or charge its UK property or land.

  A note of the failure is added to the public register.Companies House · checked 2026-10-18

Read the full guide: Entry, investment and company formation · Licensing, procurement, incentives and property · Customs, tariffs and product rules · Deals, investment screening and merger control