US Firms Pledge £150bn Investment in UK During Trump’s State Visit

 

The UK has secured £150bn in new investment from US firms, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer describing the commitment as proof of Britain’s economic strength. The announcement was timed to coincide with President Donald Trump’s state visit, with both leaders due to meet investors at Chequers. Major commitments include £90bn from US private equity giant Blackstone over the next decade, £22bn from Microsoft within four years, and £5bn from Google to expand a data centre in Hertfordshire. Other firms involved include Boeing, Palantir, Prologis, Amentum and engineering firm STAX, with projects ranging from defence innovation and clean energy to advanced manufacturing and AI.

The government says the combined pledges will create 7,600 jobs across the UK, including 1,000 in Belfast and thousands more spread between Glasgow, Warrington, the Midlands and the north-east of England. Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said the investments reflect international confidence in Britain’s industrial strategy, while Starmer hailed them as a sign that the UK is “open, ambitious and ready to lead.”

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The announcement comes after a difficult week for the government, as two major pharmaceutical companies pulled back from UK projects in favour of US investment. Merck abandoned a £1bn plan after criticising the way Britain values medicines, while AstraZeneca paused a £200m Cambridge expansion and shifted resources abroad. The life sciences sector has been hit hard, making the fresh pledges from US companies particularly significant for ministers eager to show that Britain remains a global investment hub.

Among the new investments, Prologis will spend £3.9bn in advanced manufacturing and life sciences, Palantir will invest up to £1.5bn in defence innovation and create 350 jobs, while Amentum will expand its UK workforce by 50% and add more than 3,000 positions. Boeing’s decision to convert two aircraft in Birmingham for the US Air Force marks the first such project in over half a century and could create 150 skilled jobs. The investments will be underpinned by a new UK-US Tech Prosperity Deal, which aims to accelerate clean energy and nuclear power projects. Ministers argue these commitments will generate real opportunities, including apprenticeships in biotech and AI, and deliver long-term economic growth.

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