![\"Advanced](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/quantum-computer-e1780330977400.jpg\")
\t\tThe government committed \u00a32bn to quantum earlier this year\t<\/p>\n\t\t\tWednesday 12 August 2026 5:08 pm
\n\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0|\u00a0\u00a0Updated:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\t\t\tWednesday 12 August 2026 5:09 pm\n\t<\/p>\n
\t\tThe government committed \u00a32bn to quantum earlier this year\t<\/p>\n
The government is recruiting a senior official to oversee billions of pounds of quantum investment despite saying candidates do not need any background in the technology.<\/p>\n
A job advert<\/a> for a deputy head of the Office for Quantum published on Tuesday says the successful candidate could oversee the rollout of the UK\u2019s national quantum programme, help shape the purchase of large-scale quantum computers and work with companies and investors to bring more money into the sector.<\/p>\n But the \u00a369,675-a-year Grade 6 role explicitly states: \u201cYou do not need a background in quantum to apply\u201d. Experience working in science, technology or industrial policy is also listed as desirable rather than essential.<\/p>\n The advert has drawn criticism as Britain tries to turn its early lead in quantum research into commercial companies and keep pace with countries including the US and China.<\/p>\n Ameer Kotecha, chief executive of the Centre for Government Reform and a former Foreign Office civil servant, told City AM the recruitment approach was \u201cabsurd\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThe person in charge of purchasing quantum computers is not expected to have a background in quantum,\u201d he said. \u201cHow can you have a non-subject-matter expert engaging with world-leading physicists at the National Physical Laboratory and UKRI?\u201d<\/p>\n The government committed \u00a32bn to quantum<\/a> earlier this year, including \u00a31.2bn towards buying large-scale quantum computers through its ProQure programme.<\/p>\n The advertised role could help shape that programme, which aims to buy machines for government use by the early 2030s.<\/p>\n Other responsibilities include deciding where quantum infrastructure funding should be directed, working with companies looking to invest in Britain and helping government departments adopt the tech.<\/p>\n Applicants are instead required to show skills including leadership, communication, commercial awareness and the ability to assess complicated scientific evidence.<\/p>\n Kotecha said those abilities were important but questioned why experience in the field itself was not required for a role carrying responsibility for highly technical investment decisions.<\/p>\n \u201cExperience working in science is not even judged as essential; it\u2019s judged to be of secondary importance,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is hard to imagine as a more specialist area than quantum.\u201d<\/p>\n Britain bets billions on quantum<\/p>\n The recruitment comes after ministers stepped up efforts to make Britain one of the leading countries for commercial quantum technology.<\/p>\n Quantum computers use the behaviour of particles at very small scales to tackle some calculations that conventional computers struggle to perform.<\/p>\n Potential uses range from designing drugs and new materials to finance, energy and national security, although the most powerful machines remain under development.<\/p>\n Britain has built a sizeable research base in the sector and is home to more than a tenth of the world\u2019s quantum companies, according to government figures.<\/p>\n In June, ministers also committed \u00a310m to a National Quantum Standards Network led by the National Physical Laboratory, aimed at setting common technical standards as products begin to reach the market.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tRead more<\/p>\n \t\t\tExclusive: EQT to announce Emirates GBR SailGP deal<\/a><\/p>\n The government has estimated that the sector could eventually contribute \u00a3212bn to the UK economy and support 100,000 jobs.<\/p>\n Earlier this year, then tech secretary Liz Kendall said Britain needed to learn from the AI industry, where some of the country\u2019s strongest companies and researchers have ultimately been drawn towards better-funded US businesses.<\/p>\n \u201cToo many people feel they have to move to the US in order to get the funding and support they need to grow and scale their company,\u201d she said at the time.<\/p>\n The Office for Quantum role would have direct responsibility for trying to address some of those problems, including meeting quantum companies, helping secure UK investment and representing government in discussions with investors.<\/p>\n Kotecha told City AM: \u201cYou hear constantly of people in the private sector people with their heads in their hands because they feel like their point person in government in a relevant department just has absolutely no domain expertise.\u201d<\/p>\n Britain is also competing with governments prepared to spend heavily to secure companies, researchers and intellectual property in technologies with potential military and economic uses.<\/p>\n \u201cQuantum is an area where, by its nature, there is international competition,\u201d Kotecha said. \u201cThe UK is frankly in a race with other countries to seize the benefits of this tech.\u201d<\/p>\n Civil service expertise under scrutiny<\/p>\n The job ad also comes during disruption to Whitehall\u2019s technology machinery following the restructuring of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).<\/p>\n